Retrofit: a very rare Bentley is converted to electric

Produced in only 4 units, this Bentley S2 Continental is converted from its original V8 mechanics to electric and opts for sustainable restoration.

Retrofit is one of the solutions to switch from combustion to electric, especially without scrapping the donor vehicle. This principle applies to city cars like a Renault 4L or an old Trafic to avoid ZFE sanctions, but also to exceptional vehicles.

Lunaz Continues the Life of a Bentley as an Electric

Lunaz Design has made it its specialty. This British company refurbishes prestigious Jaguars, Aston Martins, and Rolls-Royces. Bentleys are also one of its specialties, but the firm had never worked on a model as rare as the S2 Continental. This luxury coupe from 1961 was only produced in four units. One of them now runs as an electric, allowing it to operate without restrictions in London’s ULEZ (equivalent to ZFE).

The Bentley S2 Continental replaces its original 6.2-liter V8 gasoline engine with a 400 hp electric motor. Delivering 719 Nm of torque, it allows the British coupe to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in less than 7 seconds. This performance upgrade comes with new adjustable suspensions, modern steering and brakes. The brakes feature 6-piston calipers at the front and 4 at the rear, coupled with a regenerative energy system. However, the size of the battery and the range of this retrofit remain unknown.

A Retrofit Coupled with Sustainable Restoration

Beyond the electric retrofit system, Lunaz fully restored the Bentley S2 Continental. Additionally, all non-reusable elements were recycled (upcycled). Even the nylon of the seat belts is reused, combined with recycled water bottles to make new floor mats. The leather was tanned using olive leaves, and the dashboard varnish is said to come from sustainable sources.

Read also: Toyota experiments with electric and hydrogen retrofit