by Bentley’s New Electric SUV
It is impossible to stop luxury car buyers in their passion for off-road vehicles, so Bentley has decided to offer them another model. This will be the brand’s second SUV, a smaller model that will take a position below the Bentayga and will be sold exclusively as an electric vehicle.
The car has already been spotted during testing in Europe, although, in the classic style of prototypes, Bentley engineers have ensured that we still have a very approximate idea of its real appearance.
Bentley Is Going To Release A Smaller SUV Few Are Asking For
The test vehicle, photographed earlier this month at the Nürburgring, was wrapped in so much camouflage and overlaid body elements that it resembled a botched Botox procedure. However, beneath this black-and-white skin may hide an SUV that will look quite attractive, at least if the visualizations by Nikita Chuika for Kolesa prove accurate.
Design and Exterior
At the front, the new Bentley SUV presented in these renders features a radiator grille that differs from the design of existing Bentley models, including the Bentayga.
Since the new model, currently known as the Urban SUV, will be fully electric, a large grille for cooling a powerful engine is not needed. Instead, the British brand may add a large body-colored faux grille, inspired by the one that debuted on the recent EXP15 concept car.
The renders also suggest that the SUV may borrow the front headlight design from the Mulliner Batur model, one of Bentley’s more exclusive models. From the side, the silhouette does not deviate too much from the Bentayga’s canon. Familiar lines mark the doors and flow onto the rear fenders, giving the car a recognizable Bentley shape.
The rear of the new model also has something to attract attention. It is noticeably lower than the Bentayga and features a pair of distinctive LED rear lights. It must be admitted, if the production version comes close to these renders, it likely will not be able to match the sculptural beauty of the current Continental GT. But in the context of the SUV segment as a whole, it could look very worthy.
Interior and Technology
Inside, as we recently saw in spy photos, the Urban SUV prototype combines familiar Volkswagen Group technologies with Bentley’s signature high-quality materials. A curved OLED display, similar to the Porsche Flow Display, takes center stage on the dashboard, with recognizable components such as the multifunction steering wheel from the Audi Q3 located on the sides. Even at this early stage, the cabin is trimmed with rich leather, polished metal, and a complex color palette.
Powertrain
Besides design, the new SUV is likely to inherit many components from the recently unveiled Porsche Cayenne Electric. This will likely include a 113 kWh battery and an 800-volt electrical architecture. Electric motors may also be borrowed, as the top versions of the Porsche deliver up to 1,139 hp. Whether Bentley will choose the same power output is not yet known.
Bentley’s First EV Is A Concept So Weird It Doesn’t Even Have A Front Passenger Seat
Charging speed will be a key parameter. Bentley’s teasers suggest this SUV will be able to recover about 100 miles of range in just seven minutes. Base power is expected to be around 604 hp, matching the future Cayenne S EV, although higher trims will likely offer significantly more.
The development of a smaller electric SUV is a logical step for Bentley in light of the general trend towards electrification and growing demand for premium off-roaders. This will allow the brand to reach a new, possibly younger, audience of customers looking for a luxurious but more urban and environmentally friendly car. The success of this model will largely depend on how successfully Bentley manages to combine progressive electric technology with the unwavering canons of luxury and quality for which the brand is valued. Competition in the electric luxury SUV segment is intensifying, so entering the market with a well-thought-out product is critical.
