New Bentayga Speed V8 is quicker than older W12 model
Bentley is one of Rolls-Royce’s only genuine rivals, with a mix of heritage, refinement, and quality that are the envy of most other automakers. But unlike Rolls-Royce’s relentless focus on rear-seat comfort, Bentley has a naughtier side to it; a side that still wants to thrill the driver and showcase supreme performance. That much has just been proven at Goodwood, with the Bentley Bentayga Speed – revealed last month – setting a new Hillclimb record for ICE SUVs. We also had the opportunity to get up close to this record-breaking super SUV.
Wet Conditions Can’t Stop Bentayga’s New Record
Bentley
Even though conditions were slippery, the Bentayga Speed still completed the challenging hill run in 55.8 seconds, which is almost a second quicker than the older W12 Bentayga Speed. Behind the wheel was Andy Marson, in-house Bentley specialist, who also hit a top speed of 130 mph while accomplishing the feat. The only other SUV to complete the run more quickly was the brand’s own Pikes Peak Bentayga, but that was a one-off model modified specifically for this purpose.
Under the hood of the Bentayga Speed is a 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 making 641 horsepower and 627 lb-ft of torque. The big Bentley has the ability to hit 60 mph in only 3.4 seconds, before reaching a top speed of 193 mph.
Optional carbon ceramic discs, all-wheel steering, and enhancements to the Sport driving mode all work together to make this the most agile Bentayga ever.
As Impressive At Speed As It Is Standing Still
We had the chance to capture a few images of the Bentayga Speed at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. This is a white example with black wheels, and the interior has black upholstery with eye-popping green accents. These accents extend to the dashboard, floor mats, and shift lever.
Sitting on these optional 23-inch wheels (22s are standard), the Bentayga Speed has all the presence expected of a high-end SUV. The brightware has a darker tint than on the regular Bentayga, there is Speed lettering on the doors, and other special details include special Speed headlights with their own dark tint.Â
Clearly, losing the W12 has done nothing to diminish the Bentayga Speed’s prowess, and it’s still one of the world’s fastest SUVs.
Â
