Bentley launches new 650hp Bentayga Speed
Faster and more agile than old W12, says Bentley - with Launch Control for the first time, too
It can be hard to keep track of the Bentayga range, what with Azures and Atelier Editions and a Black Edition for the S. But with the car as popular as it is, Bentley will understandably want to take full advantage. Now the sporting flagship of the range has returned, a new 650hp Speed promising ‘the most dynamic chassis set-up ever offered on a Bentayga’.
This 4.0-litre twin-turbo version replaces the original W12 Speed, which - whisper it - was a lovely thing, expertly balancing performance, theatre and ability. It’s even more powerful than the old 6.0-litre, the familiar V8 now rated at a formidable 650hp. That’s without any hybrid assistance, either, the Bentayga not yet adopting the plug-in arrangement seen elsewhere in the Bentley range and throughout the MLB Evo gaggle of SUVs - see Urus SE and Cayenne Turbo E-Hybrid, for example. The Bentley’s mechanical makeup therefore more closely resembles the Audi RS Q8 Performance, which makes 640hp from the same engine.
Certainly the Bentayga makes good on the name; Launch Control - a first for the model - means a 3.4-second sprint to 62mph, with 193mph possible. A standard sports exhaust ‘delivers a rich, powerful engine note that complements the eager character of the High Powered V8 and promotes a deep sense of driver engagement.’ There’s a titanium Akrapovic system available as well to ‘accentuate the power, drama and potency of the V8’. The standard arrangement has two pipes, the Akra four.
It’s the chassis that’s been most significantly overhauled for this Speed, though. The Sport drive mode features a 15 per cent increase in damping stiffness, while four-wheel steering is also standard fit. A new ESC Dynamic setting, accessible through the Sport mode and seemingly only if the ceramic brakes have been optioned, is perhaps the most interesting change, permitting as it does ‘exhilarating drift angles or power-on oversteer where appropriate.’ There’s probably not anywhere that’s appropriate for oversteering a Bentley SUV, but that certainly doesn’t mean we don’t want to see it. Torque vectoring by braking should keep turn in crisp or exhilarating drift angles extended as required. Bentley says the new Speed ‘recalibrates all one’s expectations of handling, roadholding, acceleration and steering response for a luxury SUV.’ Which definitely sounds like something to look forward to, particularly given how good the latest generation of Continental GT has proved itself to be.
Marking a Speed out from the rest of the Bentayga flock is a special set of 22-inch wheels - with 23s on offer if you get the ceramics - plus Speed-specific badges, brightware and lights. Note as well the black roof here, an extra that will also only be offered on the Speed. Probably we’d go for a spec other than the one aping the old GT3 race car, because a Bentayga will never look much like a race car, but whatever floats your boat really. There are further Speed accents throughout the interior.
‘Through careful chassis enhancements and the adoption of the new High Powered 4.0 V8, Bentley’s engineers have created the most powerful and dynamic Bentayga ever, without losing an iota of what makes a Bentley, a Bentley’ reckons, uh, Bentley. Given the abundance of super SUVs out there, from G63 to DBX, plus the wealth of Bentaygas already sold, you’d expect the Speed to be popular. Given the last Speed was £180,000 five years ago, more than £200,000 seems likely this time around. PH first drive verdict coming soon…
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