I think it is safe to say that everyone knew Bentley would make an electric sport utility vehicle at some point. What I don’t think we thought they’d say is that it will be the first “true” luxury urban SUV. That’s a bold statement but they’re serious about this not being a marketing scheme only with capitalized “Luxury” and “Urban.” They’re going to unveil a whole new segment!
Regardless of their intentions on paper, any luxury electric SUV from Bentley is going to be bonkers expensive, and luxurious. The details on the car being released in 2026 are slim, but they are reporting the car will be the first of a new car to be released every year until 2035, in either BEV or PHEV form.
The Bentley Beyond100 strategy for new cars to 2030 was updated to Beyond100+ to 2035, with the BEV and PHEV strategy in mind. The ultimate end of the strategy is a decarbonized future with battery electric vehicles. The “Dream Factory” is part of the strategy, with major improvements at its historic facility in Crewe.
Dr. Frank-Steffen Walliser, Chairman and CEO of Bentley Motors, was quoted as saying:
“Four years almost to the day that Bentley initially outlined its Beyond100 strategy, we adapt to today’s economic, market and legislative environment to initiate a major transformative phase for tomorrow. Beyond100+ becomes our guiding light as we extend our ambitions beyond 2030 while maintaining our aim of a decarbonized future, including offering only fully electric cars from 2035, and reinforcing our credentials as the British creator of extraordinary cars for over a century and beyond.”
They’re not likely to market this new offering with Grey Poupon again (yes, I know Rolls Royce did it as well), but wouldn’t it be fun to see Bentley playing around with their first “true” luxury BEV SUV? If they want to cement something in people’s minds with a new segment, I think they should call the mustard people.
Cheers!
M. T. Blake
(Insta @autohabitblake)
