07:25PM - 08.09.'15
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News Source: autoblog.com
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It's been a long time coming, but it's finally here. The Bentayga is not only Bentley's first production SUV, but the fastest and most powerful one in the business. Set to make its grand debut at the fast-approaching Frankfurt Motor Show, the all-new Bentley Bentayga is the redesigned successor to the EXP 9 F concept that debuted to lukewarm reception back at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show. The design bears all of Bentley's hallmarks, albeit applied to a taller form that shouldn't be unfamiliar to Range Rover owners. It certainly looks better than the original concept, but we'll reserve final judgment until we see it in person next week. Up front we find four round LED headlamps, the outer set taking an outline not unlike those we saw on the EXP 10 Speed 6 concept. Bentley says that rear haunch panel represents the largest single-piece aluminum pressing in the industry – said another way, it allows the Bentayga to be 520 pounds lighter than a non-aluminum construction. Glass panels account for nearly 60 percent of the roof's surface, and a hands-free tailgate gives access not only to a large cargo bay, but a folding seat for enjoying the view wherever the ultra-luxe sport-ute takes you. The Bentayga will get you there in a hurry, too, thanks to a powerful W12 engine. It's got both direct and indirect injection, cylinder deactivation, and a stop/start system with coasting mode. The net result is an output quoted at 600 horsepower and 663 pound-feet of torque. Mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive, this engine will rocket the Bentayga to 60 miles per hour in four seconds flat and on to a top speed of 187 miles per hour. It's the fastest production SUV in the world. The Bentayga also features a four-mode adjustable air suspension, electronic active roll control, and electric power-assisted variable steering. It's also got predictive, adaptive cruise control, traffic sign recognition, rear crossing traffic warning, hill descent control, around-view monitor, and available park assist, electronic night vision, and head-up display systems. The driver controls everything via a large dial in the center console, which also handles drive modes and traction management. We'll have to put it to the test, but from what we can tell, the Bentayga can actually go off road. Inside, it's all handcrafted leather, wood, and metal trim. There's an eight-inch touchscreen in the dashboard with a 60GB hard drive, a 10.2-inch Android tablet for rear-seat entertainment, and a trio of audio system choices ranging all the way up to a 1,950-watt, 18-speaker system by Naim. The front seats are adjustable 22 ways and feature ventilation, heating, and massage functions. And if the four-seat configuration is chosen over the five, the rear seats are adjustable 15 ways as well. Customers will also be able to choose between 15 shades of leather, 15 carpets, 7 wood veneers (for the 15 trim pieces inside), wheel options ranging from 20 to 22 inches, and 17 standard color options. Of course, that's before turning to the Mulliner catalog for 90 more color choices and virtually limitless customization options. And that's also just for the launch model. Once production gets under way, Bentley intends to launch a seven-seat version, a higher performance Speed model, and more efficient diesel and hybrid variants. Those variants will take Bentley once again into uncharted territory, and help it prepare for an onslaught of forthcoming challengers from the likes of Aston Martin, Jaguar, Lamborghini, Maserati, and Rolls-Royce. |
