VIDEO REVIEW: 2021 Bentley Bentayga. If You Had The DOUGH, WOULD YOU? – AutoSpies.com

This is the new 2021 Bentayga. Facelifted First Edition version with V8

With more than 20,000 Bentaygas handcrafted since the cars launch more than any of its competitors the new Bentayga is set to build on an incredible success story to date.

A new exterior design adopts the Bentley design DNA now prevalent across the entire model range, giving Bentley the freshest and most modern product family of any luxury car company. Introducing the very latest onboard technology and an even more cosseting cabin, the new model is significantly revised both inside and out.

Combining the abilities of a performance grand tourer, a luxury limousine, a spacious family car and an off-roader, the new Bentayga follows its predecessors mantle of having the broadest brief of any car on sale today.

The car that established the luxury SUV sector has been enhanced to create the ultimate in power, luxury and usability. Designed, engineered and handcrafted in Crewe, England, the extraordinary new Bentayga builds further on the outstanding success of its predecessor.

Adrian Hallmark, Chairman and Chief Executive of Bentley Motors, comments:

From its moment of launch nearly five years ago, the Bentayga has been the very definition of the luxury SUV. Like the Continental GT, the Bentayga created an entirely new part of the market, and since we set the benchmark many others have joined the sector, but no other car can offer a breadth of ability to rival the Bentayga.

With the new Bentayga, were repositioning the pinnacle of the luxury SUV segment to be even higher, even further away from the competition. Weve listened to our customers and made improvements to the areas most important to them, and the new Bentayga is a thoroughly modern and beautiful extension of the original cars abilities and achievements.

New Bentayga - Summary

Key to the new Bentayga is its strikingly dynamic look, which draws inspiration from the marques new design language, introduced by the third-generation Continental GT and all-new Flying Spur. Together, the three cars form a new family that are more visually connected than ever before. The bold styling offers an imposing road presence, with every panel at the front of the car redesigned for a cleaner, modern look.

The larger, assertive matrix grille is now more upright, while new, intelligent LED matrix headlamp technology includes the signature Bentley design inspired by cut crystal glassware. A more aggressive front bumper emphasises the performance characteristics of the car. Heated, wet-arm windscreen wipers are introduced for the first time, with 22 washer jets in each arm.

At the rear, the new Bentayga has undergone a major transformation, with a total redesign of the rear surfaces including a new full-width tailgate with new encapsulated lamps, while the licence plate has been moved down into the bumper for a cleaner appearance. Wide, split tailpipes leave no doubt that this is a powerful performance car. A 20 mm increase to the rear track width brings dynamic benefit and repositions the wheels in their arches to improve the cars stance. The wheels themselves are a new design, unique to Bentayga.

The Bentaygas highly praised interior has been significantly revised in the latest model. Among the major changes are a new centre fascia and steering wheel, new door trims and all-new seats now available with ventilation in the rear of the five-seat cabin option. Passengers in the rear also enjoy significantly more space, with legroom increased by up to 100 mm depending on configuration.

A next generation infotainment system is integrated seamlessly into the handcrafted, Bentley wing dashboard design and features a 10.9-inch display screen with edge-to-edge graphics. The all-new digital display includes super high-resolution and dynamic graphics which are configurable to suit driver preferences.

The latest hardware and software bring all-new navigation with satellite maps, online search and other features. Wireless Apple CarPlay is standard for the first time, alongside the existing wired system, along with Android Auto (market dependant). Rear seat occupants benefit from the introduction of a new, larger touchscreen remote control tablet, similar to that introduced in the all-new Flying Spur.

Connectivity around the car has been significantly improved, with USB-C data ports and a wireless phone charger now standard. New Bentayga is now provided with an embedded SIM, as with the latest Continental GT models, meaning My Bentley connected car features no longer require customers to provide their own data connection. My Bentley in-car and remote services is a continually developing range of services available to customers through a dedicated app, available both on Apple iOS and Android mobile platforms.

The luxurious interior can be further enhanced with the application of dark tint diamond brushed aluminium trim for the first time in a Bentley, as well as two straight-grained veneers new to Bentayga: Koa and Crown Cut Walnut. Mulliner Driving Specification adds a new quilting design, and micro piping detailing is a new option for the seats.

The new model will initially be launched in Bentayga V8 guise offering supercar performance balanced with everyday usability, with the plug-in Hybrid and W12-powered Speed versions to follow this year. The V8s 4.0-litre, twin-turbocharged petrol engine develops an impressive 542 bhp (550 PS) and 568 lb.ft (770 Nm) of torque.

Chris Cole, Product Line Director for Bentayga, comments:

With new Bentayga, our objective was relatively straightforward to take the best and make it even better. To do this, we listened closely to our existing Bentayga customers, then addressed their comments to ensure the new model offers an even more complete, all-round proposition.

New Bentayga reflects the truly sophisticated qualities and design make-up of other members of the Bentley family, such as the new Continental GT and all-new Flying Spur. It was already the pinnacle of the luxury SUV sector but now we have taken it even higher.

Bentley Bentayga Defining The Luxury SUV Sector

The original Bentayga defined a new sector when it was introduced in November 2015. It set the benchmark as the worlds first true luxury SUV and offered customers a Grand Touring experience that was unrestricted by terrain.

At launch, the Bentayga was the fastest, most powerful and most exclusive SUV in the world. The result of a 840 million investment programme, it created 1,500 jobs in the United Kingdom and ensured Bentley was the first luxury brand to offer an SUV.

Designed with arguably the broadest remit in automotive history, Bentayga had to offer the performance of a supercar, the ride comfort of a limousine, a semi-autonomous driving capability, a range of powertrain options, and off-road ability to rival the very best premium SUVs whilst retaining the craftsmanship, luxury and quality of a Bentley.

With class-leading performance from a range of petrol, diesel and hybrid engines, Bentayga has gone on to win a string of major international awards. It has been a stunning success for Bentley and in 2019 accounted for 45 per cent of the companys global sales.

Since its original launch, the segment created by the Bentayga has welcomed a number of new models from rival brands. Yet despite the arrival of these newcomers, Bentayga has continued to be the best-selling luxury SUV.Alongside its sales performance, the Bentayga has been driven on every terrain imaginable across the planet racing kite surfers on Danish beaches, crossing inhospitable deserts in Chile and Bolivia, trekking across Iceland, dune surfing in the Middle East, and setting a new SUV record at the Pikes Peak International Hillclimb. Special editions equipped for fly fishing, field sports and even falconry have been created and released, while Bentayga Speed remains the fastest SUV in the world with a top speed of 190 mph (305 km/h).

Bentley is now introducing the new Bentayga to reinforce its position as market leader. Close attention to feedback from original Bentayga owners - of which up to 70 percent were new to the brand - has prompted particular focus on the exterior presence, infotainment system and rear seat package, and the new model is set to raise the bar once again.

A New Exterior Design

The exterior design of the new Bentayga has been completely refreshed to create an even more stylish and purposeful car, showcasing Bentleys new design language. Every panel at the front and rear of the car has been altered to give it a cleaner and more modern look but with no change to the cars coefficients of drag or lift.JP Gregory, Head of Exterior Design at Bentley Motors, comments: We spent a long time examining how to improve the proportions and character of the car. New Bentayga is still instantly recognisable as a Bentley but now has a much greater road presence.

What we have achieved is a significant step forward. New Bentayga is a more self-confident looking SUV from whatever angle you look at the car. The prouder grill and higher, more focused elliptical headlights give a much more modern expression - a real statement of intent.

A number of the intricate design details draw inspiration from the latest members of the Bentley family, including the third-generation Continental GT and the new Flying Spur limousine.

Key to these is the new matrix grille. Larger and more upright than before, it allows the Bentaygas elegant bonnet to sweep down to the very edge of the chrome work. This gives the car a more dominant, upright profile and pushes the new LED matrix headlamps further apart, raising them 30mm higher.

New elliptical headlamps are seen for the first time on a Bentley. They include the marques now-signature cut crystal design, which makes them appear to sparkle even when not lit. They now also illuminate with a contemporary wake-up sequence.

In profile, the muscularity of the design is clearly visible. A new, longer vent is positioned above the sculpted power line on the side of the front wing, while the lower door mouldings are also completely new, alongside discreet V8 badging.

A striking new 22-inch wheel design is available in two finishes, expanding the number of available wheel designs to five all of which are unique to Bentley. The dynamic stance of the car has been improved by adjusting the lateral position of the wheels in the arches, reducing the horizontal space between surface of the wheel and the edge of the arch at all four corners.

Perhaps the most dramatic design changes have been reserved for the rear of the car, where the new Bentayga is radically different from its predecessor. In line with the Continental GT, it features elliptical tail lamps for the first time. The lattice pattern offers a unique jewellery-like appearance when illuminated, with a deep, three-dimensional glow. The lights also offer an animated welcome feature with a sweeping direction indicator.The lights feature within an all-new, full-width tailgate, resulting in a cleaner, more contemporary look. The licence plate has moved down into the bumper, allowing for prominent Bentley lettering above. Larger, oval-shaped split sport tailpipes echo the design of the rear lamps, while a new, longer roof spoiler gives new Bentayga a visually longer, more elegant profile and makes the whole car look more athletic.Two new colours are also added to the already extensive Bentayga palette Viridian, a dark shade of metallic green based on the colour of the EXP 10 Speed 6 concept car, and Patina a luxury-focused mid-tone off-white.The dynamic new looks are further accentuated with a breadth of individualisation possibilities, including the contemporary urban appeal of the Blackline Specification that replaces all exterior chrome with black versions.

A Unique Cabin Reimagined

The Bentaygas fine handcrafted cabin has been reimagined for the new model. Already universally acclaimed as the benchmark for luxury SUV interiors, new Bentayga now contains a modernised, unparalleled combination of luxury materials and exquisite, intricate craftsmanship.

Bentley designers have created an even more relaxing environment for passengers, wherever they travel. Among the major changes to Bentaygas more contemporary interior are new door trims and steering wheel, plus a redesigned centre fascia and digital instrumentation cluster. These are complemented by new seats that further improve on the industry-recognised benchmark for seat comfort.

Darren Day, Head of Interior Design at Bentley Motors, said: The interior of Bentayga has always been highly admired for its exceptional build quality, relaxing atmosphere and luxurious ambience.

Alongside from the more obvious changes to the centre console, seats and door trims, its the little features customers may not notice at first that add up to make the difference in new Bentayga. It might be the new, horizontal grab handle in the door, or the unique seat stitching each one emphasising how the design team has gone the extra mile. New Bentayga will be a voyage of discovery for our customers.

A new centre fascia houses the latest-generation infotainment screen, enhancing the visual appeal and practicality of the class-leading Bentayga and sat within the famed Bentley wings design ethos across the dashboard.

The central pair of traditional bullseye centre vents have been replaced by a sculptured single vent with a flowing chrome bezel, that sits above the main infotainment screen and integrates the Breitling clock into its form. A long pocket along the side of the centre console carries smaller items, such as a mobile phone, while a wireless inductive phone charger with signal booster is situated directly in front of the gear lever.

Three versatile seating configurations are available in new Bentayga. Apart from the standard five-seat, an optional four-seat layout features two individual rear seats separated by a centre console. A three-row, seven-seat configuration offers the ultimate in practicality and flexibility.

The five-seat Bentayga benefits from an all-new seat frame, which doubles the travel of the rear-seat recline angle. All the seats now have a more sculpted shape, especially around the shoulder area. New foam and cover designs are standard, while Contrast Stitching and Hand Cross Stitching deliver extra design detail. Seat micro piping is also available for the first time on Bentayga. The five-seat configuration now also has the option of rear-seat ventilation, previously available only on the four-seat cabin.

The four-seat Bentayga benefits from a 30 mm increase in knee room in the upright seated position, with an improvement of almost 100 mm in the reclined position, helping to make luxury travel even more comfortable.A new quilting design is included in Mulliner Driving Specification cars, while customers can choose from eight sustainably-sourced veneers including two straight grained options new to Bentayga Koa and Crown Cut Walnut.

Unique to new Bentayga, a stunning, dark tint diamond brushed aluminium finish trim is available as an option in a Bentley for the first time. Evoking the Bentley matrix grille design, this exquisite finish is produced via an intricate process of brushing the aluminium precisely, from multiple directions, to achieve a contemporary three-dimensional effect.

Cutting-edge Infotainment

Setting new standards in the sector for customer technology interfaces, the new Bentayga introduces a new, cutting-edge infotainment system. A bigger and brighter, high-resolution 10.9-inch touchscreen, with an anti-reflection and anti-glare coating and much improved touch functionality, now spans the entire width of the centre fascia for a more contemporary look.

Content in the primary window can be selected either via hard keys beneath the screen, or from the main menu screen. A customisable dashboard can also be set up to show three favourites, such as phone, navigation or media.

The advanced navigation system features free text, context-specific search entry, including an address or point of interest. Navigation is improved with a three-dimensional building display, satellite maps, content in the drivers next generation Head-Up Display and several other useful features. The Head-Up Display can now project traffic information, street and names and distance to destination too.

As well as the usual array of media sources, wireless Apple CarPlay is now standard in the new Bentayga (in addition to the previous standard wired system), along with Android Auto for the first time in a Bentley. With a corresponding phone plugged in to one of the cars USB-C sockets, the central infotainment screen mirrors the smartphone display.

The new Bentayga now has a fully digital drivers information panel similar to the Continental GT and new Flying Spur. The display brings a contemporary look to the cockpit, can be customised to the drivers requirements and features real-time lighting effects with elegant animations.

The high-resolution screen can be viewed in either Classic or Expanded format. In Classic, the display shows the traditional two-dial design of speedometer and tachometer. In Expanded, the right dial is replaced with an area for maps and media information.

The latest release of the My Bentley in-car and remote connected car services are available through the New Bentayga. In-car services now being delivered through an embedded SIM, as with the latest Continental GT, meaning online services no longer require a data connection from a customers mobile device.

Essential features including real time traffic information and over-the-air map updates will be available to all customers in Bentley connected car markets. New connected features such as online music, green traffic light prediction, and local hazard information will become available depending on market.

Remote services - subject to regional availability - are accessible through the My Bentley app and are further improved, including the technology levels and range of features our customers now come to expect from find my car and lock my car, through to car status and statistics including integration with other functions such as the park heater where fitted.

Luxuriously Equipped

New Bentayga is characterised by the introduction of a wealth of new, innovative and technologically advanced features that take the onboard experience to a higher level.

Two levels of audio system are offered in new Bentayga. The Bentley Signature Audio is now fitted as standard, offering exceptional quality by delivering 590W of power through 12 speakers. The optional Naim for Bentley system delivers 1,780W of power via no less than 20 speakers including active bass speakers under both front seats, with super-tweeters located in each A and B-pillar for higher frequencies. Unmatched in the automotive sector, Naim for Bentley audio also offers eight listening modes, ranging from Digital Media to Classic. The Naim for Bentley speaker grilles are redesigned and now include an illuminated Naim badge.

Onboard air ionisers emit negatively charged particles from the central air conditioning vents, enhancing cabin air purity and customer wellness. These create a static charge around pollutants such as dust or allergens in the air, which in turn cause them to stick to the nearest surface. The result is to remove such contaminants from the air that the customer breathes.

Rear seat passengers in the new Bentayga enjoy a technology upgrade with a new, larger Touch Screen Remote control tablet, similar to that introduced in the all-new Flying Spur. The five-inch display shows more contemporary graphics and has extra processing power through an onboard quad-core processor and 1GB of RAM. The unit can control a range of functions, from rear seat heating and massage, to the media system and navigation, to mood lighting and window blinds.

New Bentayga has a full suite of driver assistance systems and the very latest headlamp technology. This includes three automatic modes for low beam and a matrix system, which allows the customer to drive continuously on high beam without blinding other road users.

Each matrix headlamp contains 82 powerful LEDs to improve functionality and road safety. They ingeniously allow the pool of light to be continuously shaped by automatically switching off certain LEDs to box out other road users.

The three adaptive headlamp settings include Town mode, which operates below 30 mph and projects a short but wide beam, making it perfect for urban areas. Country mode is for travel between 30 and 60 mph and lifts the beam to a narrower field of light. Motorway mode further lifts the beam and intensifies the light to improve visibility.

Visibility and convenience are further aided by new wet arm windscreen wipers, which include an array of 22 heated washer jets in each arm. The system means no distracting spray and dramatically improves the cleaning of the glass.

New Bentayga continues to offer all the key features that made the original model such a hit, ranging from the practicality of a hands-free powered tailgate and refrigerated bottle cooler, to the safety-focused City Specification Pack and rear view camera.

Performance & Efficiency

New Bentayga is powered by Bentleys proven 4.0-litre, 32-valve dual twin-scroll turbocharged V8 petrol engine, which combines immense power with impressive fuel economy. Mated to an eight-speed automatic gearbox, the V8 offers supercar performance, developing 542 bhp (550 PS) and 568 lb.ft (770 Nm) of torque, resulting in a top speed of 180 mph (290 km/h) and 0-60 mph in 4.4 seconds (100 km/h in 4.5 seconds).

The class-leading performance of the new Bentayga V8 is complemented by a range of 397 miles (639 km), with CO2 emissions of 302 g/km. This refined efficiency (21.2 mpg / 13.3 l/100 km combined) is partly due to the ability of the engine to de-activate four of its eight cylinders in suitable conditions, without compromising the drive.Bentley Dynamic Ride the worlds first electric active roll control technology has been further enhanced in new Bentayga by a 20mm track increase at the rear, reducing steering effort and improving response linearity. Bentley Dynamic Ride instantly counteracts lateral rolling forces when cornering and ensures maximum tyre contact to deliver class-leading cabin stability, comfort and handling.

New Bentayga offers the widest range of on and off-road drive settings of any SUV courtesy of Bentleys Drive Dynamics Mode and the optional All-Terrain Specification. Up to eight modes - four on and four off-road - are available, allowing drivers to select the perfect dynamic set-up for any surface or road condition at the turn of a dial.

Later, new Bentayga will be offered as an efficient Hybrid, the luxury sectors first true plug-in hybrid. Benefiting from its introduction in the previous generation model, the Hybrid will be Bentleys most efficient model ever and is the companys first step towards electrification.

There will also be a performance-focused Speed model, with even more purposeful styling. The Speed is the pinnacle of the Bentayga range and will be powered by Bentleys renowned 6.0-litre W12 TSI engine.

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VIDEO REVIEW: 2021 Bentley Bentayga. If You Had The DOUGH, WOULD YOU? - AutoSpies.com