2022 Bentley Bentayga Hybrid First Edition
Description
Key Points: First Edition Specification, Blackline Specification, Naim For Bentley Sound System.
The Bentley Bentayga is a luxury SUV introduced in late 2015. Its name comes from Roque Bentayga, an emblematic highland rock situated in Tejeda, Gran Canaria, the subtropical Canary Island. The company also drew inspiration from a portmanteau of Bentley and Taiga, the world's largest transcontinental snow forest, composed of the first four letters of Bentley and an altered spelling of ‘taiga’.
Based on the 2012 EXP 9 F concept car, the production Bentayga debuted at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September 2015 as Bentley's first SUV. It features unibody construction and full-time all-wheel drive, as well as Volkswagen Group's MLB platform, the latter shared with the second-generation Audi Q7 and the third-generation Porsche Cayenne, Audi Q8 and Lamborghini Urus.
A plug-in hybrid model was revealed at the 2018 Geneva Motor Show and went on sale in the UK, Europe, and North America in October 2019. Power comes from a turbocharged 3.0-litre V6 mated to a 17.3kWh lithium-ion battery and an electric motor that boosts the V6’s outputs from 344 PS/450 Nm to 449 PS/700 Nm. This is enough to give a 0-62 mph time of 5.5 seconds and a 158 mph top speed, despite the Hybrid model weighing 200kg more than the rest of the Bentayga lineup.
The claimed range on a single 75-litre tank of fuel and with the battery fully charged is 431 miles. The car is capable of 25 miles in full EV mode, during which it can also do 84 mph before the petrol engine automatically fires up. The hybrid system is capable of 81 mpg and emits just 79g/km in EV mode. A full recharge takes 2.5 hours from a wallbox or around seven hours from a regular three-pin socket.
The model was facelifted in 2020, with changes including new 3D elliptical tail-lights with animated LEDs, similar to those on the third-generation Continental GT, and a rear number plate repositioned onto the bumper. New side vents and heated windscreen washers were fitted, and the rear was redesigned with new tailpipes and a larger spoiler.
In the cabin, new seat frames in combination with extra reclining room allow a 100 mm (3.9 in) increase in knee space, and the infotainment system has a higher resolution 10.9-inch touchscreen. Included are Apple CarPlay as well as USB-C ports, navigation, air ionisers, wireless smartphone charging, and an embedded SIM card for data services. The traditional instrument dials have been replaced with a digital display, and the head-up display shows more data.
In the desirable ‘First Edition’ specification, the Bentayga features a raft of bespoke design cues including quilted leather upholstery with Bentley’s Diamond Illumination system, a heated steering wheel, exclusive alloy wheels and illuminated tread plates. The 1,780W 20-speaker Naim audio system is optional on the regular Bentayga, but comes standard on the First Edition.
Read MoreKey Points: First Edition Specification, Blackline Specification, Naim For Bentley Sound System.
The Bentley Bentayga is a luxury SUV introduced in late 2015. Its name comes from Roque Bentayga, an emblematic highland rock situated in Tejeda, Gran Canaria, the subtropical Canary Island. The company also drew inspiration from a portmanteau of Bentley and Taiga, the world's largest transcontinental snow forest, composed of the first four letters of Bentley and an altered spelling of ‘taiga’.
Based on the 2012 EXP 9 F concept car, the production Bentayga debuted at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September 2015 as Bentley's first SUV. It features unibody construction and full-time all-wheel drive, as well as Volkswagen Group's MLB platform, the latter shared with the second-generation Audi Q7 and the third-generation Porsche Cayenne, Audi Q8 and Lamborghini Urus.
A plug-in hybrid model was revealed at the 2018 Geneva Motor Show and went on sale in the UK, Europe, and North America in October 2019. Power comes from a turbocharged 3.0-litre V6 mated to a 17.3kWh lithium-ion battery and an electric motor that boosts the V6’s outputs from 344 PS/450 Nm to 449 PS/700 Nm. This is enough to give a 0-62 mph time of 5.5 seconds and a 158 mph top speed, despite the Hybrid model weighing 200kg more than the rest of the Bentayga lineup.
The claimed range on a single 75-litre tank of fuel and with the battery fully charged is 431 miles. The car is capable of 25 miles in full EV mode, during which it can also do 84 mph before the petrol engine automatically fires up. The hybrid system is capable of 81 mpg and emits just 79g/km in EV mode. A full recharge takes 2.5 hours from a wallbox or around seven hours from a regular three-pin socket.
The model was facelifted in 2020, with changes including new 3D elliptical tail-lights with animated LEDs, similar to those on the third-generation Continental GT, and a rear number plate repositioned onto the bumper. New side vents and heated windscreen washers were fitted, and the rear was redesigned with new tailpipes and a larger spoiler.
In the cabin, new seat frames in combination with extra reclining room allow a 100 mm (3.9 in) increase in knee space, and the infotainment system has a higher resolution 10.9-inch touchscreen. Included are Apple CarPlay as well as USB-C ports, navigation, air ionisers, wireless smartphone charging, and an embedded SIM card for data services. The traditional instrument dials have been replaced with a digital display, and the head-up display shows more data.
In the desirable ‘First Edition’ specification, the Bentayga features a raft of bespoke design cues including quilted leather upholstery with Bentley’s Diamond Illumination system, a heated steering wheel, exclusive alloy wheels and illuminated tread plates. The 1,780W 20-speaker Naim audio system is optional on the regular Bentayga, but comes standard on the First Edition.
