Bentley: Eight cylinders as a complement
The four-liter V8 is the third engine that Bentley has added to the Bentayga luxury SUV lineup. The British have tuned the car to be a bit sportier, but without detracting from its superior performance. Bentley triggered the SUV boom into the luxury segment with the Bentayga in 2015. Although its sole reign is coming to an end in these weeks. Competitors in this [...]
The British have tuned the car to be a bit sportier, but without detracting from its superior appearance. Bentley triggered the SUV boom in the luxury segment with the Bentayga in 2015. Although its sole reign is coming to an end in these weeks. Competitors in this class include Lamborghini Urus or Rolls-Royce Cullinan. The current version is the Bentayga V8, which makes a more than appealing trap with 550 hp from four liters of displacement. The engine is a joint development with Porsche, where it is used in the Cayenne Turbo and Panamera Turbo.
Solid sportiness and a top speed of 290 km/h
At 5.14 meters in length, the generously dimensioned Englishman offers ample space on all seats, and it indulges with the material quality that is customary from Bentley, which can also be explained as a trademark with a pleasant leather scent. What's more, the twin-turbo engine accelerates it from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 4.5 seconds, and it can reach 290 km/h (155 mph). It's not the sheer power that impresses from a driving point of view. It's the way the power provides thrust from the low revs.
Good overall feeling from 189 500 francs
At 189,500 Swiss francs, the V8 is on a par with the Bentayga Diesel in terms of price, but 30,000 francs below the top W12 model. However, the steering has been specifically retuned to give the V8 an additional sporty touch - which we liked on our first ride in the luxury vehicle. Very direct and yet not too hard, the car conveys a good overall feel, so that we felt the V8 without malus despite the four tenths slower acceleration compared to the W12.
