LuxuryCarMagazine En Luxury Car Review and News
After a rigamaroll or two (or three…or 10), Bentley has finally taken the wraps off of its SUV. Originally called the EXP-9, the Bentley truck has now become the Bentayga. Whatever the heck that means.
And it’s unmistakable as a Bentley, that’s for sure. The headlights are actually more reflective of what’s seen on the Continental GT as opposed to what’s on the larger Mulsanne. It appears the designers at Crewe thought the dinner plate-sized items found on their flagship sedan were too big even for an SUV; we agree. The classic Bentley split grille, however, looks right at home on the Bentayga.
While the front-end is all Bentley, the profile actually reminds more of the current Porsche Cayenne SUV, perhaps even more so than it does a Continental GT on steroids. The aggressively-raked rear window, long hood and short roofline lend an athletic look to the truck. It’s worlds better than the last “Bentley” SUV we knew, which was really just a Range Rover with a nose job, done specifically for the Sultan of Brunei, who had a fleet of them.
Plus, we’re pretty sure the Sultan didn’t have a champagne fridge in the boot, which is joined in the Bentayga by a set of flutes and custom blankets. You know, for when you want to take your $150K (or whatever it’s going to be) Bentley SUV for a picnic. Other interior touches include quilted leather on the seats (the rears are of the bucket variety), a Breitling clock–spectacular–and Naim audio system, good for 1,950 watts. Of course, when it’s all said and done, there’s probably going to be over 1,000 interior material/colour/accessory combinations from which to select.
There will likely be both 8- and 12-cylinder variants, but at the outset, we’re going to have to make do with the 600 horsepower, 663 lb.-ft. twin-turbo W12 option, paired to an eight-speed automatic. The 8 banger will come soon after, potentially followed by a hybrid down the road.
