After its premiere in the fall of 2015 and production start in the spring of 2016, Bentley Motors’ first SUV – the Bentayga – instantly became a best-seller. Today, the production volume exceeded twenty thousand units.
The luxury crossover vehicle originally shipped with a six-liter W12 under the hood, which was rated at 600 hp (447 kW) and 900 Nm (664 ft-lbs) of torque. In the fall of 2016, a more affordable spec emerged based on the same four-liter V8 diesel turbo as the Audi SQ7. The combination of a supercharger and dual turbines enabled it to produce 435 hp (324 kW) along with the same 900 Nm (664 ft-lbs) of torque.
In early 2018, the Bentayga borrowed another powertrain from the Cayenne Turbo, getting 550 hp (410 kW) and 770 Nm (568 ft-lbs) out of it. Two months later, it became Bentley’s first-ever hybrid car courtesy of a 3.0-liter V6 rated at 449 hp (335 kW) and 700 Nm (516 ft-lbs). The all-electric range amounted to 50 kilometers (slightly above 30 miles).
Last spring, Bentayga Speed topped the range with its W12 boosted to deliver 635 hp (474 kW). This version could accelerate all the way to 306 km/h (190 mph), a no small feat for a bulky high-end crossover.
Technically, the Bentayga shares its principal platform with the Audi Q7/Q8, Lamborghini Urus, Porsche Cayenne, and Volkswagen Touareg. The model currently accounts for every second Bentley car sale, making it by far the most popular Bentley vehicle on the market right now. It is also currently undergoing a mid-life refresh, with sales launch penciled in for later this year barring emergencies.