Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Auto
  3. News

Bentley’s first electric SUV enters pre-series build ahead of 2026 reveal

Bentley revises electric plan, keeps hybrids through 2035

Bentley's first electric vehicle covered by a black tarp.
Bentley Motors

Bentley’s first electric vehicle is finally taking shape. In a streamed press conference on November 5, 2025, Bentley executives stated that the company’s all-new compact luxury SUV has entered pre-series production ahead of a full reveal in 2026, marking the first major step in its Beyond100+ plan. Built in Crewe, the yet-unnamed model promises charging speeds that add 100 miles in just seven minutes, along with the usual Bentley craftsmanship inside and out.

The move comes with a strategic pivot. Bentley is extending its hybrid timeline, confirming that plug-in models will stay in the lineup until at least 2035. It’s a signal that demand for hybrid power still runs strong, even as the brand prepares for a fully electric future.

Fast-charging electric SUV leads Bentley’s next chapter

This upcoming model creates a new segment Bentley calls the “Luxury Urban SUV.” It’s smaller than a Bentayga—less than five meters long—but still aims to deliver the same quiet, muscular performance and attention to detail. Pre-series vehicles are now undergoing global testing ahead of launch, with deliveries expected to start in 2027.

Recommended Videos

Charging speed is a standout feature. Bentley says the SUV can add roughly 100 miles of range in under seven minutes. The car will combine that performance with the familiar handcrafted luxury and technology expected from the brand’s flagship models, all designed, developed, and built in Crewe.

Hybrids extended and Crewe site transformed

Bentley’s revised roadmap means internal-combustion and hybrid models aren’t going away soon. Plug-in hybrid versions of the Continental GT, GTC, and Flying Spur will remain available well into the next decade. A new limited-production, non-hybrid performance model is also due before the end of 2025, keeping Bentley’s traditional engines alive a bit longer.

Bentley continues pouring investment into its Crewe “Dream Factory.” The site is being overhauled into a flexible, digital manufacturing hub for electrified vehicles. A new design center and logistics complex opened earlier this year, and a state-of-the-art paint shop is scheduled for 2026. It’s the biggest self-funded upgrade in Bentley’s history, securing its home base for the brand’s next generation of electric and hybrid cars.

Bruce Brown Contributing Editor   As a Contributing Editor to the Auto teams at Digital Trends and TheManual.com, Bruce… Read Full Bio
The next evolution of the sports car: Porsche redesigns an icon
City, Car, Transportation

Authenticity. It is what we are looking for nowadays as consumers. Thirty years ago, we looked for brand names. We strived for status and letting all those around us see that what we wore, where we lived, where we dined, and finally, what we drove, symbolized our success in life. Then all of that started to stumble, and every industry felt the recession. Of course, the recession was temporary, but the effects of it were not. What we started to look for after that was something real. We realized that stuff…was just stuff. Now, when I look at cars, or suits, or restaurants, I ask myself: What is this going to make me feel?

That is what the new Porsche Mission S does; it makes me feel like vintage New York and the upstate escape.

Read more
How much horsepower does a 2026 Formula 1 car really have?
Red Bull's Max Verstappen driving a victory circle.

 

If you have ever been to a Formula 1 race, you probably know these machines are the pinnacle of performance. These super machines are some of the most amazing creations in the mechanical world and are a marvel to watch scream around the courses around the world during the F1 season. But how much power do they have? More specifically, how much horsepower pulls that thing around the track?

Read more
Supercars and luxury? Villa La Massa Excellence is back October 16-18
City, Architecture, Building

I am a fan of vehicles. Cars are a bit of a mystery to me. I know enough to know that my expertise ends with the go-pedal and the aux cord. That doesn’t mean I can’t appreciate an unbelievable machine. And that is what is showing up at Villa La Massa Excellence next month. From October 16-18, the most incredible supercars in the world will be on display for lovers of cars that leave nothing to be desired. If you are ready to see some stellar machines, this edition features the Ferrari F80, F12tdf, and LaFerrari; Lamborghini Murcielago; McLaren P1; Maserati MC12; Porsche 911 Carrera RS Club Sport and 959 Evo Dakar; Bentley Continental GT Number 9 Edition by Mulliner; and Prodrive P25.

This year’s field is truly exceptional. We have extraordinary cars that will capture the attention of enthusiasts and industry professionals alike. – Luigi Orlandini, Chairman and CEO of Canossa Events

Read more