Bentley electric SUV: Porsche Macan-based crossover imagined

Bentley will reportedly launch a new SUV in 2025 to compete against the next-generation Porsche Macan and Range Rover Velar.

A new premium SUV to sit beneath the larger Bentayga has been rumoured for many years, with Bentley executives first announcing plans of exploring further SUV derivatives more than half a decade ago.

While this has yet to come to fruition, and Bentley has remained coy on its future development plans, the British luxury marque – now under the control of Audi from January, 1, 2022 – is believed to be developing a new vehicle underpinned by the Volkswagen Group’s latest Premium Platform Electric (PPE).

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This architecture will underpin the next-generation Porsche Macan, as well as the Audi Q6 E-Tron and A6 E-Tron Sportback.

Now, a new pair of renderings by Theottle have imagined what the upcoming D-segment luxury crossover could look like.

Inspired by the current Bentayga, the pictures bring the large SUV’s design into a smaller medium-sized body to create a ‘baby Bentayga’ look.

The as-yet-unnamed electric SUV is anticipated to adopt the latest Bentley design language, first debuted on the Bentayga and Continental GT facelifts, as well as the bespoke Mulliner Bacalar. This includes the brand’s iconic dual circular headlights, slim oval-shaped tail-lights, and a large grille.

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Above: 2023 Porsche Macan EV

First detailed last year, Bentley has declared all non-electrified vehicles will be phased out by 2026 – with the line-up to consist of electric and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) models – before it goes electric-only from 2030.

Bentley currently sells two electrified vehicles: the Bentayga Hybrid and Flying Spur Hybrid.

The brand claims 39 per cent of its owners are considering a battery electric vehicle as their next car, despite the successes of its internal-combustion engines.

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Above: 2022 Bentley Bentayga

A new SUV, designed to compete against the long-wheelbase Range Rover, is likely to arrive soon after and be based around Project Artemis – a development program led by Audi intended to showcase the best of the Volkswagen Group’s autonomous driving and energy efficiency capabilities.

It is expected to be underpinned by the forthcoming Scalable Systems Platform (SSP), which will succeed the MEB and PPE architectures across each VW Group brand within the next five years.

Indirectly succeeding the now-discontinued Mulsanne flagship, the ultra-luxury EV is rumoured to commence production in 2026, alongside the forthcoming electric Audi mother ship.