Bentley’s first electrical automotive has damaged cowl, as check prototypes hit public roads in preparation for an unveiling subsequent 12 months.
Pitched as “the world’s first true luxurious city SUV”, the unnamed new mannequin would be the shortest Bentley but, at lower than 5 metres lengthy, and can slot in beneath the Bentayga. It is because of be revealed in the course of 2026, forward of buyer deliveries getting underneath means within the second quarter of 2027.
These new photos present the SUV’s manufacturing bodywork for the primary time, demonstrating the affect of Bentley’s new brand-shaping EXP 15 idea in its monolithic surfacing, bluff proportions and comparatively low-slung silhouette.
Bentley hasn’t but confirmed any technical particulars of the brand new idea, however will probably be primarily based on a model of the Porsche-and-Audi-developed PPE EV platform and as such is predicted to be carefully associated to the Porsche Cayenne Electrical.
The brand new Cayenne is obtainable completely with dual-motor, four-wheel-drive powertrains placing out between 400bhp within the base automotive and 805bhp within the top-rung variant (rising to just about 1000bhp with launch management). A 108kWh battery is estimated to provide a spread of as much as 373 miles in essentially the most environment friendly variant and will be charged at as much as 400kW.
There was no affirmation of how carefully associated the 2 vehicles will likely be, however at slightly below 5.0m lengthy, the Cayenne Electrical is predicted to be nearly precisely the identical measurement as the electrical Bentley, suggesting scope for shut collaboration.
The ‘city SUV’ has been noticed the day after Bentley CEO Frank-Steffen Walliser advised Autocar {that a} substantial reorganisation of sibling model Porsche’s EV plans will have an effect at Crewe as effectively.
Walliser stated Bentley nonetheless plans to launch a brand new plug-in hybrid or absolutely electrical automotive yearly from 2026, starting with the city SUV, however will pursue a balanced powertrain combine to cater to gradual premium EV demand over the approaching years.
“There’s a dip in demand for luxurious electrical automobiles, and buyer demand just isn’t but sturdy sufficient to help an all-electric technique. The posh market is quite a bit totally different at this time than once we introduced [our] Beyond100 [plan],” he stated.
“Electrification remains to be our objective, however we have to take our clients with us.”
The transfer is prone to imply the present Bentayga, Continental GT and Flying Spur will as soon as once more provide pure-petrol powertrain choices in sure markets, having been deliberate to go PHEV-only. The brand new mannequin, although, will likely be completely electrical – with the marginally bigger Bentayga persevering with to function Bentley’s sole ICE SUV providing.
