Bentley's first electric SUV to debut in 2026, won't replace Bentagya: Report
British luxury carmaker Bentley has confirmed that its first-ever all-electric vehicle will break cover by the end of 2026. Marking a bold step in the brand's electrification journey, the debut model will be a compact urban SUV that measures under five metres in length — making it smaller than the current Bentayga, yet still sizeable by most standards.
Bentley electric SUV: A standalone nameplate
Unlike expectations that Bentley might electrify the Bentayga nameplate, the brand's first EV will be a completely new model, a report by Drive.com stated. It will not replace the Bentayga, which continues to be Bentley's best-seller globally. Instead, the new electric SUV will flank it and assist the brand in expanding its customer base in the EV market.
Also Read : Skoda Auto Volkswagen India expands portfolio with Bentley luxury cars
Although Bentley has not yet disclosed the name or specific details of the model, one teaser silhouette suggests a low-roof, smooth crossover posture. The vehicle will be shorter than the standard Bentayga (5125mm) and significantly more compact than the Bentayga EWB (5305mm). For context, it will still be longer than many mainstream SUVs, including the Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series, which also falls just under the five-metre mark. Bentley EV strategy: From hybrids to full electrification
Bentley has realigned its electrification timeline, with the goal of becoming a full electric brand by 2035 — five years behind its previous target of 2030. This adjustment comes in view of changing global regulations and uncertain demand, with plug-in hybrid powertrains still playing a vital role in the meantime.
The carmaker has already started the process of phasing out the older powertrains. Having discontinued the legendary 6.0-litre W12 engine in 2024, Bentley now depends on V6 and V8 hybrid powertrains in the entire Flying Spur, Continental GT, and Bentayga lineup. From 2027 onwards, Bentley intends to introduce a new hybrid or electric model every year, with the aim to make the transition to a zero-emissions future in a gradual but steady manner.
Also Read : Bentley Bentayga Speed sets new SUV hill climb record at Goodwood What to expect next
Bentley's upcoming electric SUV intends to combine the brand's characteristics of craftsmanship, luxury and performance with state-of-the-art EV architecture. Although specifications have yet to be released, this model should represent a new dawn for Bentley's luxury EVs and cater to a client segment that wants to be sustainable and exclusive.
Check out Upcoming EV Cars in India.
First Published Date: 16 Jul 2025, 18:30 pm IST
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Mint
37 minutes ago
- Mint
US LNG exports surge in July, LSEG data show
US exports in July close to record Exports to Latin America increase LNG prices in both Asia and Europe fall in July HOUSTON, - Exports of U.S. liquefied natural gas jumped to 9.1 million metric tons in July, marking a sharp increase from June as some plants exited maintenance activities and Venture Global's Plaquemines facility ramped up production, preliminary data from financial firm LSEG showed. The U.S. is the world's largest exporter of LNG and July's output was its third highest on record. This year the U.S. has seen three of its highest ever monthly LNG production figures, according to LSEG data. U.S. LNG shipments could have been higher had its third- largest export facility, Freeport LNG, not experienced several unplanned outages, reporting seven power outages at its plants to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality during the month of July. Its output fell in July to 1.3 million metric tons from 1.4 MT in June, LSEG data showed. The U.S. could double its LNG export capacity by 2030, based on projects already under construction and expected to get the financial greenlight as the industry builds momentum following U.S. President Donald's Trump's vow to bolster the country's energy industry. This week Venture Global gave a positive final investment decision for its massive 28 million metric tons per annum CP2 facility in Louisiana. In July, Plaquemines, also in Louisiana, exported 1.4 MT of the superchilled gas, compared to 1.2 MT in June, helping the U.S. get to 9.1 MT in July, compared to 8.4 MT in June, LSEG data showed. GAS PRICES FALL IN EUROPE AND ASIA European gas prices fell in July to $11.56 per million British thermal unit from $12.38 per mmBtu in June at the European benchmark Title Transfer Facility in the Netherlands, according to LSEG data. Even so, the softer prices were not enough to deter U.S. LNG exports to Europe, which remained the favored destination. Some 5.25 MT of LNG, or just under 58% of July's total, headed to Europe during July, slightly lower than the 5.53 MT, or 66%, sold in June, LSEG data showed. U.S. exports to Europe could increase in the coming years following a trade deal earlier this week in which the European Union promised to buy $750 billion of U.S. energy over a five-year period. In July, gas prices were also lower in Asia, as the benchmark Japan Korea Marker fell to $12.18 per mmBtu from $12.90 per mmBtu in June. Exports to Asia rose slightly during the month to 1.8 MT, or 20%, of U.S. LNG exports in July, compared to 1.56 MT, or 19%, in June as demand for energy for cooling grew, according to LSEG data. "After lackluster Asian LNG demand for much of 2025 so far, hotter July weather drove some improvement," bankers from Morgan Stanley told their clients in a report on Wednesday. US SELLS MORE LNG CLOSER TO HOME U.S. LNG exports to South America grew in July as the continent faced colder-than-normal seasonal weather. The U.S. sold 1.03 MT, or 11% of its total LNG exports, to Latin America, with cargoes going to Brazil, Argentina, Colombia and Chile. Cargoes were also sold to several Caribbean countries, including Jamaica, Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. Egypt continued to import U.S. LNG cargoes, buying eight in July, totaling .59 MT of the superchilled gas. There were also six cargoes with .43 MT of LNG that left U.S. ports in July with no clear destination, signaling they were available for orders. In July, Canada saw its first LNG shipment from a major plant, with the start-up of LNG Canada in Kitimat, British Columbia. That facility is the first North American plant with direct access to the Pacific Ocean and a shorter sail time to Asia. LNG Canada exported four cargoes, or .29 MT of LNG, during July, according to LSEG ship tracking data. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
News18
2 hours ago
- News18
Piastri has confidence in his F1 title shot as he returns to Hungary
Budapest, Aug 1 (AP) Some Formula 1 races live in the memory because of thrilling action, some for controversy, some even for being so dull they forced a rule change. And then there's Oscar Piastri's first F1 win, the benchmark for sheer awkwardness. Piastri is happy to be back in Hungary this week, but his breakthrough victory there last year remains a lesson for McLaren as it tries to manage his title fight with teammate Lando Norris. It's all the more important now. Piastri has developed into a genuine title contender over the last year and leads Norris by 16 points following his victory in Belgium last week. 'I have a lot of confidence in myself that I can do it," the Australian said of his title chances Thursday. 'The pace in the last few weekends, especially (Belgium), I've been very confident in and very proud of. I'm more than capable of continuing that for the rest of the year." McLaren can reach some milestones this weekend, with a potential 200th win in F1 for the team. It could also be Piastri and Norris' fourth one-two finish in a row, a feat McLaren last managed in 1988. McLaren dominates practiceNorris was fastest in both of Friday's practice sessions as McLaren led the way once again. Piastri was second by just .019 of a second in the first practice session and .291 in the second. Charles Leclerc was third fastest for Ferrari in both sessions. It was a tough day for Max Verstappen, who on Thursday committed to stay with Red Bull for 2026. He was ninth in the first session and 14th in the second, and said that piloting his unbalanced car felt like 'driving on ice." Worse, Verstappen found himself facing an investigation from the stewards after he found what seemed to be a towel or bag inside his cockpit and threw it out of the car while going at speed. The defending champion and Red Bull were asked to report to the stewards regarding his car 'allegedly being released in an unsafe condition." Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso has a back injury and missed the first practice session for treatment before being medically cleared to carry on. Alonso was fifth in the second session, one place behind his teammate Lance Stroll. Managing the title rivalryPiastri took the win last year in Hungary, but only after McLaren had to plead over the radio with Norris to 'do the right thing" and let Piastri past, something the British driver was reluctant to do. Piastri had been leading but McLaren's pit strategy — which would normally favor the leader — had put Norris ahead. Piastri thinks the team can still take positives from that situation. 'I think it underlined the good nature in the team. It was obviously a slightly awkward situation, but it highlighted that we will do the right thing in all circumstances — well, ideally all circumstances — when we're on track," Piastri said. 'It showed the trust that we have with the team and with each other as well, that things will be put the right way." F1 has a history of title fights turning team relationships sour — not least at McLaren with Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost over 30 years ago — but Piastri and Norris have kept their rivalry friendly. Even so, there's been a collision in Canada, a near-miss in Austria and Piastri's rejected request for Norris to give up the lead in Britain. Piastri said one factor preventing his relationship with Norris from deteriorating is that both are committed to keeping McLaren on top in F1 for 'many years to come." 'We've all seen how it can go wrong, but we have a lot of reasons to push for it to not go wrong," he added. Another wet race possibleF1 could be set for its third wet race in a row Sunday after a rain-delayed start last week in Belgium divided opinion among drivers and fans. Max Verstappen argued that 'we could have started way sooner" and said the lack of racing in wet conditions was 'a shame", but Piastri and others pointed to the poor visibility and particular safety concerns at the high-speed Spa-Francorchamps circuit. '(Visibility) is always much worse in the car than it looks on TV, and I think the FIA has done a very good job of listening to us and taking that feedback on board," Piastri said. 'The feeling in this room would be pretty different if we had a big crash last week." (AP) APA (This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed - PTI) view comments First Published: August 01, 2025, 22:45 IST News agency-feeds Piastri has confidence in his F1 title shot as he returns to Hungary Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
India Today
4 hours ago
- India Today
India-UK FTA: Big trade, some trade-offs, and a whole new order
Even as US president Donald Trump announced fresh 'reciprocal tariffs' on Indian goods and a long-pending trade deal with Washington remains elusive, India has pulled off a landmark agreement with another G7 heavyweight, the July 24, New Delhi and London signed the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), India's first such pact with a G7 nation. Touted as 'historic', the agreement aims to double bilateral trade by 2030. It offers unprecedented market access—from duty-free exports of Indian textiles, leather and gems to sharply-reduced tariffs on iconic British products such as Scotch whisky and luxury the deal is ratified by both houses of the British Parliament, India will get to export its textiles, leather, vegetable oils and gems and jewellery, among other goods, duty-free to the UK. Nearly all agricultural and processed food exports from India, with limited exemptions, will become turn, discerning Indian consumers can look forward to iconic British products—from Scotch whiskies such as Johnnie Walker and single malts such as Lagavulin and Glenlivet to luxury cars such as Jaguar, Land Rover, Bentley and Rolls-Royce—turning a lot cheaper. Duties on Scotch whisky and gin—currently at 150 per cent—will fall to 75 per cent immediately and then to 30-40 per cent over a decade. India-UK bilateral trade was valued at $56 billion (Rs 4.9 lakh crore) in FY25, of which merchandise trade comprised $23 billion (Rs 2 lakh crore), while services formed the lion's share, at $33 billion (Rs 2.9 lakh crore). Of the total merchandise trade, India's exports to the UK were to the tune of $14.5 billion (Rs 1.2 lakh crore), with electrical and electronic items, engineering goods and petroleum products topping the from the UK stood at around $8.5 billion (Rs 73,778 crore), and comprised machinery, chemicals and precious metals, among others. In services, too, India enjoys a trade surplus with the UK. While services imports from the UK were $13.2 billion (Rs 1.1 lakh crore), services exports were valued at $19.8 billion (Rs 1.7 lakh crore).At the heart of it, CETA is a manifestation of both nations' evolving imperatives. India, for instance, has moved from a defensive to a strategic trade posture, seeking to integrate with global value chains on its own terms. The UK, on the other hand, needed a major bilateral win outside Europe following the post-Brexit economic recalibration. India, with its fast-growing economy and vast market, was a perfect are of the view that India extracted meaningful gains, safeguarded its vulnerable sectors and framed the deal as a new template for future engagements with the European Union (EU), European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and even the US. 'Our effort is that the Indian industry gets preferential access over our competition, and I think this (CETA) can become a gold standard to ensure that India protects its sensitive sectors and opens the doors, particularly in highly labour-intensive sectors, and allows high-quality goods, technology and other products to come to India,' said Piyush Goyal, Union commerce and industry export edgeThe UK has done away with 99 per cent of tariff lines for Indian goods, accounting for roughly 95 per cent of India's exports by value, paving the way for zero-duty access, while India has removed or reduced tariffs on 90 per cent of its lines, covering 92 per cent of its imports from the Indian exporters in sectors such as textiles, garments, marine products, gems and jewellery, pharmaceuticals and light engineering goods, who have often found themselves edged out by preferential trade access enjoyed by competitors such as Vietnam, Bangladesh or sub-Saharan African countries, this is a long-awaited breakthrough. For sectors such as apparel, carpets and marine produce, the removal of customs duties will translate into immediate competitiveness and a sharp boost in margins, especially for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).Services, the major component in bilateral trade, get a generous slice too. For Indian professionals in IT, architecture, legal services, financial consulting and education, the pact promises smoother visa pathways, clearer eligibility criteria and, crucially, recognition of qualifications in key fields such as accountancy and engineering. The provisions are hedged, with reviews built in, but they reflect a quiet shift: India is no longer just bargaining for goods. It wants its human capital to move, work and earn globally on fairer the Indian side, we are looking at exports of apparels and textiles in a big way, since we will now have a level-playing field with countries like Bangladesh, Pakistan, Cambodia, which are getting zero-duty benefit in the UK, and with Vietnam, which has an FTA (free trade agreement) with it,' says Ajay Sahai, director general and CEO of the Federation of Indian Export Organisations.'So, we will be much better off than Pakistan and China or Indonesia, who are our competitors in those markets. Those countries will have to pay duties as high as 12 per cent. The same will be the case with footwear and even in sectors such as leather,' adds makes the pact striking is that it avoided as much as what it secured. On pharmaceuticals, India held firm. While copyright terms have been extended to 'life plus 60 years' in line with UK standards, the deal protects India's ability to manufacture generics and avoids any clause that could threaten its public health safeguards. There is also no Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) mechanism—a controversial provision in earlier free trade agreements that India now flatly rejects. In the age of regulatory litigation and billion-dollar arbitration awards, this is not just a legal footnote—it is a line drawn in the trade-offsOn its part, the UK secured the elimination of tariffs on 64 per cent of its exports to India immediately, with that number rising to 85 per cent over a decade. While many of these exports are non-sensitive goods, such as machinery, chemicals and processed foods, there are three particularly contentious areas: automobiles, alcoholic beverages and public fall in duties on whisky alone was a red line issue for both the Scotch Whisky Association and Indian state governments. Alcohol excise duties form a major chunk of state revenues, especially in Maharashtra, Karnataka and Punjab. With cheaper Scotch entering the market, there is palpable concern of tax erosion and growing import dependency, not to mention the long-term pressure on local liquor brands. The central government has promised a compensatory formula and phased transition, but state finance ministers are far from automobile sector presents a similar paradox. While duties on UK cars, including electric vehicles, will be cut over time, imports are capped through tariff-rate quotas (TRQs), ensuring that the volume remains contained. But even these limited concessions have rattled domestic players. Indian manufacturers of luxury and electric vehicle (EV) models, such as Tata Motors, Mahindra and Maruti's premium segment, worry that British imports could disrupt the top-end of the market. Their fears are not about today but about a future where British cars begin entering at scale under preferential there is public procurement—a largely overlooked but critical dimension. For the first time in any of its FTAs, India has agreed to open its federal-level procurement tenders to a foreign partner. UK firms will now have access to Rs 3.3 lakh crore worth of Indian government contracts, particularly in infrastructure, renewables and public health. The 20 per cent local content clause is meant to protect Indian suppliers. However, MSMEs are worried. Many see this as a beachhead for large British firms to underbid local competitors in areas traditionally used for nurturing domestic industrial it workCETA provides a great opportunity for Indian companies to export into one of the world's most developed markets with greater gusto, since they now have an edge over competing countries, but that's easier said than done. There are several issues that India will have to set right. The fact that manufacturing has lagged in general, and stagnated at around 15-17 per cent of the GDP, does not help.'We need to improve manufacturing in a big way to be competitive,' says Sahai. 'Reduced tariffs alone are not going to help turn competitive. We need to reduce our logistics and shipping costs, and vastly improve our shipping time.'While CETA has provided India with an enabling environment, turning this opportunity into a thriving trade would require a clear policy direction for bettering our manufacturing and making transport infrastructure much more efficient to help our companies move up the global value chain.—With M.G. ArunSubscribe to India Today Magazine- EndsTune InMust Watch
