Bentley’s First Electric SUV May Be Called Barnato as New U.S. Filing Emerges

On March 19, an interesting detail surfaced from behind the scenes at Bentley. Just a day earlier, CarScoops reported that the brand’s first fully electric luxury SUV could carry the name “Barnato.”

According to the report, the name choice would be more than just branding. It’s likely meant to honor Woolf Barnato, one of the company’s early leaders, while also recalling his famous victories at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

The speculation is based on a recent entry in the database of the United States Patent and Trademark Office. The filing shows that Bentley has secured rights to the “Barnato” name. This isn’t just about a badge, either—the registration also covers related products such as electric vehicles, charging cables, and charging equipment.

The Barnato name carries real historical weight. Back in 1925, Woolf Barnato purchased his first Bentley before eventually acquiring the company itself. Behind the wheel of models like the Bentley 4½ Litre and the Bentley Speed Six, he went on to win Le Mans three times.

On the technical side, Bentley has already drawn a firm line. CEO Frank-Steffen Walliser told media outlets that the new SUV won’t be retrofitted to support other powertrains later. It will ride on the Volkswagen Group’s PPE platform, a dedicated electric architecture. That means no plug-in hybrid or gas-powered version is planned—this model is being built from the ground up as a fully electric vehicle.