Bentley is preparing to launch its first fully electric vehicle in 2026 – a luxury SUV designed to carve out a unique niche in the high-end automotive market. The company aims to “create another segment” with this model, offering a blend of Bentley craftsmanship, performance, and electric efficiency at a price point below its current Bentayga Speed variant.
Positioning and Pricing
The new EV will be smaller than the existing Bentayga, aligning with models like the Audi Q6 e-tron and Porsche Macan Electric, as it shares a platform with these vehicles. However, Bentley insists it won’t simply be a rebadged Volkswagen Group product. Instead, the design will draw heavily from the futuristic EXP 15 concept, signaling a more progressive aesthetic while retaining the core Bentley experience.
Pricing is expected to start below $450,000 (Australian dollars), making it accessible to buyers who might not consider a Bentayga Speed, which begins at $513,600. The base Bentayga currently starts at $412,600, so the new EV will fall into the lower end of the Bentley spectrum.
Design and Interior
Bentley describes the upcoming SUV as a “totally different type of Bentley,” featuring more aggressive design language and an interior that blends traditional luxury with modern tech. The EXP 15 concept showcased elements likely to appear in the production model: a digital front grille, a rotating digital dash that can switch to wood veneer, and high-end materials like silk jacquard and woven metal.
The interior will remain recognizably Bentley, but with a forward-leaning aesthetic. Executives suggest the vehicle will appeal even to those previously uninterested in electric cars.
Performance and Charging
Technical details remain under wraps, but Bentley has confirmed the EV will offer fast charging capabilities. It can recover 161 kilometers (100 miles) of range in just 6.5 minutes, implying a DC fast-charging capacity exceeding 350kW.
The powertrain could mirror the Porsche Cayenne Electric, utilizing a 108kWh lithium-ion battery and dual electric motors producing up to 850kW and 1500Nm of torque. This configuration could deliver 0–100km/h acceleration in 2.5 seconds with a range of up to 623km.
Development and Production
The vehicle is being designed and developed in the UK, with production slated for Bentley’s headquarters in Crewe, England. Initially, Bentley had planned to release an EV annually from 2025 to 2030, but those plans were scaled back due to market conditions and supply chain issues. The launch was also affected by technical delays experienced by Porsche and Audi in developing the shared Platform Premium Electric (PPE).
Bentley’s first EV represents a strategic shift towards electrification, balancing the brand’s heritage with the demands of a changing automotive landscape. This model will define the company’s future in the luxury EV market.
