Bentley has unveiled a plug-in hybrid version of its Bentayga SUV, combining an electric motor with a new V6 petrol engine.

The reveal of the luxury vehicle took place at the Geneva Motor Show and marks the first step in the premium brand’s move towards full electrification. The Bentayga Hybrid is the marque’s most efficient model to date, too, emitting just 75g/km of CO2.

It features a turbocharged 3.0-litre V6 petrol engine, which powers the car in conjunction with Bentley’s new E Motor that acts as both an electric motor and a generator.

Bentley claims that the Bentayga Hybrid has an electric-only range of more than 31 miles. The car uses satellite navigation to calculate when power should be taken from the electric motor and when the petrol engine should be used.

Recharging the Bentayga Hybrid’s battery from a standard domestic power socket takes 7.5 hours, but owners can have a power dock installed at their home to speed up the process. The unit has been designed by Philippe Starck and allows the car to be charged in just 2.5 hours.

A number of functions specific to the hybrid powertrain have been added to the MyBentley3 Connected Car infotainment system, such as remote battery charging, remote heating and cooling, and vehicle status reports, all of which can be accessed via a smartphone app.

Another feature of the app is the charging station finder, which can list suitable charging stations for the Bentayga Hybrid within a search area or along the route of a journey.

Pricing for the Bentayga Hybrid has not yet been announced, but it will likely start somewhere around the £150,000 mark – more than the diesel and petrol V8 models but less than the petrol W12.

Adrian Hallmark, chairman and CEO of Bentley Motors, said: “The Bentayga Hybrid is our first step on the road to electrification, combining traditional Bentley values with the very latest technologies.

“It gives customers the best of both worlds – engaging, effortless performance on the open road and silent, emission-free driving in the city, which will become increasingly important with the ever-changing regulations around the world.

“Following Bentley tradition, the Bentayga Hybrid pioneers a new automotive sector – the luxury hybrid – and sets Bentley on the path towards a sustainable electrified future.”