Bentley’s first electric SUV promises luxury without sticker shock
Bentley is preparing its first electric car and doing so with a surprising sense of restraint. According to the company, the upcoming battery powered SUV will not exceed the price of a base Bentayga. The claim came straight from the source, as communications chief Wayne Bruce confirmed it in an interview with Car Expert. Bentley is therefore working on an SUV that opens an entirely new segment and nudges luxury closer to a more approachable bracket.
Bruce stressed that the model is being shaped to stand apart on three fronts. Design, technical capability and build quality form a package that he believes current luxury manufacturers do not directly rival. It is a bold pitch, yet Bentley sees room where the electric luxury SUV market has not quite delivered.
The new model will be more compact than the Bentayga. Its styling will take a braver route, influenced by the Exp 15 concept shown last summer. Bentley intends to step away from the traditional blocky silhouette and explore a sharper, more modern geometry that suits an electric drivetrain more naturally.
One technical promise stands out. Bentley says the SUV will gain up to 160 kilometres of charge in only 6.5 minutes. That puts the brand on par with the quickest charging electric cars and signals that it wants more than opulence. It also wants everyday usability backed by serious engineering.
Reports suggest Bentley’s first EV will share its platform with Porsche’s forthcoming Cayenne Electric. The Porsche architecture already demonstrates its potential, developing up to 1156 horsepower and reaching 100 kilometres an hour in 2.5 seconds. If Bentley taps even part of that capability, the result will be an SUV that refuses to let other players divide the electric luxury market among themselves.
Bentley says the production model will be revealed next year and will reach showrooms in 2026. It aims to set a fresh benchmark in the electric luxury segment, one that rivals are still working to meet.
Luxury brands no longer present electrification as a distant vision. Porsche and Mercedes are moving in the same direction, although Bentley appears to seek a niche where pricing stays within firmer bounds and design takes a bolder leap. It may appeal to buyers who are weary of the rising costs of top tier electric models. Bentley’s approach suggests that luxury in the electric era can become unexpectedly diverse, even when elegance remains uncompromising.
