by New Electric SUV from Bentley
Bentley has released additional details about its upcoming electric SUV, which will become the brand’s first fully electric car. Simultaneously, the company hinted that its gasoline engines, which were planned to be phased out by 2030, may now continue to exist at least until 2035.
Fast Charging and Specifications
The British company claims that its future electric car, which currently has the working name Luxury Urban SUV, will offer industry-leading charging speeds, allowing to add 100 miles of range in just seven minutes.
This luxurious electric SUV, with a length of less than 5 meters, making it smaller than the Bentayga, is set to debut at the end of 2026 and go on sale the following year.
Design and Exterior
A teaser image of the electric car, covered in black fabric and parked at the Bentley factory in Crewe, shows an SUV with a sporty profile, similar to the Range Rover Velar.
It features a sharply raked windshield, a narrow glass area, and a tapered roofline that drops to the rear window with a slope, indicating that the designers definitely prioritized style over cargo capacity. The connection to the recent Bentley EXP15 concept is obvious, even though the production electric car resembles an SUV more than a coupe.
Shared Platform with Porsche
It will likely share much in common with the electric Porsche Cayenne and may receive the same 108 kWh battery. Porsche will offer three powertrain options: 394 hp for the base Cayenne, 592 hp for the S version, and 794 hp for the Turbo. Bentley may choose the two more powerful options from these three.
“Our first fully electric Bentley, the world’s first true luxury urban SUV, is a bold step forward. It embodies our vision of sustainable luxury and technological excellence,” said Chairman and CEO Dr. Frank-Steffen Walliser, commenting on the updated Bentley Beyond100+ electrification strategy.
“With industry-leading charging capability and unmatched Bentley character and design, it marks the beginning of a new exciting era for our brand – a future defined by innovation, craftsmanship, and sustainability,” Walliser added.
However, behind the scenes, Walliser is aware that the luxury electric car market has not grown with the same strength as in mass-market brands.
Future of Gasoline Engines
Bentley, which once planned to switch exclusively to electric cars by 2030 and then postponed this deadline to 2035, now reports that it will continue to sell hybrid cars at least until that date, hinting that it is ready to postpone the transition again depending on customer demand and legislation.
And that wasn’t the only good news for internal combustion engine enthusiasts. Bentley confirmed that it is developing a limited series of models with internal combustion engines without hybrid technology, which will debut as early as next week.
The car, bearing the Supersports designation, will be a simplified rear-wheel-drive GT, equipped with a twin-turbo V8 engine producing approximately 640 horsepower. More importantly, it is expected to be several hundred pounds lighter than the GT Speed.
The manufacturer also recently introduced the new Bentayga Speed, whose 641 hp is provided by a non-hybrid V8 engine.
These decisions reflect the brand’s flexibility in response to market and regulatory changes. On one hand, Bentley is betting on innovations in electric technologies, and on the other, it continues to develop traditional engines, indicating a diverse strategy and orientation towards different customer groups. This approach allows the company to remain relevant in the context of the rapid evolution of the automotive industry.
