The Bentley Bentayga has been unveiled ahead of its official debut at the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show. It is the iconic British luxury automaker’s first SUV and is the production version of the EXP 9 F concept car that was shown in 2012. The Bentayga is underpinned by the same MLB platform as the Audi Q7/next-generation Porsche Cayenne and Volkswagen Touraeg.
The exterior design reveals the familiar split LED head lamps, premium mesh grille and famous winged ‘B’ logo to complete the family face. Move over to the side and you can see the VW lineage thanks to the stance, rear overhang and flare in the wheel arches. While the chrome outline on the windows has been retained across all models, the Bentayga also gets a chrome strip running just above the side skirts. The rear gets C-shaped tail lamps, outward sloping glass and a ridge above the number plate section which adds both to the premium factor as well as the sporty quotient of the vehicle.
If there is one thing that Bentley is known for, irrespective of the body style, is the amount of luxury it offers in its cars and this new SUV is no less luxurious than its coupe and sedan siblings. The cabin is a premium place to be in thanks to the leather upholstery, wood inserts and what appears to be excessive chrome garnish on nearly everything that is visible. ‘Standard’ features include four-zone climate control; touchscreen infotainment system with a 1950 Watt sound system created by UK based specialists Naim specifically for the Bentayga.
The Bentayga is perplexing to look at but will be fun to drive thanks to the 6.0-litre twin-turbo V12 which pumps out 600bhp and 900Nm of torque. Power goes to all four-wheels via an eight-speed ZF automatic and AWD system. The sprint from 0-100kmph gets done in four seconds while the top speed is 301kmph.
Bentley will unveil the car at Frankfurt and will begin deliveries early next year but no pricing has been announced. In the Indian context, the Bentayga will be launched by the middle of next year.
