Bentley Is Going To Release A Smaller SUV Few Are Asking For

  • Bentley’s second SUV will share its electric powertrain with the Cayenne.
  • New model is smaller than the Bentayga and launches exclusively as an EV.
  • Company plans to reveal its new electric SUV sometime in mid 2026.

Believe it or not, it’s been a decade since Bentley introduced the Bentayga SUV, and it’s proven to be the brand’s best-selling model during this time. It’s perhaps a surprise then that it’s taken them ten years to start work on a second SUV, designed to slot below the Bentayga.

This new model is currently known as the Urban SUV, but expect a fancier name once production is near. Unlike the Bentayga, it will be sold exclusively as an EV, a decision that, given the current uncertainty surrounding Western markets, might not prove Bentley’s most strategic choice.

Read: This Is Bentley’s First EV And It’s Built To Haul More Than Just Your Ego

Hindsight, of course, is 2020, but it’s reasonable to assume Bentley also had China in mind, where electric vehicles now dominate the premium segment. Either way, with fellow VW-owned brand Porsche already having two electric SUVs of its own, it was only a matter of time before Bentley followed suit.

What’s Hiding Under There?

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Pictured here for the first time during testing at Germany’s Nürburgring Nordschleife, the Urban SUV is hiding under camouflage and body cladding, keeping most of its design details a secret. Included as part of the disguise are four fake circular headlights, similar in shape to those of the current Bentayga.

A few months ago, Bentley unveiled the wild EXP15 concept, complete with vertical headlights. However, the headlight clusters we can see don’t look like the concept’s.

As with the headlights, it is difficult to discern the shape of the grille, as it too has been hidden from view. What we can see is that this new model is smaller than the Bentayga and has a lower roofline. This isn’t to say it’s small, however. It’ll likely be about the same size as the new Porsche Cayenne Electric.

Our spy photographer was able to catch a glimpse of the SUV’s interior, although it’s difficult to pinpoint any highlights. What we can say with certainty is that it won’t follow the current trend of many EVs that feature tacky tablet-like displays for the gauge cluster and then giant infotainment screens on the dash.

Cayenne Electric Power?

 Bentley Is Going To Release A Smaller SUV Few Are Asking For
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Powertrain details have not been confirmed, but the Bentley is widely expected to share many components with the Cayenne Electric.

This could include the same 113 kWh battery pack and 800-volt electrical architecture, ensuring the Bentley will have decent range and support fast-charging. In the case of the Cayenne, Porsche says it needs just 16 minutes to charge from 10-80 percent.

Two versions of the Cayenne Electric have been confirmed, one with 402 hp as standard or 435 hp with launch control enabled, and the flagship Turbo that boasts 844 hp during normal driving and 1,139 hp and 1,106 lb-ft at launch control. It’s safe to assume the Bentley’s power figures could slot somewhere between the two Cayenne models.

Bentley is expected to unveil the Urban SUV in mid-2026, with first deliveries planned for 2027.

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The Auto World

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