Bentley’s flagship Bentayga Extended Wheelbase Azure is now in Singapore, and it’s probably the most imposing luxury sports utility vehicle (SUV) in the market yet for 2023.
The British carmaker lifted the veil off their new motorcar yesterday, where we were given full access to it. As its name suggests, the Bentayga Extended Wheelbase (EWB) is longer – by 180 mm, to be exact – than the standard model, allowing for plenty more cabin space at the back.
Apart from the longer side profile and rear doors, the Bentayga EWB is visually identical to its standard wheelbase sibling. This Azure model is equipped with 22-inch ten-spoke wheels and self-levelling wheel badges.
More Advanced Than Ever Before
According to Bentley, the EWB now features two advanced technologies as standard: Electronic All-Wheel Steering and Bentley Dynamic Ride.
With all-wheel steering, the direction of travel of the rear wheels are adjusted accordingly to follow the steering inputs set by the driver to the front ones, thus ensuring stability even at high speeds. The system also improves the Bentayga’s handling around sweeping bends.
At low speeds, it steers the rear wheels to the opposite direction to the front wheels, giving the Bentayga EWB a small turning radius (up to 7% smaller than the standard wheelbase model) and greater agility around tight spaces.
The electrically-powered Bentley Dynamic Ride system ensures that the Bentayga EWB’s cabin does not roll from side to side whenever the SUV is cornering at speed, while at the same time not compromising the softness of the ride during normal driving.
Bentley has also reduced the secondary ride vibration in the Bentayga EWB to ensure an even quieter ride along typical roads, by up to 27% against other competitors.
Riding First Class
With the Bentley Airline Seat Specification, the rear cabin space of the Bentayga EWB feels very much like being in First Class. The seats can recline fully, with a footrest deploying from the seat in front automatically. They also feature 16-way powered adjustments, with heating, ventilation, and massage functions.
The carmaker has also fitted the SUV with state-of-the-art technologies for unparalleled passenger comfort, such as Seat Auto Climate. This world-first feature essentially allows the surfaces of the rear outer seats to maintain pre-set temperature and humidity levels via a set of sensors, cooling or warming depending on the conditions.
Another world-first is the Postural Adjust feature, which uses air cushions beneath the seat surfaces to make tiny adjustments in sequences of up to three hours. This stimulates muscles and blood flow, reducing the fatigue and stiffness that can set in on long journeys.
Owners can also opt to have powered rear doors, with the buttons for closing located on the rear centre console.
Its front cabin is also swathed in luxury, with leather and polished aluminium trim pieces on all sides. The front seats feature heating, ventilation and massage functions, plus comfort headrests and 20-way electrical seat adjustment.
Rear passengers can control just about every function in the cabin from the comfort of their airline seats. A handy touchscreen panel located just above the rear AC blowers provides unfettered access to the Bentayga EWB’s on-board features. Plus, it can even be removed from its dock to be used like a smartphone.
Customers may also opt for the Naim sound system, which features a 1780 W, 20-channel amplifier, and 20 speakers laid throughout the cabin. Located in the lower seats’ backs are two advanced bass speakers, with two super tweeters to extend the high frequency.
Powering the Bentayga EWB is the marque’s 4.0-litre V8, producing 542 bhp and 770 Nm of torque. The eight-speed automatic delivers the power to all four wheels, allowing the Bentayga EWB to clear a century sprint in just 4.6 seconds.
Photo Credits: Muhammad Mu’tasim (@mutasimdrives) & Bentley Singapore
Keyword: First Look: Bentley Bentayga Extended Wheelbase Azure Launches in Singapore