Lunaz Design has transformed a 1961 classic Bentley Continental to fully electric propulsion to create a one-of-a-kind EV.
Dating from 1961 and originally powered by a 6.2-litre V8, this specific Bentley S2 Continental is one of only four examples built, said the Silverstone, UK-based company, which reengineers and upcycles old vehicles to new factory standards.
“In its new guise, it’s the rarest vehicle ever to be converted to fully electric propulsion,” said David Lorenz, Founder, Lunaz.
Upcycling processes and technologies are fast becoming the de facto gold standard for electrification projects involving the world’s most prestigious marques, the company said.
The Bentley S2 Continental was built in 1961. Over the decades that followed, it would reside with various owners as far afield as Germany and Japan before returning to the UK. The Bentley Continental was always the rarest S2 variant. Today, this specific car is one of only a handful left in the world.
The upcycling process starts with a detailed inspection and assessment to determine the chassis, powertrain, and suspension configurations. Lunaz Design’s engineers use 3D scanning to create detailed Computer Aided Design (CAD) models as the basis for any renovation and reconstruction work required.
The car body is then stripped down to a bare metal shell and returned to as-new condition using traditional coachbuilding and restoration techniques. Any external and internal materials are repaired and recoated: anything that can’t be reused, down to the nylon in the seatbelt cord, is recycled.
The internal combustion engine and its associated systems, lubricants and other fluids are carefully removed and reclaimed, then replaced with Lunaz’s proprietary fully-electric powertrain, the company said. The modular design allows engineers to adjust individual components to perfectly reflect the car’s innate character, and the owner’s personal preferences. The battery cells, inverters and motors are all original equipment made to Lunaz’s specification by European tier 1 suppliers, as used by OEM carmakers.
Other vital systems, including brakes, steering, suspension, and electrics, are all given Lunaz Design’s full modernisation treatment to bring them into line with the dynamic expectations of the customer as well as current safety standards.
As specified by the client, the fully electric Bentley S2 Continental is now equipped with a clean-air 400 bhp powertrain, producing 530 lb-ft of torque. It can sprint from 0 to 62 mph in 6.9 seconds.