- Bentley’s EV SUV may adopt the long-rumored Barnato name.
- The name honors Le Mans winner and Bentley owner Woolf.
- Platform design prevents adding hybrid or gas powertrains.
Bentley’s upcoming electric vehicle has been spied on numerous occasions, but its name has been a mystery. However, the “world’s first luxury urban SUV” could end up being called the Barnato.
The name has been rumored for years and reports from 2016 claimed the company was working on an entry-level sports car that could wear the moniker. More recently, in 2025, we noted the Barnato name was a strong possibility for the crossover as the automaker applied for the trademark.
More: Bentley’s New Urban SUV Copies A Controversial Feature From Audi’s Q3
Car & Driver seems to agree, having uncovered new trademark filings for the name across the European Union, the United States, and the United Kingdom. The American paperwork is for goods and services such as “motor vehicles and parts” including “electric vehicles.” It can also be used for electric charging cables, charging stations, and battery charging devices.
There’s Already Been A Barnato Edition
The moniker would pay tribute to Woolf Barnato, who purchased his first Bentley in 1925 and would go on to acquire the automaker. He’s also notable for winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans three times in a 4½ Litre and Speed Six.
Interestingly, Bentley has already honored Woolf’s daughter, Diana Barnato Walker, with a special edition. The Bentayga S was introduced in 2024 to honor “Bentley’s Flying Lady.”
She drove a 4¼ Litre Park Ward and joined the Air Transport Auxiliary during World War II to help deliver planes to the front lines. By the end of the war, she had delivered 260 Spitfires as well as numerous other aircraft.
Bentley Won’t Reengineer EV To Fit Gas Engine
In other news, Bentley CEO Frank-Steffen Walliser told Autocar the company has “no intention” to modify the vehicle to install a plug-in hybrid or gas powertrain. He added such a move isn’t even technically feasible due to its use of the PPE platform.
This is interesting to note as Porsche has pulled a U-turn on EVs. Besides reengineering the Boxster to accommodate internal combustion engines, the company’s flagship crossover will now have an engine instead of electric motors.
The fate of the model remains to be seen, but EV adoption has been slower than many companies anticipated. As a result, sales of the Barnato – or whatever it’s called – could be underwhelming. That being said, Walliser noted the Bentayga is sticking around, so customers looking for an SUV won’t be forced into buying an EV.
