Next-Generation Bentley Bentayga to Launch in 2028 With Plug-In Hybrid Power

Bentley will introduce the next-generation Bentayga SUV in 2028, featuring plug-in hybrid technology. The Bentayga is Bentley’s best-selling model, accounting for about half of the brand’s sales last year. Originally, Bentley planned to make the Bentayga fully electric, but the company has decided to focus on a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) for the new model.

Key Highlights

• Next-generation Bentley Bentayga will launch in 2028 with plug-in hybrid power
• New Bentayga will use the PPC platform shared with Porsche Cayenne and Audi Q9
• Plug-in hybrid system will offer greater electric range than current 48 km
• Bentley delays all-electric Bentayga plans due to slow luxury EV demand
• First Bentley electric SUV to debut in late 2026 below Bentayga in the lineup

New Platform and Powertrain Details

The upcoming Bentayga will use the Premium Platform Combustion (PPC) architecture. This platform also underpins the internal combustion engine (ICE) Porsche Cayenne and the forthcoming Audi Q9. The PPC platform supports both six and eight-cylinder petrol engines and a new-generation plug-in hybrid system. The latest PHEV setup will use improved batteries and electronics, delivering a longer electric-only range than the current Bentayga PHEV’s 48 km.

Bentley may use a hybrid system paired with a 3.0-litre V6 petrol engine, producing 462 hp, similar to the current version. In addition to plug-in hybrid variants, Bentley will offer pure petrol-powered Bentayga models in select regions and trims. The new Bentayga will also feature advanced driving technologies, such as updated air suspension with active ride control and enhanced advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). An extended wheelbase (EWB) version will remain available in the next generation.

Design, Electrification Plans, and Future Models

The design of the new Bentayga may draw inspiration from the EXP 15 concept and Bentley’s upcoming electric SUV. Bentley previously announced plans to shift its entire lineup to electric vehicles by 2030, including an all-electric Bentayga successor. However, the company has delayed these plans, following Porsche’s decision to postpone a full transition to electric due to slow demand for luxury EVs.

Bentley CEO Frank-Steffen Walliser told Autocar UK that the company will not force customers to switch from combustion or hybrid vehicles to electric models. Walliser stated that PHEV technology will serve as a bridge as Bentley moves toward electrification by 2035.

Bentley’s first electric model, called the ‘Luxury Urban SUV,’ will debut in the fourth quarter of 2026. This EV will use the Cayenne Electric’s platform and drivetrain, which includes a 113 kWh battery and a dual-motor all-wheel-drive system. The Cayenne Electric’s motors deliver 408 hp in the standard version and 1156 hp in the Turbo version. The new electric Bentley SUV will be similar in size to the Bentayga but will be positioned below it, competing with the Cayenne Electric and Lotus Eletre.

Walliser confirmed that the Continental GT, GTC, and Flying Spur will also adopt the next-generation plug-in hybrid system. For this change, all models must move from the current MSB platform to the newer PPC architecture. Since new versions of these models launched in 2024, the transition could occur by 2030.