Auto

Bentley Blower Jnr begins durability testing with a Christmas mission

Inspired by Team Car No. 2, the most famous, valuable and iconic Bentley in the world, the Bentley Blower Jnr is a collaboration between The Little Car Company and Bentley’s Heritage Collection. Crafted by hand to exceptional quality standards and adorned with beautiful details, all inspired by the original Blower. To gain confidence in both the engineering and design of Bentley Blower Jnr, The Little Car Company will undertake a durability programme exceeding 5,000 miles across three different continents. The mission started with a seasonal twist – the collection of a Christmas tree from the snowscape of Switzerland, for the joint Christmas party.The durability programme will include real world driving and usage at different proving grounds before the start of production in 2024. The 85 percent scale recreation of 1929 4½-litre Supercharged Bentley will be put through extensive testing, including seatbelts ensuring road legality for the EU L7e Type Approval. The Bentley Blower Jnr is built around a 48V electric powertrain with a 15 kW (20 bhp) motor, meaning a top speed of 45 mph / 72 km/h in the UK and EU (25 mph / 40 km/h in the USA due to legislation) and an expected range of around 65 miles, with tandem seating for two adults.Crafted entirely by hand, from authentic materials to match the original, the Bentley Blower Jnr consists of over 700 parts. The bodywork is constructed in two sections, and while the rear body structure is created in carbon fibre rather than being an ash frame, it’s covered in impregnated fabric, just as the original. The bonnet, with its multiple cooling louvres, is hand-crafted in aluminium using traditional techniques and fastened with beautiful leather buckled bonnet straps.