British luxury brand Bentley has just turned its first laps at the Nürburgring behind the wheel of what could become its next bestseller, the Bentley Barnato. Ever since the Bentayga arrived, Bentley has been figuring out new ways to round out its SUV range. One of those ways is the Barnato, a more exclusive alternative to the Porsche Cayenne. And now we have fresh spy photos from the latest stage of its development.
Lapping the Nürburgring with the Final Details in Place
You may already know the first details on what is referred to as the ‘Bentley 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. And this time around, the bodywork on display is most likely going to be the definitive one.
The Bentley Barnato is a large-sized SUV built on the PPE platform — the same one used by the Porsche Cayenne. That said, the Barnato could also be offered with a plug-in hybrid setup, just like the Bentayga. Bentley has carefully kept the final design of its new SUV out of sight. There are no further details either on its powertrain, its power figures or its final price, all still under wraps.
Heavily Disguised: Only Hints About Its Design
What it does let through is a glimpse of new front LED headlights, seemingly more oval in shape, and 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 covered the side fenders and the hood with body panels, avoiding any clues about its definitive design. The bodywork shares similarities with the Porsche Cayenne’s, with differences around the rear side windows and 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.
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 the absence of physical buttons. The curved central touchscreen also stands out — it gives access to the infotainment system, with 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 — and it shares its look with the Porsche Cayenne’s. 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, the larger SUV with combustion engines.
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