The British icon Bentley is preparing to electrify the automotive world in a way that few expected. While the legendary Bentley Bentayga confidently enters its second decade, the engineers in Crewe are pulling an unexpected trump card from their sleeve – a completely new, compact and bold crossover that promises to rearrange the cards in the luxury segment.
Spy footage from harsh winter tests is already fueling the imagination, and according to insiders, the new model will revive the Bentley Barnato name. This is a direct homage to Wolf Barnato – the iconic financier and three-time winner of the "24 Hours of Le Mans", who is the embodiment of the brand's golden era. The name was already attached years ago to the EXP 10 Speed 6 concept, but today it returns to a body that combines aristocratic finesse with modern aggression.
The design will be a real visual feast, borrowing bold lines from last year's Bentley EXP 15 prototype. The front is dominated by an impressive grille, surrounded by elegant teardrop-shaped headlights that seem to cut through the air. But under this elegant shell there is no conventional heart beating. The Bentley Barnato will be an all-electric monster, standing on the high-tech PPE (Premium Platform Electric) platform, shared with elite athletes such as the Porsche Macan Electric and the Porsche Cayenne Electric.
The numbers behind the project are, to put it mildly, startling and would make any skeptic hold their breath. The top version of the crossover is aimed at a cosmic 1,100 hp and a staggering 1,500 Nm of torque. The result? Acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in just 2.5 seconds - territory previously reserved only for the most exclusive hypercars. The 113 kWh battery will guarantee a quiet range of around 600 km, turning every journey into a silent serenade.
Although it will be positioned below the Bentley Bentayga, the Bentley Barnato's interior will not make any compromises with luxury. The cabin is expected to be a true temple of craftsmanship, filled with the finest materials known to the industry. With an expected starting price of around $200,000 and an official premiere by the end of 2026, this model is a bid for dominance. A "more modest" base version with 408 hp is also expected a little later, which will open the brand's doors to a new, more dynamic audience.