Bentley’s next-generation Bentayga is set to arrive in 2028 with plug-in hybrid powertrains built on Volkswagen Group’s Premium Platform Combustion (PPC), marking a strategic shift from earlier plans to replace the luxury SUV with a fully electric model.
Originally intended to transition to an all-electric successor based on the delayed Scalable Systems Platform (SSP), the Bentayga will instead continue with combustion-based electrified powertrains while being sold alongside Bentley’s first battery-electric vehicle.
According to Autocar, the Bentayga accounts for nearly half of Bentley’s global sales, underscoring its importance within the brand’s lineup. First launched in 2015, the luxury SUV shares its roots with several Volkswagen Group models, including the Porsche Cayenne, Lamborghini Urus, Audi Q7, Audi Q8, and Volkswagen Touareg.
The current Bentayga rides on the MLB Evo platform, which was updated in 2020 and engineered to support electrified drivetrains. However, the architecture has drawn criticism for its front-heavy engine placement, a characteristic that affects weight distribution and handling.
Bentley’s move to the newer PPC architecture is expected to improve those dynamics. Derived from the Premium Platform Electric used in the Audi Q6 e-tron and Porsche Macan Electric, PPC repositions the engine farther rearward for better weight balance and mass centralization. The platform also introduces a next-generation electronic architecture featuring five high-performance computers in place of a more decentralized setup.
While Audi is currently the only Volkswagen Group brand using PPC, Porsche is expected to adopt the platform for the next-generation combustion-powered Macan. Bentley will follow with the redesigned Bentayga, which is anticipated to retain both six-cylinder and eight-cylinder engine options.
The upcoming Bentayga is expected to continue offering a plug-in hybrid V6 variant, similar to the outgoing model. The current Bentayga Hybrid produces 456 horsepower and 516 lb-ft of torque, with an estimated electric-only range of around 20 miles.
V8-powered variants are also likely to remain in the lineup, though they are expected to gain electrification. The current standard Bentayga V8 delivers 542 horsepower and 568 lb-ft of torque, while the high-performance Bentayga Speed produces 641 horsepower and 627 lb-ft from its twin-turbocharged V8.
With Bentley preparing to electrify its entire lineup over the coming years, the 2028 Bentayga will represent a transitional model—blending traditional combustion performance with hybrid technology as the brand expands further into electrification.
