Bentley unveils the new Bentayga
BENTLEY is one of the very, very few cars that would stretch any writer’s vocabulary for superlatives.
I should know, having been extremely fortunate to have driven two exquisite examples on equally exquisite locations—the sensationally stylish and sporty Continental GT on the highways of Adelaide two years ago and the magnificently luxurious Flying Spur up and down the mountain roads of Monaco last year.
And I struggle yet again to find words to describe a new model that redefined the ultra-luxury SUV genre when it was launched almost half a decade ago — the Bentayga. Bentley has just taken the wraps off the new Bentayga, the first car to be launched under Bentley’s Beyond100 business plan. With more than 20,000 Bentaygas handcrafted since the car’s launch – more than any of its competitors – the new Bentayga is set to build on an incredible success story.
Combining the speed of a supercar, the luxury and comfort of a limousine, the space and versatility of an MPV, and the goanywhere capabilities of a true SUV, the new Bentayga follows its predecessor’s mantle of having the broadest performance envelope of any automobile today.
Designed and handcrafted in Crewe, England, the extraordinary new Bentayga builds on the outstanding success of its predecessor. Adrian Hallmark, chairman and CEO of Bentley Motors, comments: “From its moment of launch nearly five years ago, the Bentayga has been the very definition of the luxury SUV. Like the Continental GT, the Bentayga created an entirely new part of the market, and since we set the benchmark many others have joined the sector, but no other car can offer a breadth of ability to rival the Bentayga.
“We’re repositioning the pinnacle of the luxury SUV segment to be even higher, even further away from the competition. We’ve listened to our customers and made improvements to the areas most important to them, and the new Bentayga is a thoroughly modern and beautiful extension of the original car’s abilities and achievements,” Hallmark added.
Key to the new Bentayga is its dynamic look, which draws inspiration from the marque’s new design language, ushered in by the third-generation Continental GT and all-new Flying Spur. The bold styling offers an imposing road presence, with every aspect of the front of the car redesigned for a cleaner, modern look.
The larger, assertive grille is now more upright, while new, intelligent LED headlamp technology includes the signature Bentley design inspired by cut crystal glassware. A more aggressive front bumper emphasizes the performance characteristics of the car.
Perhaps the most dramatic design changes have been reserved for the rear of the car, where the new Bentayga is radically different from its predecessor. Like the Continental GT, it features elliptical tail lamps, with the lattice pattern offering a jewel-like appearance when illuminated.
The rear features an all-new, full-width tailgate. The license plate has moved down into the bumper, allowing for prominent Bentley lettering above. Larger, oval-shaped split sport tailpipes echo the design of the rear lamps, while a new, longer roof spoiler gives new Bentayga a visually longer, more elegant profile and makes the whole car look more athletic. A Blackline option replaces all exterior chrome with black.
The Bentayga’s highly praised interior has been significantly revised. Among the changes are a new center fascia and steering wheel, new door trims and new seats – now available with ventilation in the rear of the five-seat model. Backseat riders also enjoy significantly more space with 100mm more legroom. A next-gen 10.9” touchcreen infotainment system is integrated seamlessly into the Bentley ‘wing’ dashboard.
Two levels of audio system are offered: the standard 590W, 12-speaker Bentley Signature Audio and the optional Naim for Bentley system delivering 1,780W of power and no less than 20 speakers.
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard. Rear seat occupants benefit from the introduction of a new, larger five-inch touchscreen remote control tablet, which controls a multitude of functions including multimedia, climate control, seat heating and massage, mood lighting, and window shades.
Apart from the standard five-seat, an optional 4-seat layout features two individual rear seats separated by a center console. A three-row, seven-seat setup offers the ultimate in practicality and flexibility.
The new model will initially be launched in Bentayga V8 guise, with the plug-in Hybrid and flagship W12-powered Speed versions to follow this year. The V8’s 4.0-liter, twinturbo petrol engine (mated to an eight-speed automatic) develops an impressive 550ps and an immense 770Nm of torque. The Bentayga remains the fastest SUV in the world with its scintillating 305 km/h top speed for the 6.0-liter W12-powered Speed version. The V8 is capable of 290 km/h and a 0-100 km/h time of 4.4 seconds.
Chris Cole, product line director for Bentayga, comments: “With new Bentayga, our objective was relatively straightforward – to take the best and make it even better. It was already the pinnacle of the luxury SUV sector but now we have taken it even higher.”