The new Bentley Bentayga will give luxury SUV aficionados a reason to keep their credit cards ready for the upcoming 2015 Frankfurt Auto Show.
Bentley knows how to create brand loyalty as it delivers the fastest car of its class, with a top speed of 187 mph. This capacity is rare even in some roadsters, and before today it was unimaginable in an SUV. Typical commercial jets only need 150 to 180 mph to take off.
The British luxury car maker already teased automobile lovers with trailers of its newest SUV, boasting how well it can handle harsh conditions, be it snow, desert or mud.
Jeep claims that the release of its Hellcat-powered Grand Cherokee Trackhawk will break ground in the high-speed SUV world. Until then, the rivals of Bentley remain Porsche Cayenne Turbo S, which has a superior speed limit of 175 mph, Land Rover's Range Rover Sport SVR with a mere 162 mph, and the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT that accelerates to 160 mph tops.
"Technically dense," head of powertrain development, Friedrich Eichler, calls the engine, and the specs give him justice. Calibration of the former 6.4-liter W12 engine led to the W12 6.0-liter TSI powerhouse that sits under Bentayga's hood.
The roaring engine that was presented a couple of months ago is a twin-turbocharging direct injection mill, herding 608 horsepower and 900 Nm (663 pound-feet) of torque. It is also slightly smaller than its predecessor, which means less weight and more speed. Environment-conscious drivers were promised that emissions stay under 250g/km.
When taken on the high-speed testing track and given full throttle, the Bentayga hit 301 km/h (187 mph), allowing Bentley to claim the title of the fastest SUV in the world.
The high-end mechanical engineering is doubled by elite designer work in the interior. The detailed information is scarce, but these are the highlights. Comfortable and lavish burgundy leather covers the dashboard. Amateur and experienced drivers give praise to the stylish steering wheel that stays true to the classic design.
According to a teaser video, the SUV comes equipped with a touch-sensitive AWD mode controller, allowing for smooth navigation through snowy and grassy planes.
Everyone is waiting on their toes for the Frankfurt Auto Show, which begins Sept. 15. Until then, feel free to see Bentayga going at full speed in the teaser below:
