It is a new dawn for Bentley…
Last week, Bentley announced their FIRST diesel-powered car ever, the Bentayga Diesel.
Already the world’s most luxurious SUV, the Bentayga Diesel will have increased range—more than 1,000 kilometres—and a lower price point, enabling Bentley to broaden its reach to customers and prospects who may have previously overlooked the brand.
Of course, this new diesel version will not compromise on the Bentayga’s marquee off-roading ability, nor will it compromise on its industry-leading comfort and handling.
The car will also boast a number of new exterior features including:
- A V8 Diesel badge
- Twin quad exhaust tailpipes
- A Black Matrix Grille with Chrome Surround and Centre Bar
- New 21” wheels.
As Wolfgang Dürheimer, chairman and chief executive of Bentley Motors, said: “The Bentayga Diesel represents a moment of immense significance in Bentley’s history, by giving the world its fastest luxury diesel SUV. Immense power, grand touring capabilities and superb refinement – this is a true Bentley. Only Bentley could produce a car so powerful, yet so refined.”
The engine
The beating heart of the new Bentayga Diesel is the state-of-the-art 4.0-litre, 429 bhp, 32-valve, V8 engine.
Designed to deliver world-class performance both on and off-road, the eight-speed automatic transmission Bentayga Diesel incorporates much of the same technology available in the traditional W12, making it the most advanced automotive engine in the world.
A 48V electric compressor pairs with variable-geometry, sequential twin turbochargers to generate 900 Nm (664 lb ft) of torque from just 1,000 rpm, and spools up in 30 microseconds in order to ensure there is no perceptible lag in acceleration on city streets, motorways, or off-road.
That acceleration takes the Bentayga Diesel from 0 to 60 mph in 4.6 seconds (0 to 100 km/h in 4.8 seconds) before topping out at 168 mph (270 km/h), making this—without question—the fastest diesel SUV on the market.
From the dirt and gravel of South Africa to the dunes of Dubai, to the muddy fields of Cheshire, the Bentayga Diesel’s ability to perform on any surface and even in the most extreme conditions has been proven.
Fuel efficiency
With an 85 litre tank and a combined fuel consumption of only 36 mpg (7.9 l/100 km), it’s not surprising the Bentayga Diesel has a range of more than 1,000 kilometres…
…but what IS surprising is the reality Bentayga Diesel owners will not only be able to drive from London to Bordeaux or the Scottish Highlands on a single tank, they’ll be able to drive knowing their leaving the smallest carbon footprint imaginable.
The Bentayga Diesel has the lowest CO2 output—210 g/km—of any Bentley on the market. Tack on the Selective Catalytic Reduction which allows for lower nitrous oxide production, as well as Bentley’s ground-breaking stop-start system, and it becomes apparent how this grandiose sport-utility vehicle earned full compliance with EU6 and LEV3 emissions legislation and carbon dioxide emission requirements.
Internal design
The cabin interior of the Bentayga Diesel echoes the original Bentayga’s striking design, yet distinguishes itself with a set of unique styling cues that bestow a unique look and feel.
Handcrafted in Crewe by Bentley’s industry-leading craftsman, the Bentayga Diesel features fluted seats that are simultaneously simple and elegant, with the fluted pattern mirrored elsewhere on the interior. The upper trim is made from Eliade, a highly tactile fabric designed to contrast with the rest of the leather-trimmed cabin. Available in five colours, the trim offers another level of customisable luxury.
The Bentayga’s wood veneers are carefully selected, precisely cut, and meticulously matched to create a seamless ‘ring’ of wood that flows around the interior. One of the newer veneer choices, “Liquid Amber,” is a straight grain wood carefully hewn from American sweet gum to create a contemporary look.
Control the ambience of the cabin with the new Mood Lighting function, which features six pre-set modes, each with a different colour and intensity for subtle personalisation.
External structure
Like its petrol fuelled sibling, then Bentayga Diesel owns an advanced exterior that blends aluminium castings with high-strength steel.
Subtle new styling details include the high-gloss, black-matrix grille (which has a chrome centre bar feature), two twin-quad tailpipes at the rear, and the new ‘V8 DIESEL’ badge that sits on the lower edge of the front doors.
Twenty-one inch rims have been created to complement the existing 20” and 22” range, and are available in silver-painted or grey-painted finishes with machined accents.
Luxury amenities
Staring with sound, the ‘Naim for Bentley’ audio system amplifies any music-fuelled experience, thanks to the 1,950 watt amplifier, and active bass speakers, which allow sound to be ‘felt’ as well as heard. No less than 20 speakers—including nine mid-range and tweeters—and a 300 watt sub-woofer ensure each note is enjoyed to the fullest.
In other avenues of entertainment, rear passengers can enjoy the two 10.2” tablets embedded into the rear headrests. Not only do these tablets connect in every capacity to the vehicle’s entertainment system, they include internal memory, micro SD slots, USB slots, and can also be taken outside the car for continued enjoyment.
At the core of the Bentayga Diesel’s intelligent functionality is its ability to act as a 4g WiFi hotspot. Even when venturing off-road and off-grid, the Bentayga Diesel allows passengers to stay in touch with the wider world.
But 4G connectivity is hardly the limit—a heads-up display, electronic night vision, eight-inch touch screen, 60GB hard drive, and Drive Dynamics Mode with responsive off-road settings are additional amenities that make the Bentayga Diesel a cut-above the competition. In all, over 20 new innovations have been incorporated into Bentayga Diesel.
Complete Customisation
As with all Bentleys, the Bentayga Diesel can be handed over to the highly skilled craftspeople at Mulliner—Bentley’s bespoke coachbuilding department.
An exquisite integrated Mulliner Hamper Set—complete with refrigerator, bespoke fine Linley china cutlery, crockery and crystal glass, and storage area for dry goods—is available with the Bentayga Diesel, as is a bespoke mechanical Mulliner Tourbillon by Breitling clock.
The most complex of timekeeping mechanisms, the Mulliner Tourbillon is an automatically wound masterpiece, machined in solid white or rose gold, and adorned with a mother-of-pearl or black ebony face, and eight diamond indexes.
Technical performance
Owners set on maximum safety can incorporate Bentley Dynamic Ride—the world’s first electric active roll control technology—into their Bentayga Diesel. This system instantly counteracts lateral rolling forces when cornering to ensure maximum tyre contact, class-leading cabin stability, ride comfort, and handling.
Electric Power-Assisted Steering (EPAS) is also featured on the Bentayga Diesel. The new system improves feedback to the driver, and minimises steering kick-back. EPAS also features a variable rack ratio, permitting light and fast steering while manoeuvring at low speeds, as well as a more subdued response for excellent stability at high speeds.
The partnership of a highly sophisticated chassis, Electronic Stability Control (ESC), and advanced, multi-mode Traction Control (TCS), mean the Bentayga Diesel offers unrivalled comfort whether on steep declines, windy roads, or icy surfaces.
The Bentayga Diesel also offers the widest range of drive settings of any vehicle on the market. Up to eight modes are available, allowing drivers—at the turn of a dial—to select the perfect dynamic set-up for any surface or road condition.
Inside urban environments like greater London, there are a number features designed to make the driving experience as enjoyable as possible. Systems like the Traffic Sign Recognition system, which detects a traffic sign information and displays it to the driver, and the Rear Crossing Traffic Warning, which uses radar to detect crossing traffic when in reverse, combine to enhance everyday urban usability.
Availability
Customer deliveries for the brand new Bentley Bentayga Diesel will begin in Europe early next year, with entry into Russia, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand and Taiwan planned across the rest of 2017.
For more information about the Bentayga Diesel and its availability in the U.K., please contact your local H.R. Owen Bentley dealership.
