Motoring with James Stinson
The rise of the SUV is irresistible… so much so that I’m beginning to think that in a few years’ time… there’ll only be SUVs and small city cars. One for driving round town while the SUV takes care of everything else. In an ideal world you’d have one of each. We’re all familiar with the likes of Audi, BMW, Ford, Peugeot and everyone else jumping on the SUV bandwagon. But these days, the likes of Alfa Romeo, with the Stelvio, and even Bentley with its enormous Bentayga are also churning out high riding off-road lookalikes. Churning out is a little unkind to the folks at Bentley because there’s nothing run of the mill about the Bentayga.
This updated “Speed” version exemplifies the engineering prowess and sheer over-the-top nature of the brand. It’s Bentley’s quickest SUV yet, beating its predecessor to 62mph by half a second and going on to 193mph. It swaps the previous Bentayga Speed’s 6.0-litre W12, now retired, for a twinturbocharged 4.0-litre V8 that puts out 641bhp and 627lb ft – a gain of 15bhp. The smaller powerplant also plays a significant role in cutting the Speed’s kerb weight by 42kg to 2466kg.
Helped along by a new launch control function, the super-SUV is now capable of completing the 0-62mph dash in 3.4 seconds. The extra power also boosts the Bentayga’s top speed by 3mph. In addition to its enhanced pace, the Speed gets reworked drive modes, including a Sport mode that increases the dampers’ stiffness by 15% and slackens off the stability control to “permit exhilarating drift angles”.
Meanwhile, rear-wheel steering aids manoeuvrability at lower speeds and boosts stability when pressing on. A sports exhaust system is fitted as standard, but there is an optional Akrapovic-supplied titanium system with four tailpipes, said to unleash the “drama and potency” of the new powerplant. The new super-Bentayga is differentiated visually from other variants by the Speed badges on its flanks, as well as a choice of bespoke 22-inch or 23-inch wheel designs.
The larger of those two is offered as an optional extra with the addition of carbon-ceramic discs. Inside, the Speed gets a different layout on its digital instrument screen, as well as Speed badging on the passenger side of the dashboard and the treadplates, plus matching embroidery on the seats. Prices start at £219,000, positioning the Speed between the S (£201,500) and the more opulent Mulliner EWB (£259,300).