When you thought Bentley’s been playing it coy with their electric ambitions, bam—spy photographers catch their debut zero-emissions beast prowling public roads in broad daylight. We’re talking fresh shots from September 23, 2025, showing what looks like a sleeker, greener take on the Bentayga, all wrapped in heavy camo but screaming “future icon.” As a gearhead who’s chased whispers of VW Group’s EV empire for years, I gotta say: This Bentley first EV mule has me hooked. Dubbed the “luxury urban SUV,” it’s slated for a mid-2026 unveil and early 2027 showroom arrivals. Smaller than the big B, but packing Porsche DNA? Yeah, this could redefine posh plug-ins. Let’s unpack the pixels.

Caught on Cam: The Spy Shots That Tease Bentley’s EV Dawn

These aren’t your fuzzy Nurburgring blurs—these are crisp public-road glimpses, courtesy of KGP photographers who nailed the moment near Crewe (or so the UK plates suggest). The mule’s decked out in full disguise, but telltale signs peek through: A boxy front end with a bluff nose that echoes Bentley’s upright elegance, a pancake-flat hood for that aerodynamic nod, and rear haunches puffed out like they’re ready for a tailgate at Ascot. Oh, and those flared fenders? Aggressive enough to hint at wide-track stance, perfect for devouring corners while sipping electrons.

Unlike the flush-handled crowd chasing every aero point (looking at you, Tesla), this proto rocks old-school pull handles—probably a temp setup for testing, but it screams Bentley’s “effortless luxury” vibe. Spotted just a day after CEO Frank-Steffen Walliser chatted with Autocar about dialing back pure-EV zeal amid market jitters, it’s like Bentley’s saying, “We’re going green, but on our terms.” Earlier mules hid under Porsche Cayenne Electric skins during Arctic chills and ‘Ring laps, but these shots feel closer to the real deal—less mule, more mood board.

Design Whispers: A Compact Contender Below the Bentayga Throne

Slotting under the Bentayga in Bentley’s SUV stack, this 2027 Bentley EV won’t eclipse its gas-guzzling sibling’s road presence—think sub-5-meter footprint (around 197 inches) for nimble city jaunts without sacrificing that grand-tourer gravitas. The Bentayga’s a behemoth at 5.1 meters standard (or stretched to 5.3), built for devouring autobahns; this one’s tuned for urban elegance—zipping through Mayfair or Monaco with less fuss.

From the profiles, expect a sloped roofline post-B-pillar for coupe-ish flair (nod to the EXP15 concept?), shorter rear doors for a tauter tail, and those matrix LED slits hinting at diamond-matrix grilles. Inside? Pure Bentley—hand-stitched hides, walnut dashboards, and screens that vanish into wood veneers. It’s not replacing the Bentayga, Continental, or Flying Spur; it’s the fresh face for a lineup that’s ditching the W-12 for hybrids and beyond. Price? Ballpark $200K-plus, handcrafted in Crewe like every Bentley badge demands.

Sizing Up the Rival: Bentley EV vs Bentayga Showdown

This table screams evolution—compact yet colossal in comfort.

Powertrain Pulse: Porsche Cayenne EV Ties Fuel the Fire

Buckle up: Bentley’s borrowing big from Stuttgart siblings. This Porsche Cayenne EV relation runs deep, sharing the VW Group’s Premium Platform Electric (PPE)—the same bones under the Macan EV and Audi Q6 e-tron. Expect a dual-motor AWD setup, pumping 600-1000 hp depending on trim (base ~400 hp, Turbo north of 800). Torque? Instant, silent savagery for 0-60 in under 3 seconds, all while whispering “civilized.”

Battery-wise, a 108-kWh usable pack from LG’s pouch cells should net ~350-373 miles WLTP—plenty for cross-continent jaunts. And the architecture? That 800V wizardry enables blistering refills.

Charging Like a Boss: Wireless Wonders and 400kW Blasts

Porsche’s Cayenne EV sets the bar: 10-80% in 16 minutes at 400 kW peaks, with dual rear ports for easy access and NACS compatibility for Tesla Supercharger love. Bentley’s likely mirroring that, but the real flex? Porsche Cayenne EV wireless charging specs trickle down—park over a garage pad for hands-free Level 2 zaps at 11 kW, 90% efficient. No more fumbling cables after a gala; just align via screens and let air gap magic happen (costs ~$8K installed, though).

Beyond the Mule: Walliser’s Roadmap to 2035 Electrified Dreams

Frank-Steffen Walliser’s fingerprints are all over this—fresh from Porsche, he’s steering Bentley through EV turbulence. Bentley EV 2026 reveal plans stick: First EV drops mid-’26, then a new PHEV or BEV yearly through 2035, when full-electric becomes the creed. That’s Beyond100+ in action—hybrids linger past 2030 to match demand dips, but EVs lead the charge.

Walliser’s candid: “Demand’s soft now, but it’s a dip—not a ditch.” Porsche’s Taycan tweaks (more hybrids incoming) ripple here, ensuring Bentley’s not all-in too soon. Still, this urban SUV’s the spearhead—compact for cities, colossal for coffers.

Why This Matters: Bentley’s Betting Big on Balanced Luxury

In a sea of stark EVs, Bentley’s first feels like a velvet revolution—Porsche pace with Crewe soul. Amid luxury EV sales stutters, it’s pragmatic poetry: Wireless ease for the elite, 800V speed for the impatient. If the Cayenne EV’s your sporty benchmark, this’ll be the sybaritic upgrade. Reveal’s looming—mid-2026 can’t come soon enough. Who’s adding it to the garage shortlist? Hit comments; I’m eyeing that Turbo trim already.

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