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Would a Batur-style face freshen the Bentayga?
Bentley is busy broadening its lineup with a smaller, all-electric high-rider that will sit under the Bentayga. Known for now as the Bentley Urban SUV — and likely to be badged Barnato or Mayon — the new EV will ride on VW Group's PPE architecture and is expected to deliver well over 600 hp in mainstream trims, with flagship variants rumored to push into four-digit output.
While attention turns to the automaker's first production EV, questions are surfacing about the future of the Bentayga itself. The current Bentayga has aged gracefully since Crewe started production in late 2015, but nine-plus years on the market is a long run for any luxury SUV. Bentley applied a mid-cycle refresh in 2020, updating exterior styling, refining the cabin and adding new special editions — yet critics and fans alike still wonder whether the Bentayga needs a bolder design evolution to stay competitive against rivals such as the Rolls-Royce Cullinan and the Mercedes‑Maybach GLS.
CGI renderings: Batur inspiration meets Bentayga
Enter the internet’s favorite pastime: photorealistic renderings. Instagram designer @kelsonik has reimagined the Bentayga with a front end clearly influenced by the Batur — Lamborghini’s dramatic GT — giving Bentley’s SUV a sharper, more modern face. These CGI renderings replace the Bentayga’s rounded, stately grille and headlamps with aggressive lines and sculpted air intakes that, in the artist's view, make the SUV look markedly fresher.
Are these images an accurate hint of what’s coming? Not likely. They’re imaginative concept pieces — valuable for sparking conversation, but not evidence of an imminent production change. Still, they show how much styling can alter perception: a few trim lines, a revised grille and more angular headlights are enough to make a nine-year-old design look contemporary.
Design pedigree and platform DNA
The Bentayga’s original look came from SangYup Lee, a widely respected designer whose portfolio spans Corvette and Genesis concepts to Bentley studies. Underneath that bodywork, the Bentayga shares the Volkswagen Group MLB Evo platform with the Porsche Cayenne, Lamborghini Urus, Audi Q7 and Q8, and the VW Touareg — a layout that constrains some packaging and design choices but also underpins proven dynamics and a range of powertrains.
Over the years Bentley has offered the Bentayga with:
- V8 petrol engines
- W12 (in earlier and select markets)
- V6 plug-in hybrid variants
- V8 diesel where regulations allowed
Those options helped the Bentayga remain versatile, but transitioning styling to match modern tastes could be just as important as powertrain updates for keeping the model desirable.
Market context and what fans want
Luxury SUV buyers expect both presence and freshness. While bespoke CGI renders like @kelsonik’s Batur-inspired Bentayga won’t necessarily influence Bentley’s engineering roadmap, they do serve as a useful barometer of public appetite for a sharper design language. With Bentley preparing new EVs and likely planning mid- or full-cycle upgrades for existing models, here are realistic takeaways:
- A refreshed front end and updated lighting signatures could be on the table.
- Any major redesign will need to respect the platform and luxury expectations.
- Bentley may reserve the boldest styling cues for special editions or limited runs.
"I’d pick the CGI-infused Bentayga over the current car," one online commenter wrote — a reminder that bold visuals resonate. Ultimately, whether you’d spend on a dream rendering or the production SUV depends on your priorities: avant-garde looks or proven, handcrafted luxury.
Which would you choose?
Source: autoevolution
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