5 things you should know about automaker's first electric concept car [VIDEO]

Bentley has debuted its first electric, concept car.

This first of its kind automobile, known as the Bentley EXP 12 Speed 6e Concept, was revealed at the Geneva Motor Show on March 7, 2017.

For those surprised by the car maker's latest move, Bloomberg reports that the manufacturer is simply exploring the possibility of producing an all-electric Bentley.

Speaking further on this, Wolfgang Dürheimer, the chairman and chief executive officer of Bentley Motors, said:“This will give us a very good indication of where we are. Do we need it? Or are we okay to still have combustion engines and hybrids, that’s it? This is what we want to find out.

“We want to send a clear message: ‘If we do it, this is what it would look like.’ EVs don’t necessarily need to look like a refrigerator. They can appeal. They can be sexy. They can be emotional.”

However, this change comes as no surprise to us since the auto manufacturer’s chief engineer, Rolf Frech, had earlier revealed the brand's intention to join the electric car world.

Just last year, he said:“I think there will be an answer within the next six months to a year to decide which direction we will go. But of course electric will be a future strategy direction for Bentley.”

Read on to discover five interesting things about Bentley's first electric concept car.

1. It is a convertible two-seater.

2. This is the second time this concept have been unveiled at this same car show: According to Bloomberg, the same Speed 6 concept was earlier revealed in 2015. The unveiling was also done at the Geneva Motor Show. The difference is that it did not have an electric motor then.

3. The design is a mixture of both old and new things: During an interview in Geneva, Bentley’s head of design, Stefan Sielaff, said the goal was to combine both old and new. This can be seen with the replacement of side mirrors with two tiny, round cameras. Inside, the red interior lends a vintage feel.

Outside, there is a white “6e” symbol on the mesh of the grille, this comes on when the car starts.

ALSO READ: Bentley reveals revolutionary interior design

4. It is very high-tech: In this car, navigation, climate, and entertainment is controlled with a curved OLED screen. The steering wheel also has handmade glass sections for the same function.

It can be started with a button.

5. Production could start by 2021: If this model is well received by VIP guests and analysts at other car shows, then it could go into production by 2021.

In spite of this surprise departure from what the manufacturer is known for, Christophe Georges, Bentley's director of product and marketing, says the change will not affect the luxury element the brand is known for.

"We will not compromise on luxury. That is something we will never do," he promised.

The automaker says the Bentley EXP 12 Speed 6e Concept is the future of luxury and performance.

I agree with this statement. What do you think?