Bentley has updated the Bentayga Speed, but the decision to keep its W12 motor means that Europe won’t get the car – including the UK, obviously – where emissions regulations have killed it off. Bentley will no doubt give the next version of the Speed a smaller capacity engine in order to sell it here.
For now all we can do is fawn at the ultimate Bentayga and think about what it might be like to live in the Middle East. (Driving one of these, that is. Not just in general. Although you are, of course, free to do that.)
Changes bring the car in line with the facelifted Bentayga, meaning styling tweaks inside and out and, somewhat ironically, technology that improves efficiency and makes this more economical than before. That technology is cylinder deactivation, which can shut off half the cylinders when the car is cruising, but it’s especially clever here because it alternates between the cylinder banks to avoid the engine cooling down, which would impact efficiency and partly negate the whole process. It has engine coasting too, detaching the engine from the gearbox to reduce friction so that the car can coast at higher speeds.
Still, we’re not looking at supermini running costs here, of course. The official NEDC combined consumption figure is 19.8mpg and 325g/km CO2; Bentley doesn’t even bother quoting the more modern (and stricter) WLTP test, presumably because it’s slightly embarrassed about the results. Bentley will soon launch a hybrid Bentayga, which will hopefully produce fuel economy test results more pertinent to life outside a sheikh bubble.
Still, what an engine: the 6.0-litre W12 has 626bhp and 900Nm, the latter all available between 1500-5000rpm and capable of getting the massive Bentayga to 62mph in 3.9 seconds. Top speed is 190mph. Every one of the engines is hand built at Bentley’s production HQ in Crewe.
Cosmetic changes, then. The lights are reshaped and now feature ‘diamond cut’ LEDs that sparkle even when they’re turned off, and in the Speed specifically the headlamp covers are darker than in the other Bentaygas. Speed models also get unique 22-inch wheels and a bigger spoiler than your basic 4.0-litre V8 Bentley.
The grille is larger and more upright, for that domineering thing that buyers of this sort of thing like, and the wheel arches are more flared than before, for a wider look. The taillights are a new elliptical design, and the interior is absolutely awash with Alcantara. There’s an optional black styling pack too, which removes a lot of the chrome and replaces it with either gloss black or carbon fibre bits.
In the cabin, the infotainment is updated, as is the instrument panel which is now fully digital. It gets Apple CarPlay and Android Auto too.
Keyword: Bentayga Speed is the ultimate Bentley SUV…and you can’t have one