The European-spec Bentley Bentayga Diesel is no more, canned in the face of decreasing demand for the fuel type after just two years in production. It lives on in thirteen other markets, including Australia, Russia and South Africa, but here, in Britain and on the continent, the first diesel Bentley looks set to also be the last.
You could say it’s a sign of the times. The decision comes just weeks after Bentley’s Volkswagen Group stablemate Porsche confirmed it wouldn’t be introducing any new diesels, following dwindling demand for the oil burning versions of the Macan and Panamera. British sales figures for 2018 show that diesel now makes up less than a third of the new car market here. It was closer to 50 per cent in 2015.
Bentley says the diesel model has been dropped both because of this market shift and also to realign itself following a “strategic decision to focus on electrification in the future”. It may have died before it really got started, but the Bentayga Diesel did, at first at least, appear to make sense. Here was a 435hp and 664lb ft-producing luxury V8 model that could shift its 2.5-tonne mass to 62mph in 4.8 seconds, while also providing you with the means to run with economy of 35.3mpg, should you allow that torquey motor to trundle along instead of mashing the accelerator.
That can’t be said for the remaining petrol V8 alternative, which is only four tenths quicker to 62mph but has a considerably greater thirst for liquid hydrocarbons, meaning combined economy is rated at 24.8mpg even when you've donned your finest pair of helium loafers. That’s quite a few more stops at the pump on a cross continental voyage in your quilted leather throne on wheels.
Bentley won't budge on what the sales split between its petrol and diesel Bentaygas has been. But take a look on the PH Classifieds and you’ll see that just 37.5% of the 64 used Bentaygas listed there drink from the black pump, giving some indication to the petrol model’s dominance. At this end of the market, that’s probably of little surprise. Owners of an SUV model that will regularly be specced up to cost more than £200,000 are less likely to be bothered about saving on a tank or two of fuel per month. Plus, Bentley will soon introduce a hybrid version of the Bentayga, so those wanting performance and improved economy won’t be left waiting for long.
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