The Bentley name has always evoked strong images of luxury. Hand stitched leather trim, glossed walnut panelling, chromed metal dials, the very latest in technology and the last word in comfort. When you think ‘Bentley’ you might think of these things, but you probably don’t think ‘off-road’.
Nevertheless Bentley seems determined to bring their class-defining luxurious approach to all environments with the announcement of their all-new SUV, the Bentayga, to be revealed later this year.
Further good news is that the Bentayga is to be made at the firms UK factory in Cheshire rather than in Bratislava – Slovakia – where it’s VW owned cousin the Audi Q7 will be made. Meaning that the future of the British brand and that of its assembly workers looks secure.
Bentley have released very few press shots and concept designs of the Bentayga so far, but the firm has also confirmed that the styling of the Bentayga has changed significantly since the release of the concept designs in 2012. Fortunately thanks to spy-shots we can still get a pretty good idea of what the Bentayga will look like.
Two-part headlight configuration and an enlarged grill have been added to the Bentayga since it’s concept designs giving it a defined front end similar to that of other Bentleys such as the Flying Spur and GT Continental. There’s also something reminiscent of the Porsche Cayenne about it, which is unsurprising considering the two cars share a platform. However we remain hopeful that the two models won’t share too many styling qualities, as the Cayenne does have a ‘911-on -stilts’ air about it at times.
Test models have been fitted with Bentley’s familiar 6.0-litre W12 engine, however a smaller 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 is also expected. Perhaps the biggest revelation is that the Bentayga will be the first Bentley model to have the option of a diesel engine, and that’s not all. Thanks to Bentley’s position within the VW group, a hybrid model has also been implied, however a plug-in power-train would not appear on the Bentayga before 2017.
The Bentayga is expected to hit the market with a price tag starting at around £140,000, and although it isn’t due on sale until 2016. We think it will cause quite a stir.
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Images courtesy of Automedia.
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