Bentley’s new diesel diamond
BeNTLeY’s first diesel, the Bentayga, is also the world’s fastest luxury diesel sUV, claims the company. And driving it reminds me of those margarine adverts that say ‘I can’t believe it’s not butter,’ because this big 4x4 feels and sounds so silkily smooth that I could barely believe it wasn’t a petrol vehicle.
The engineers at Crewe — headed by engineering director Rolf Frech and his 4,000-strong workforce — have done a sterling job creating a vehicle that has great performance, phenomenal pulling power, and nimble, but gripping road manners.
It’s no slouch off-road either, managing muddy and rockstrewn slippery slopes and rutted tracks with aplomb.
With big 21in wheels and powered by a triple-turbocharged four-litre V8 engine linked to an eight-speed automatic gearbox (with manual paddles for added fun), it accelerates from rest to 60mph in just 4.6 seconds, and has a top speed of 168mph, yet will still manage 35.8 miles to the gallon with Co2 emissions of 210g/km. That will get you from London to Verbier in the French Alps on a single tank.
Prices start at £135,800 — but can quickly spiral. Fully loaded, the vehicle I drove weighed in at a hefty £202,360 — with a mindboggling £66,560 of ‘extras’. These included: £11,165 for the bespoke Mulliner trim and features; £5,635 for the rear seat entertainment with Google maps; £4,995 for the all-terrain specification; £6,615 for the Naim premium audio system; and £1,050 for the Breitling clock with white mother-of-pearl face.
Bentley’s chief executive Wolfgang Durheimer will be pushing parent company Volkswagen, and the UK Government, for postBrexit support to keep production in Britain.