Bentley have revealed what their long gestation period has resulted in for their first SUV. This is the all-new Bentayga.
The sparsely populated realm of the super-luxury SUV just got another addition in the first ever SUV from Bentley. When the project was commissioned, the company was rather tight-lipped but did mention that luxury need not stick to one mould, or that was the essence of it. What they wanted was to give buyers the level of cosseting luxury Bentley is renowned for, but with the added ability of being able to tackle almost every situation and terrain. An SUV, then, was the way to go.
Bentayga. That was the name. At first, I thought it was another corner or reputed section of an even more reputed race-track, but it turns out it’s a rock formation somewhere on the island of Gran Canaria. That goes a long way in pointing to its attributes. The latter 62.5 per cent of the name took me back to high-school grade geography and the Taiga region. Turns out that’s actually connected to the name.
So, anyway, the Bentayga looks very different from the EXP-9F Concept the company first showed to the world. Not only has it received completely different headlamps, with the latest in LED and high-intensity technology, but it also switches to a more aesthetically-pleasing design which is instantly identifiable as a big B. The massive front grille conceals behind it an all-new W12 motor, and the generous proportions hold lavish interiors within. The roof is 60 per cent glass, with a two-pane panoramic sun-roof giving the already very spacious cabin an airy and open feel.
Inside, it’s quality leather and contrast elements to make for a pleasing and, of course, supremely comfortable cabin. The dashboard packs high-quality wood and leather and other elements which can make themselves at home in a super-luxury cabin. It has four, maybe, five seats and they’re all special, to say the least.
That said, the Bentayga has to have the go to match its appearance, and, if I’m to be honest, it does! The all-new 6.0-litre twin-turbo W12 engine puts out over 600 PS and 900 Nm. Moroever, the eight-speed automatic has been specially tuned to handle all of that grunt from what can only be described as low engines speeds. Peak power is 608 PS at 6,000 RPM, with the red-line beginning at 6,250 RPM. However, it’s the gargantuan 900 Nm of torque that begins peaking at just 1,250 RPM and staying fat and flat till 4,500 RPM. That’s house-moving stuff, it is. Bentley claim a run of just 4.1 seconds from 0-100 km/h and have gone on to state that it is, as of now, the world’s fastest SUV, with tests seeing a top speed of 301 km/h!
The trim levels of the Bentayga are also expected to be just as extravagant, plush and premium with the exterior also expected to sport some elements to showcase its ‘ready for the rough’ nature. Wheel sizes begin from 20 inches and go up to 22. Some trims are expected to match or even exceed those of the Mulsanne. What does that say about the price? We’ll find out more at the Frankfurt Motor Show next week. Expect prices to start around Rs 4.5 crore in India. Bentley say that they’ve already received over 4,000 orders worldwide. That’s quite something even for something as unique as the Bentayga. Deliveries will commence in early 2016.
Story: Jim Gorde
