Tuesday 26th June 2018

Bentley Bentayga Pikes Peak Edition

10 cars for the 10 minutes of the Bentayga's record run - full details here

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Over the course of history there have been some memorable road cars inspired by motorsport success. Think of the Subaru Impreza Terzo (to mark three WRC Manufacturers' titles), the Aston Martin Vantage GT12 (for a roadgoing link to the V12 GT3 cars) and the Vauxhall Astra Coupe 888 of 2001, after Vauxhall had won its first BTCC title for six years. We said memorable, not incredible...

Now joining that illustrious list (which surely includes dozens more) is this, the Bentley Bentayga Pikes Peak Edition. As you've probably surmised, it's been created to mark the 'fastest SUV' record achieved by a Bentayga W12 in Colorado over the weekend. And while you may mock, it did beat the record set by a Range Rover Sport in 2013 by a massive 1:45.6. Nearly two minutes over just 12 miles is some going. Place your bets now on an SVR being there in 2019...

For the limited edition, the spec understandably closely follows the Bentayga that tackled the hillclimb. So it's also a 600hp, W12 car, available in either Radium Satin paint or Beluga Black. Whichever exterior colour is chosen you get 22-inch wheels in a two-tone combo of both, plus the Black Specification that replaces all the standard chrome with black and also adds carbon accents.

The colour scheme continues inside, only with the Radium replaced by Key Lime highlights on the Beluga leather. There's plentiful Alcantara for the full 'because race car' aesthetic, plus more carbon fibre and a Pikes Peak logo to match those that adorn the flanks. Something to show your friends, for sure.

A sports exhaust - though not the Akrapovic fitted to the record car - and Bentley's Touring Specification complete the Pikes Peak overhaul, this Bentayga not quite going the whole hog by removing the rear seats and adding a cage as in Rhys Millen's steed. Spoilsports. Just 10 Pikes Peak Editions will be made, with customers in the US and Europe able to order one from August. Form an orderly queue...

[Kenny Powers]

This should be fun

[Kenny Powers]

Five per domestic market.

USA & Europe.

[Kenny Powers]

I reckon this is basically a publicity ruse. Perhaps manufacturers are realising they can use frothing car forum commentators to their advantage?