How’s this for ‘little and large’?
Bentley has launched a smaller fully road-legal electric replica of its most iconic fire-breathing racing car – at a fraction of the original size but with a hefty £108,000 price tag (£90,000 plus VAT).
Dubbed the ‘Blower Junior’ and measuring just 3.7 metres long and 1.5 metres wide, it is 85 per cent scale recreation of the famous original 1929 4½-litre Supercharged Bentley and has been created in conjunction with specialists at The Little Car Company.
Powered by a 15kW (20bhp) electric motor it has a top speed of 45mph and an expected range of 65 miles – just enough to get you from central London to Brighton, make the 48 miles between Glasgow and Edinburgh with charge to spare, or manage a typical daily return commute.
Crafted entirely by hand from authentic materials which match the original, it features tandem seating for two adults (with the driver in front and the passenger directly behind) as well as dedicated luggage space in the back.
A total of 99 ‘First Edition’ models – complete with Union flags and unique details – are to be sold.
The electric charging port for the new, smaller baby Bentley is cunningly concealed within the mock ‘supercharger’ housing at the front of the battery-powered vehicle.
The zero-emissions ‘Blower Jnr’ has been inspired by Bentley’s historic Team Car No.2 – said by the firm to be the most famous, valuable and iconic Bentley in the world.
James Bond creator Ian Fleming chose a Bentley Blower as secret agent 007’s original first car in his books, and one had a fleeting appearance on film.
Described as a ‘faithful homage’, Blower Jnr is a collaboration between Bentley’s Heritage Collection and The Little Car Company and is the most sophisticated city car it has yet built.
The new electric Bentley is also The Little Car Company’s first road-legal car – and can be driven like any other car on the roads of the UK, USA and mainland Europe.
The firm has previously produced smaller non-road legal versions of other cars, including James Bond’s DB5 and a Bugatti among a range of models.
The original Bentley Team Car from 1929 – insured for £25million – was used by The Little Car Company to master the design of Blower Jnr, with details recreated at 85 per cent scale: ‘The result is a vehicle that will have even experts looking twice’, said the Crewe-based luxury car maker which added: ‘It is crafted by hand to the same standards as any Bentley, and adorned with beautiful details all inspired by the original Team car.’
Blower Jnr made its world debut in front of 100 VIPs at Monterey Car Week, ahead of a schedule of appearances across the weekend. Production is expected to begin in the second quarter of 2024.
The two seater Junior has the driver (with central adjustable driving position) sitting in front of the rear passenger – compared to side-by side with the four-seater original.
The scaled down fuel tank has been re-worked as a boot with complete with lockable latch and big enough to fit an optional bespoke weekend bag.
At the front of the car, the supercharger now houses the charging port that connects the onboard charger.
It is surrounded by the famous Bentley mesh grille, in an authentic nickel-plated radiator housing.
How the new Bentley ‘Blower Jnr’ compares to the original
The dashboard is made of ‘engine turned aluminium’ to give the feel of a scaled-down replica of the original. But key elements have been ‘repurposed’.
For instance, the fuel pressure pump of the original is now used for the drive mode selector, with a choice of three settings: Comfort (2kW), Bentley (8kW) or Sport for maximum power of 15kW.
Forward, neutral and reverse gears are selected via a lever that looks and feels like the ignition advance control from the original Blower.
Other switchgear for the headlights and indicators copies the form and materiality of the magneto switches from the Team Car, while the battery charge gauge recreates the original ammeter.
A USB charging point is discreetly concealed and a dual-function display serves as a Garmin satellite navigation screen and reversing camera.
The Blower Jnr’s frame is painted steel, to which an authentic chassis specification is attached.
Ride comfort comes courtesy of leaf springs and scaled-down, period-correct friction dampers. Stopping power is provided by Brembo disc brakes at the front and drums at the rear.
The electric motor is mounted across the rear axle, while the batteries and drive electronics are all housed in a hidden undertray.
The rear bodywork structure is crafted in carbon fibre rather an ash frame. But it is covered in impregnated fabric, just like the original.
The front hand-crafted aluminium bonnet uses traditional techniques, has multiple cooling vents and is fastened with beautiful leather buckled bonnet straps.
The initial 99 First Edition examples of Blower Jnr will feature special badging on the hood, door sill plate and dash as well as an engraved and numbered ‘1 of 99’ plaque.
All will be finished in Blower Green, with matching painted chassis and wheels, and a Union flag hand-painted on both sides of the body to match the original
Seats and interior are upholstered in the Dark Green Lustrana Hide used by Mulliner for the full-sized but modern recreation Blower Continuation Series costing £1.5million each.
The side panel and radiator carry the period-correct racing number, while the steering wheel is rope-bound.
Bentley said: ‘Blower Jnr is crafted by hand to the same standards as any Bentley, and adorned with beautiful details all inspired by the original Team car.’
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