New Bentley Bentayga Speed flagship gets sports car-rivalling 641bhp
The new Bentley Bentayga Speed is the most powerful version of the British marque’s luxury SUV yet...
On sale Now Price from £220,000 (est)
If you’ve done well enough in life to be considering buying a Bentley Bentayga as your next family car, then you might be pleased to know that your list of options has just expanded – all thanks to the arrival of the new Bentley Bentayga Speed.
The Bentayga Speed is set to be the most potent version of the British firm’s family SUV yet, with an all-new setup. The new model gets an updated version of Bentley’s twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V8 engine, which produces 641bhp and promises an exceptionally speedy 0-60mph time of 3.4sec – a full second faster than the Bentayga V8 S. While that’s slightly slower than the Aston Martin DBX and Ferrari Purosangue, it’s still positively supercar-esque.
It should also sound suitably theatrical to drive, since the Bentayga Speed comes equipped with a sports exhaust, which we found to provide a fabulous soundtrack to the V8 S model. There’s also an optional quad-tailpipe exhaust, should you find that you want a more sonorous experience.
Drivers can pick between three driving modes: Comfort, Bentley and Sport. The former two modes are unchanged from what you get on other models, which should be a good thing – we found the Comfort mode to be pleasantly sumptuous over bumps on the V8 S version. Some changes to Sport mode offer stiffer suspension and more responsive steering, according to Bentley. The Bentayga Speed also gets a Launch Control function for the first time, providing a boost to acceleration.
Another first-time feature the Bentayga Speed gets is all-wheel steering. At low speeds, the front and rear wheels turn in opposite directions to improve agility. At high speeds, they turn in the same direction for better stability.
On the outside, the Bentayga Speed gets some ‘Speed’ badging and 22in wheels. You can also opt for 23in wheels when you specify carbon ceramic brakes.
Inside, more ‘Speed’ branding can be found embroidered on the seats and throughout the interior. Otherwise, the Bentayga Speed comes equipped with the same kit as other Bentayga models, which have a 10.9in infotainment screen loaded with a DAB radio, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, real-time navigation and an embedded SIM.
Prices for the Bentley Bentayga Speed aren’t yet confirmed, but we can expect them to start at a premium compared with the current entry-level (if you can call it that) model, which starts at around £172,000. It’s likely to fall in the ballpark of the Aston Martin DBX, at around £220,000.
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