Bentley is getting ready to widen its SUV lineup with a second high-riding model, one that will slot in below the Bentayga. This time, though, the formula changes. Instead of another combustion-powered offering, the new arrival is set to be fully electric.

Early reports pointed to the name ‘Mayon,’ which appeared in a trademark filing with the European Union Intellectual Property Office last year. However, more recent intel points to the ‘Barnato’ name being used; after all, it carries more heritage honoring Le Mans winner and Bentley owner Woolf Barnato. 

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Our sleuths behind the lens have already captured heavily camouflaged prototypes testing in winter conditions, yet we’ve gone one step further by digitally decoding its design and exploring everything else we know ahead of its expected debut.

Sleeker Than The Bentayga

Unlike the much-criticised Bentayga, the Barnato is a sleeker affair that draws part inspiration from the brand’s futuristic EXP 15 concept.

At the front, the fascia evolves Bentley’s familiar matrix grille theme into a closed-off interpretation that hints at its electrified powertrain. The headlights adopt four distinct lighting elements, accompanied by a horizontal DRL strip that spears into the front fenders, and lower down, a wide lattice-detailed intake aids cooling and aerodynamic efficiency.

From the side, it appears shorter and more athletic than the Bentayga, with pronounced muscular haunches and frameless windows adding a sportier character. A scalloped shoulder line emphasises stately dynamism, while at the rear, the SUV features slim, jewel-like LED taillights, and a  Taycan-style rear diffuser profile aids airflow.

Digital Cabin Experience

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Inside, Bentley is mixing old-school craftsmanship with a very modern digital backbone. Front and center sits a sweeping curved OLED display that cascades into the center console, echoing the layout seen in the latest Porsche Cayenne Electric. It runs on Android Automotive OS, backed by quicker processors, sharper AI voice control, and access to downloadable apps. There’s even a 3D digital model of the Barnato embedded in the system, letting occupants manage various functions directly through the interface.

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Other goodies will include an OLED instrument cluster with 3D overlays, an augmented-reality head-up display, and digital key functionality. A new three-spoke steering wheel features physical buttons and knurled scroll wheels, and we can expect seating configurations to include four- and five-seat layouts.

There’s also a curious bit of hardware carried over from the wider VW Group playbook. A multi-function left-hand column stalk, first seen on the Audi Q3, joins a right-hand stalk that doubles as the transmission selector, similar to the setup in the Volkswagen ID.4. Even so, the materials and finish leave no doubt about where this sits in the hierarchy. It still feels unmistakably Bentley.

Platform And Powertrain

The Barnato rides on the VW Group’s Premium Platform Electric (PPE) architecture shared with the upcoming Cayenne Electric. Battery capacity is expected to reach 113 kWh, enabling high-performance and long-distance touring. Bentley claims 100 miles (160 km) of range can be recovered in less than seven minutes.

Using the electron-equipped Porsche as a reference point, power levels could range from 402 hp (300 kW/408 PS) to over 1140 hp (850 kW) in flagship variants. All models will likely feature dual-motor all-wheel drive as standard, with the rear motor featuring direct oil cooling to manage heat during sustained performance driving.

Rivals And Reveal

The Barnato is being lined up for the top tier of performance SUVs, going head to head with heavy hitters like the Mercedes-Maybach EQS SUV, Rolls-Royce Cullinan, Lotus Eletre, Lamborghini Urus, Aston Martin DBX, Ferrari Purosangue and Luce, and the flagship Range Rover SV. Serious company, then.

Expect electrified offerings from Porsche to act as the technical yardstick here, setting the pace in areas like performance, software, and charging capability.

If the Bentayga proved anything, it is that Bentley buyers have no issue with a luxury SUV wearing a winged badge. So a second one was never really in doubt. That follow-up is now deep into development, and it has just been spotted winter testing for the first time.

For now, it is referred to as the Urban SUV, though that name is almost certainly temporary. It will sit below the Bentayga in the range and, more significantly, it will be fully electric. Yes, the EV market has cooled slightly, but Bentley appears confident that its customers are still ready for a battery-powered SUV with the right badge on the nose.

Read: Bentley’s New Urban SUV Copies A Controversial Feature From Audi’s Q3

Several prototypes have been seen out on the road in recent months, but this is the first time one has appeared wearing this darker, more dramatic camouflage scheme. It’s been adorned with a large LED light bar at the front, ensuring the engineers testing it can still see after the sun sets in the depths of Europe’s winter.

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Most of the Urban SUV’s shape is still carefully disguised, but a few details are slipping through. Up front, the headlights feature four distinct lighting elements, giving it a signature that sets it apart from today’s Bentleys. Around the back, temporary cladding does its best to obscure the view, though slim LED taillights are clearly visible beneath the camouflage.

A Porsche Powertrain

Bentley is building its second SUV on the same Premium Platform Electric architecture as the new Porsche Cayenne Electric. That strongly suggests plenty of shared hardware with its German cousin, potentially including battery packs and motor configurations.

As it stands, the entry-level Cayenne Electric delivers 402 hp and tops out at 1,039 hp in the extraordinary Turbo variant. Our hunch is that the base Bentley will deliver around 600 hp. Whether or not it receives a flagship version with a four-digit horsepower figure remains uncertain.

One figure Bentley does seem keen to emphasize is charging speed. The SUV is expected to support ultra-fast DC charging, with the promise of adding 100 miles (160 km) of range in just seven minutes.

Audi Meets Porsche Inside

Late last year, our spy photographers finally caught the cabin in clear view. The images show a curved central infotainment screen that looks very close to the setup in the Cayenne Electric, paired with a separate digital instrument cluster ahead of the driver. It is familiar architecture, even if the surrounding materials will inevitably be pure Bentley.

There is more evidence of parts sharing lower down the steering column. Bentley’s compact electric SUV appears to use the same multi-function stalk arrangement as the new Audi Q3. Indicators, wipers, and headlight controls are grouped on the left stalk, while the right is dedicated solely to the shifter.

As for timing, Bentley could give us our first proper look at the production-ready model later this year. Customer deliveries of the Urban SUV are expected to begin in 2027, which gives Crewe a little time to perfect the details and, presumably, settle on a name that is not “Urban SUV.”

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