British luxury brand Bentley has just run its first laps at the Nürburgring behind the wheel of its potential next bestseller, the Bentley Barnato. Ever since the Bentayga arrived, Bentley has been figuring out new ways to round out its SUV range. The Barnato, a more exclusive alternative to the Porsche Cayenne, might be a solution.
Now AutoNotion has acquired some fresh spy photos from the latest stage of its development and testing.
Lapping the Nürburgring with the Final Details in Place
You may already know a little about the ‘Barnato’, but this is the first time AutoNotion has caught Bentley’s new luxury SUV running between the curbs of the “Green Hell.” The British brand is now evaluating its dynamic behavior following its winter testing rounds. But this time around, vehicle’s the bodywork stands out more than anything else.
The Bentley Barnato is a larger SUV built on the PPE platform — the same one used by the Porsche Cayenne. That said, the Barnato might also be offered with a plug-in hybrid setup, just like the Bentayga. Bentley has kept the final design of its new SUV under wraps so far, with no further details on its powertrain, specs, or final price.
Heavily Disguised: Only Hints About Its Design
What we have got is a glimpse of new front LED headlights, seemingly more oval in shape, and we’ve also noted the absence of a front grille for the first time on a Bentley model. If it does launch as a fully electric SUV, that styling choice makes sense as a way to improve aerodynamics — a key factor when it comes to extending an EV’s range.
On top of that, Bentley has camouflaged the side fenders and the hood with body panels, making it difficult to spot any clues about its new design. The bodywork shares similarities with the Porsche Cayenne. While there are differences around the rear side windows you might see a reasonable resemblance in the shape of the wheel arches, the door handles and the design of the front headlights. The latter feature four matrix LED elements arranged in a cross pattern, just like on the German SUV.
Bentley Barnato: It Could Debut in 2026
Inside, the Barnato carries over many of the elements already seen in the new Porsche Cayenne. Among them, a dashboard built around heavy digitalization and a total absence of physical buttons. The curved central touchscreen also stands out — seemingly using an interface developed specifically for Bentley.
At the rear, it is practically impossible to make out what its signature elements will be. Bentley has covered the tailgate and the LED taillights with additional vinyl, leaving the rear bumper as the only visible piece. The Bentley Barnato is expected to be officially unveiled before the end of 2026 and to round out the range as a sibling to the Bentayga.
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