This ultra-sharp 1961 Bentley Continental S2 you see here is already one of the rarest cars in the world – one of only four made. But this one is even rarer than The. It’s really unique because it’s all-electric.
Restored and modified by the EV conversion experts at Lunaz, this souped-up luxury coupe ditches the original car’s internal combustion engine, mechanical transmission and gas tank and replaces it with a lithium-ion battery pack and powerful electric motor that produces 530 hp lb-ft Torque and 405 all-electric horsepower, enough to propel the big Bentley from 0-60 MPH in just over 6 seconds, in complete silence and with “magic carpet ride” levels of shift-free smoothness.
All of this power is managed via a reinforced ladder-frame chassis. On the rear of the chassis, the Lunaz crew installed fully adjustable coil-spring suspension with a lever arm damper, along with four-piston rear brakes and a six-piston caliper that compresses onto modern iron rotors at the front.
And while this particular car is likely destined to remain a one-off, Lunaz can offer a similar level of design and execution expertise to yours other also classic Bentley or Rolls-Royce, with a custom palette of interior and exterior paintwork, leather and wood trim to suit your taste. “The Lunaz color palette represents a balanced spectrum of choices created with full consideration for the shape and spirit of the car,” reads the official copy. “We bring beautiful lines to life through a blend of cutting-edge pigment technology and the curatorial eye of the designer… The exterior palette is complemented by an extensive library of material treatments and color combinations. A Lunaz interior need not be specified in traditional leather. Indeed, we pride ourselves on innovating new approaches to luxury interior design by unlocking the potential each material can offer.”
If that sounds expensive, you’re right! I have not seen a pricing menu anywhere on the official Lunaz website to spec your own electric Bentley. But of course if you must ask…
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1961 Bentley S2 Continental Coupe EV; Courtesy of Lunaz.
Look, I’m a sucker for ultra-luxury cars that I’ll probably never be able to afford — but I think this particular Bentley has a history that’s objectively interesting, if only because the history of it absolutely is unique Vehicle life is like that normal. Usually in the context of “used car”, ie.
The story behind this extremely rare Continental begins in 1960 when the car’s original owner placed an order for a 4-door Rolls-Royce Flying Spur with London coachbuilder James Young. This car should put the luxurious Rolls-Royce body and interior on the performance-oriented rolling chassis of a Bentley. For whatever reason, this car never materialized – but what the buyer got instead was this coupe. One of 4 such cars built by James Young.
Despite its rarity, the handcrafted coupé bounced around multiple owners and across multiple continents before coming ‘back home’ to the UK to be restored to its former glory – a fact the Lunaz team is proud of. “The Lunaz solution takes endangered cars and gives them a new purpose,” explains Jon Hilton, Lunaz Managing Director & Technical Lead. “Our cars embody the spirit of the original. They are unparalleled in their performance and effortless in everyday use. Breathing new life into these timeless masterpieces is vital engineering in the purest sense.”
So hats off to Lunaz. From where I’m sitting they absolutely nailed it.
Source | Pictures: Lunaz.
Source: cleantechnica.com
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