Bentley’s first fully electric SUV is due to be revealed in 2026 and reach customers in 2027, positioned as a “Luxury Urban SUV” that sits just below the Bentayga but offers even higher performance, ultra‑fast charging and a cabin dripping in traditional Bentley craftsmanship.
Platform, Power and Performance
The 2027 EV SUV is built on Volkswagen Group’s PPE architecture, shared with the Porsche Cayenne Electric and Audi Q6 e‑tron, bringing an 800‑volt electrical system, a large battery (around 108–113 kWh) and dual‑motor all‑wheel drive as standard. Cayenne EV benchmarks point to outputs from roughly 400 bhp in base form to 800+ bhp in top trims, and Bentley engineers hint the Urban SUV will be “very fast,” with 0–60 mph in under 2.5 seconds and a top speed around 186 mph (300 km/h) supported by a two‑speed transmission. R&D boss Matthias Rabe says the car is being tuned to be “very comfortable like a Flying Spur and agile like a Continental GT,” with rear‑wheel steering, air suspension and advanced torque vectoring to balance limo‑grade comfort with genuine agility.
Range and Ultra-Fast Charging
Bentley is targeting a WLTP range of about 600 km (around 373–435 miles) for its first EV, in line with the Cayenne EV’s expected figures from a roughly 108 kWh pack. Charging is a headline feature: the brand says the SUV will be able to add 100 miles (161 km) of range in roughly 6.5–7 minutes, implying peak DC rates above 300 kW and possibly up to 350–400 kW on suitable high‑power chargers. That puts it among the quickest‑charging luxury EVs, with 10–80% sessions expected to take well under 25 minutes in ideal conditions.
Design, Size and Interior Luxury
Teaser sketches and spy shots show a low, sleek SUV with a shorter overall length than the Bentayga—just under 5 metres—but with broad shoulders, big wheels and an upright Bentley grille treatment echoing the EXP 15 concept. Ride height will be lower than the Bentayga’s, with a more coupe‑like side profile that invites comparisons to the Range Rover Velar, but the EV will still read unmistakably as a Bentley from any angle. Inside, Bentley promises no compromise on materials: early briefings talk about up to 30 square metres of leather, intricate quilting using around 13,000 stitches and 150 metres of thread, plus the brand’s trademark wood, metal and glass detailing layered over a new digital cockpit.
Tech, Driver Assistance and Launch Timing
Software delays pushed Bentley’s first EV from its original 2025 target to a 2027 on‑sale date, and the company has extended its full‑EV deadline from 2030 to 2035, though the SUV itself remains on track. The car will introduce a next‑generation electrical/electronic architecture with advanced driver‑assistance features and “industry‑leading” charging management, and Bentley plans to launch a new EV or PHEV every year from 2026 through 2035 around this foundation. Pre‑series production has already begun at Crewe, with the global debut scheduled for 2026 and first customer deliveries during 2027.
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FAQs
Q1: When will Bentley’s first EV SUV arrive?
It will be revealed in 2026, with deliveries planned to start in 2027 from Bentley’s Crewe factory.
Q2: How fast will it charge and how far will it go?
Bentley targets roughly 600 km range and the ability to add about 100 miles of range in 6.5–7 minutes, suggesting 300–350+ kW DC charging.
Q3: Where does it fit in the lineup?
The EV will sit below the Bentayga in size but above it in technology, acting as a new “Luxury Urban SUV” flagship for Bentley’s electric era