‘Magnificent’ Bentley to debut as the world’s rarest fully electric classic car

A converted, fully electric 1961 Bentley S2 Continental will grace the Conours on London’s Savile Row on May 24 and 25.

The car is set to be the centrepiece of Lunaz’s presence at the event, with the brand aiming to showcase classic motoring and bespoke tailoring.

There were only 400 models of the S2 Continental ever built and was seen as the high-performance model of the standard S2.

It originally featured the V8 engine, which has now been replaced with fully electric power at the Lunaz production and research facility at Silverstone.

David Lorenz, founder of Lunaz, praised the work of Lunaz and the Concours on Savile Row event, calling it the “perfect setting”.

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He said: “In just two years, Concours on Savile Row has established itself as one of the most stylish events of its kind on the automotive calendar, and provides a perfect setting in which to display our most significant classic car elevated by Lunaz to date. 

 “Like Lunaz, Savile Row blends bespoke craft, timeless style and a respect for tradition and legacy with a commitment to new thinking, materials and techniques. 

“This intersection of the classic and the ultra-modern is a fascinating space to work in: we’re delighted to be part of this celebration of the highest forms of our respective arts.”

Lunaz also transformed the interior by removing the leather and replacing it with sustainable materials.

This includes seat leather tanned using naturally fallen olive leaves, carpets made from 100 percent regenerated nylon fibre, and wood veneers from certified sources.

One of the key aims of Lunaz is to break free of the “replace-with-new” cycle, with the company transforming old polluting vehicles and replacing the engines with electric powertrains.

This can be seen in the converted Bentley, as some of the old, discarded leather will be used to create a bespoke pair of leather shoes for the lucky owner.

Alongside the Bentley Continental S2, Lunaz will be displaying other successful projects, including a Rolls-Royce Phantom V and Bentley Continental Flying Spur.

The new electric setup delivers a full 400bhp, enabling a zero to 60mph time of just 6.7 seconds.

To help deal with the additional strength of the electric power, the suspension has been upgraded to a full adjustable coil-spring setup.

Mr Lorenz described the Bentley as “magnificent” and an “exceptional motor car”, highlighting its electric credentials – making it one of the rarest vehicles in the world.