Bentley shared details about its first all-electric vehicle during a media briefing at its Crewe factory. The British luxury automaker confirmed the unnamed model will arrive toward the end of 2026, with deliveries starting in 2027.
The company calls the new vehicle a “luxury urban SUV” and says it’ll create an entirely new segment. At under five meters long, it’ll be Bentley’s shortest model and sit below the Bentayga in the lineup.
Dr. Frank-Steffen Walliser, Bentley’s CEO, confirmed the timeline during the Crewe event.
The electric SUV uses the PPE platform – that’s the same underpinnings Porsche and Audi developed for their electric vehicles. It’ll share this foundation with the upcoming Porsche Cayenne Electric.
Bentley revealed one key performance detail: the SUV can charge from zero to 100 miles of range in seven minutes.
The Porsche Cayenne Electric offers some clues about what to expect. That model produces between 400 and 805 horsepower, jumping to nearly 1,000 horsepower with launch control engaged. It uses a dual-motor, four-wheel-drive setup with a 108kWh battery that provides up to 373 miles of range.
Design and Strategy Shift
The production SUV will take design cues from this year’s EXP 15 concept car. Bentley describes that concept as representing its “design vision for the future.”
This electric SUV marks the first vehicle in Bentley’s Beyond100+ strategy. The plan outlines the company’s path to becoming fully electric by 2035 – that’s five years later than originally planned.
Before today’s announcement, Bentley targeted going fully electric by 2030.
Over the next decade, the company plans to launch either a fully-electric or plug-in hybrid model every year.
“Our first fully electric Bentley, the world’s first true Luxury Urban SUV, represents a bold step forward, it embodies our vision for sustainable luxury and technological excellence,” said Dr. Walliser. “With industry-leading charging capability and unmistakable Bentley character and design, it marks the beginning of an exciting new era for our brand – a future defined by innovation, craftsmanship, and sustainability.”
Dr. Walliser explained the decision to push back the all-electric timeline by five years.
“Today’s updates to our Beyond100+ strategy reaffirm Bentley’s commitment to progress – responsibly and sustainably. We are evolving our product cadence to reflect the realities of a changing world and a dynamic marketplace.”
The CEO added that extending internal combustion engine and hybrid offerings until at least 2035 ensures customers can experience Bentley’s full range of performance and craftsmanship.
Production and Competition
Bentley will build the electric SUV at its renovated Crewe facility. The plant has undergone significant redevelopment to handle electric vehicle production.
Expected rivals include similar luxury electric offerings from Aston Martin, Ferrari, and Rolls-Royce. These manufacturers are all developing their first electric vehicles for the ultra-luxury segment.
The timing puts Bentley in the middle of the luxury EV race – not first to market, but not far behind its traditional competitors.
