Bentley is putting the finishing touches on its first fully electric SUV, a compact model set to slot below the Bentayga in the ultra-luxury brand’s lineup. To name it, the automaker has reached deep into its own storied past. Trademark filings in the United States, the European Union, and the United Kingdom all point to the same name: Barnato.
Woolf Barnato made his mark as a Bentley racing driver in the 1920s.
The Barnato name has been registered in the U.S., Europe, and the U.K.
The Bentley Barnato will be offered exclusively as an electric model.
Where the Name Comes From
Woolf Barnato was one of the most prominent members of the legendary “Bentley Boys,” the wealthy gentleman drivers who dominated Le Mans in the late 1920s. He entered three times and won three times (1928, 1929, and 1930) a flawless record that has never been matched. His contribution to the brand went well beyond racing, however. During a financially precarious period, Barnato invested in the company, giving W.O. Bentley the means to carry on. In 1930, he also made a famous wager: that he could beat the Blue Train from Cannes to Calais in his Speed Six. He won by four minutes and received a fine from French authorities for his trouble.
That same Speed Six coupe later served as the inspiration for the EXP 15 concept, widely understood to preview the upcoming electric SUV.
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What We Know About the SUV
The Barnato, expected to debut before the end of 2026 as a 2027 model, will ride on the Volkswagen Group’s PPE platform, shared with the Audi Q6 e-tron and the Porsche Macan Electric. Bentley CEO Frank-Steffen Walliser has ruled out any hybrid or combustion variant. The brand is staying the course on full electrification.
Another Name in Play
Bentley has also filed for the name Torcal in Europe and the United Kingdom, which introduces some uncertainty. That said, since the vehicle will be sold in North America and Barnato has been registered stateside as well, the weight of evidence points toward Barnato as the name that will ultimately grace the brand’s first all-electric SUV.
Official confirmation should come within the next few weeks or months.
