Following the recent revisions to the Bentley Bentayga, the Crewe company is now releasing the Bentayga Speed. It is the range-topper of the luxury SUV lineup and combines stirring performance with outright luxury. As well as 'Speed' badging along the lower front doors, the Bentayga gets an elongated spoiler, unique bumpers at either end and oval tailpipes that denote its W12 engine.
Buyers can choose from a paint set consisting of 17 standard colours, while an additional 47 colours are available in the Extended and Milliner ranges along with 24 duo-tone options. If one of those 88 colours isn't quite to your liking, Bentley will match paint to any object or sample you can supply. Furthermore, there are 15 upholstery options with six colour splits and eight veneers. The Bentayga Speed also introduces Alcantara to the interior for those seeking a sportier feel to match the SUV's performance.
Residing under the bonnet of the Bentley Bentayga Speed is a 6.0-litre twin-turbocharged W12 that generates 635hp and 900Nm of torque from 1,500rpm. That's enough to propel the Bentayga Speed from 0-100km/h in 3.9 seconds and give a top speed capability of 306km/h. To help that engine comply with emissions regulations it can shut off one bank of six cylinders when the engine is under less load. It will also alternate cylinder banks in use to better manage temperature in the catalytic convertors and maintain efficient emissions control. When cruising at higher speeds in fifth to eighth gear, when the driver lifts off the throttle the car will open the torque convertor, allowing the engine to idle and freewheel to reduce fuel consumption.
To help reign in that speed, Bentley offers the option of carbon-ceramic brakes that are currently the largest and most powerful it has ever fitted to a car. Capable of operating at temperatures of up t 1,000 degrees Celsius, they have a maximum braking torque of 6,000Nm and save more than 20kg over similar iron brakes.
As Bentley Chairman and Chief Executive, Adrian Hallmark, explains: "The new Bentayga has already raised the benchmark for luxury SUVs, against which all others are measured. Ahead of the launch of the new Bentayga Hybrid - the world's only definitive luxury hybrid - in the coming months, it's important that we still recognise the customer desire for absolute performance. The new Bentayga Speed remains the fastest SUV in the world, but more that, it's also the most luxurious version of the new Bentayga - the best of both worlds, the pinnacle."