Bentley has updated the Bentayga, making it more trousers and less mouth thanks to a styling overhaul but, sadly for some, removing the mad 600bhp W12 engine option – an engine that was at one time the only available with the model.
Sadly emissions regulations mean it’s no longer prudent to sell the 6.0-litre W12, so for now the only option is a twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8 with a mere 542bhp. The V6 petrol-electric hybrid will become available later this year in facelifted form; the Bentayga V8 diesel was discontinued a couple of years back, and won’t be making a return.
The order books are open now for Autumn deliveries of a facelifted V8 Bentayga, with prices not confirmed yet but undoubtedly set to be a little higher than before. That means an asking price of around £145-150,000 for a kick off, rising to whatever you want, options list in hand.
Changes, then. The Bentayga has been a huge seller for Bentley since day one but the styling has aged a little since its 2015 introduction, especially compared to the latest Continental GT. Therefore the styling has been revised to give it an aesthetic more akin to Bentley’s iconic sports car.
The light frames are not only reshaped slightly, but the LED lights themselves are cut in such a way as to sparkle even when they’re not turned on. The grille is larger, higher and more upright, giving the car a more dominant presence, and the rear axle is a little wider. The front wheel arches are flared slightly too.
At the rear the spoiler is bigger, the tailpipes are reshaped, the taillights are a new elliptical design and ‘BENTLEY’ is written across the tailgate, like a…Skoda. There are, of course, new wheel designs and paint colours too, albeit Bentley’s standard palette has never been the sum total of paint finishes available on the car.
Inside, the infotainment screen and the software are both updated and now include Apple Car Play and Android Auto, the car gets wireless phone charging, a fully digital instrument panel, and rear seat passengers get more space because the seats are redesigned; as before, buyers can specify a pair of rear lounge chairs, a standard three-seat bench, or a seven-seat option.
Keyword: Bentley updates Bentayga, kills the W12 engine