Bentley Motors and The Little Automotive Firm unveiled a road-legal, 85 % scale recreation of the basic 1929 Blower Bentley. Often called Blower Junior, the automotive is an electrical automobile based mostly on Crew Automotive No. 2, maybe essentially the most well-known and beneficial Bentley of that period. It is usually the primary totally road-legal automotive produced by The Little Automotive Firm, which could be pushed within the US, European Union, and the UK.
Blower Junior is handbuilt and adorned with all the small print of the unique automotive. Working with Bentley’s Heritage Assortment, The Little Automotive Firm went to nice lengths to supply an exacting 85 % scale recreation. Nevertheless, some concessions have been made for the dimensions, together with tandem seating as an alternative of a normal side-by-side format.
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For propulsion, the Blower Junior makes use of a 48-volt battery powering a 15 kW electrical motor, good for an estimated 65-mile vary and 45 mph prime pace. The supercharger housing accommodates a charging port to hook up with any Degree 1 or Degree 2 charger. It is framed by a mesh grille and genuine nickel-plated radiator housing, similar to the unique automotive.
Mounted to the painted metal body are leaf springs and period-correct friction dampers scaled right down to match Blower Junior’s dimensions. Brembo disc brakes in entrance and rear drums present dependable trendy stopping energy. The batteries and electronics are hidden in an undertray, whereas the electrical motor is mounted throughout the rear axle.
At first look, the dashboard appears like a scaled-down reproduction of the unique. Nevertheless, the gasoline stress pump now capabilities because the drive mode selector. Different switchgear for the headlights and switch indicators copy the magneto switches from the unique automotive whereas the battery cost gauge recreates the unique ammeter. A USB charging level is built-in right into a dual-function show with a Garmin satellite tv for pc navigation display screen and a backup digicam.
The Little Automotive Firm will produce the primary 99 First Version fashions of Blower Junior. These automobiles will characteristic First Version badging on the hood, door sill plate, dashboard, and an engraved quantity plaque. All First Version fashions shall be completed in Blower Inexperienced, with matching painted chassis, wheels, and a Union flag hand-painted on each side of the physique. Manufacturing is deliberate to begin in mid-2024.
In the meantime, Bentley is transferring forward with its electrical program. Along with its first EV, it’s launching PHEV variations of the Continental and Flying Spur.