By Staff Reporter

Recently Bentley revealed the refreshed Bentayga with a host of interior and exterior updates, and now the Crewe based firm has taken covers off the updated version of the powerful Bentayga Speed.

Exterior

Exterior changes to the Speed, which also happens to be the fastest SUV in the world, include dark-tint headlights, body-coloured side skirts, unique front and rear bumpers and an elongated tailgate spoiler. Dark-tint radiator and bumper grilles, a unique 22-inch wheel design available in two finishes (painted and dark tint) and Speed signature badging shore up the sporty credentials of the updated Bentley Speed, whilst dark-tint tail lamps and exhaust pipes in an oval shape complete the menacing look of the Speed.

The Speed is offered with 17 standard paint colours that are supplemented by a further 47 hues in the Extended and Mulliner ranges, with an additional 24 duo-tone options. If the 88 colour options are not enough, a customer can have paintwork colour matched to any sample they provide. The exterior colour option is matched by a palette of 15 hide colours, six colour splits and eight veneers and two technical finishes.

Interior

Inside changes sees the adoption of a colour split where dark colours are livened by primary hide accents running throughout the seats and interior trim. The contrast leather is found around the doors, along the edges of the seat cushions and backrest bolsters, and on the lower console.

The above is further enhanced by a new contrast stitching design through the diamond quilting of the Mulliner Driving Specification (included as standard) that is unique to Speed and is interpreted with each of the stitch lines running through the quilting being split, that is one to match the leather, and the other appearing in a contrast colour.

On the infotainment front, a bigger and brighter, high-resolution 10.9-inch touchscreen, with an anti-reflection and anti-glare coating and much improved touch functionality is introduced. Wireless Apple CarPlay is now standard (in addition to the previous standard wired system), along with Android Auto.

Black Specification

Customers wishing to amplify the sporting look of their Bentayga Speed even further can select the Black Specification which replaces all exterior chrome work, bright detailing and some elements of the body with gloss black or carbon fibre versions. The front bumper splitter and the side sills are recreated by hand in carbon fibre, while the rear bumper diffuser becomes gloss black. All exterior brightware (including the roof rails) is resplendent in gloss black, as are the 22” Bentayga Speed wheels and exhaust finishers. Finally, the standard roof spoiler is replaced with a curved carbon fibre version.

Power

The new Bentley Bentayga Speed is powered by 6.0-litre W12 twin-turbocharged engine that delivers peak power of 467 kW and 900 Nm, and is paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The Speed can sprint from 0 – 100 km/h in just 3.9 seconds before reaching a top speed of 306 km/h.

It’s not all about power in updated Bentley Bentayga Speed as efficiency is also prized. To achieve effective cylinder deactivation, the engine control unit deactivates one complete bank of six cylinders as required. Switching between A and B Bank using information from the inlet and exhaust sensors, minimises cylinder and catalytic convertor cool down and avoids spikes in exhaust emissions. This not only benefits CO2 emissions but realises significant economy gains under part-throttle cruising conditions. 

Additionally, in 5th to 8th gears, when the driver releases the throttle (at highway cruising speed, for example) the car will open the torque converter, dropping the engine to idle and simply allowing the car to roll or ‘sail’. When the throttle is reapplied, or the car starts going downhill and detects an increase in speed, the transmission is re-engaged.