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Bentley's first production EV is almost ready — and its cabin nods to Porsche
The Volkswagen Group's Premium Platform Electric (PPE) will underpin Bentley's first series-production electric vehicle, arriving in 2026. Spied in recent pre-production shots, the Luxury Urban SUV — the model still lacks an official name — is now clearly being finalised. Early November 2025 saw pre-series production begin, and the test mules are already showing production-spec headlights, grille details, exterior mirrors and a finished, high-quality interior.
Interior: Porsche Cayenne Electric influence
Inside, Bentley appears to have borrowed heavily from the Porsche Cayenne Electric's Flow Display, pairing it with unmistakable Bentley touches. A central OLED screen mirrors the Cayenne Electric layout, while the left multi-function stalk on the steering column resembles the one introduced on Audi's 2026 Q3. The right stalk differs, but Bentley carries the same knurled motif across controls — including two textured buttons on the leather-wrapped steering wheel.
The wheel itself, apart from a temporary missing airbag logo on the test car, reads as pure Bentley: premium materials, knurled toggles beneath the main display and a covered passenger side of the dash that strongly hints at an optional passenger display. Distinctive bullseye air vents, slightly revised from the Bentayga, Flying Spur and Continental, complete a cabin that blends Porsche-style ergonomics with Bentley luxury.
Exterior and practical details
From the outside the SUV is a touch smaller than the combustion and plug-in hybrid Bentayga. Two charging flaps sit on the rear fenders in the same arrangement as its PPE sibling, Porsche's Cayenne Electric — the left flap likely reserved for DC fast charging, the right for AC charging.
Spy photos of the digital instrument cluster show 87 km (54 miles) of remaining range on one test vehicle, suggesting realistic day-to-day figures in line with a heavy, ultra-luxury SUV.
Charging, names and production
Bentley has filed trademarks for both Barnato and Mayon. While Barnato was once associated with a planned two-door sports model that never reached production, Mayon seems a better fit for this electric SUV — and may be the final name. Bentley says the new EV will be capable of replenishing roughly 100 miles (161 km) of range in under seven minutes, underscoring rapid DC charging capability. For comparison, Porsche claims the Cayenne Electric can add about 202 miles (325 km) in 10 minutes under ideal conditions.
Production will take place in Crewe — a deliberate choice by Bentley to keep its ultra-luxury build pedigree at the company's UK home instead of platforms' other PPE factories across Europe.
Performance and market positioning
As a heavy, premium SUV, Bentley's EV will almost certainly come standard with all-wheel drive. Porsche's base Cayenne Electric uses two PSM motors to deliver 435 hp and 615 lb-ft (835 Nm) with Overboost and Launch Control; the range-topping Cayenne Turbo Electric pushes those numbers to staggering figures (up to 1,139 hp and 1,106 lb-ft / 1,500 Nm). Given Bentley's positioning inside the Volkswagen Group, expect the marque to aim for equally headline-grabbing performance and bespoke luxury features rather than simply matching Porsche spec-for-spec.
- Platform: Volkswagen Group PPE (Premium Platform Electric)
- Possible names: Mayon (favoured), Barnato (less likely)
- Charging: two flaps, fast DC capability — ~100 miles in under 7 minutes claimed
- Production: Crewe, UK
Spy shots show Bentley polishing details — the cabin blends Porsche-derived tech with traditional Bentley craftsmanship.
With pre-series production underway, expect Bentley to reveal more official details on range, powertrain variants and bespoke luxury options as launch approaches in 2026. For enthusiasts and buyers, the key questions will be how Bentley balances outright performance with the brand's signature refinement and craftsmanship in its first true electric flagship.
Source: autoevolution
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