Bentley Bentayga gets a V8 petrol motor

When Bentley took the wraps off their first ever SUV, the Bentayga, it packed in the most opulent motor one can find under a hood - the 6.0-litre mighty W12. A year later, the first ever diesel Bentley happened with a 4.0-litre V8 TDI. Now, the Crewe-based carmaker has announced a V8 gasoline engine for the Bentayga. 

Developing a modest 542bhp and 770Nm, the turbo-charged 4.0-litre V8 also does duty under the hood of the Porsche Panamera and Cayenne Turbo. Transmission is a ZF-derived eight-speed unit sending power to all-four-wheels. The British SUV can sprint to a ton in 4.5 seconds before topping out at 290kmph. Compared to the flagship W12 brethren, the V8 is half a second slower with an 11kmph lower top speed.

And the V8 Bentayga comes, for the first time, with carbon-ceramic brakes as an optional extra. It is also the largest and the most powerful ones ever fitted to a Bentley, and the largest front brake system available on any production car. There are 440mm discs upfront with 10 pistons calipers and 370mm at the rear, and they sit inside massive 22-inch alloys with a five-spoke gloss black finish.

Looks wise, there isn’t much to differentiate the V8 Bentayga from its other two variants. On the inside, however, there are some additions over the W12 such as glossy carbon fibre trims all around, wooden insert on steering wheel and the first-ever cricket-ball leather upholstery. There are optional premium sound system available as well with 18 speakers for a total of 1950watts. 

Prices for the Bentayga V8 are yet to be announced. However, we expect it to mark the entry-level for the Bentayga ownership. Apart from the new V8, the Bentayga is also expected to get a smaller V6 with a plug-in hybrid powertrain. The powertrain will be scrounged from the VW Group’s electric lineup and might make its debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March.