Bentley Bentayga Speed returns with even more power and 193mph top speed
The Bentley Bentayga Speed held the title as the world's fastest SUV for a while, thanks to its legendary W12 engine catapulting it to 190mph. Now the car is back – with V8 power.
Bentley stopped building W12-equipped cars last year with the new Ultra Performance Hybrid powertrain acting as a replacement. The Bentayga Speed, however, gets a 641bhp 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 without plug-in assistance – making it less powerful than the 771bhp Ultra Performance Hybrid and the recently-announced 671bhp High Performance Hybrid.
Still, that's more than the old 6.0-litre W12 Bentayga Speed produced (626bhp), and while there's 50Nm less torque, the new V8-powered Bentayga Speed shrugs off the 0-62mph sprint 0.4 seconds quicker, taking just 3.4 seconds. The top speed has increased to 193mph as well.
It's not only faster in a straight line, either. With the old model, we always felt the V8 S was the sweeter option for keen drivers thanks to its slightly more favourable kerbweight, and with the new Speed, Bentley has implemented several changes to give it the dynamism the name suggests. Advertisement - Article continues below
Alongside the Comfort and Bentley driving modes which are unchanged from other Bentayga models, the Sport mode has been recalibrated for the Speed. It creates more responsive steering, helped by 15 per cent stiffer damping and brake torque vectoring, which is aimed at giving the Speed more agility in bends, too. Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below
There's also four-wheel steering, a new launch control function and a new ESC Dynamic mode to allow for 'exhilarating drift angles where appropriate', according to Bentley.
With the Speed's supercar levels of power and near 2.5-tonne kerbweight, we'd imagine most buyers will specify the optional carbon ceramic brakes, which can be painted in no fewer than seven different colours. They sit behind a set of optional 23-inch wheels bespoke for the Speed, with 22-inch rims reserved for the steel brake set-up.
Helping the Speed look distinct to the rest of the Bentley range is the black roof, finished in either gloss or satin. There's also a rear spoiler and dark-tinted exterior trim, with chrome Speed badging on the doors and unique headlights up front.
Inside, you'll find the usual suite of Bentley extravagance full of diamond-quilted stitching and chrome, although the Speed also gets a unique driver's display with extra information on the car's performance set-up, Speed badging on the seats and the option of green accents – just like the exterior.
Pricing for the Bentayga Speed hasn't been announced yet, but we expect it to cost more than the old W12 model, possibly sitting over the £250,000 mark.
Click here for our list of the fastest SUVs in the world ...
Find a car with the experts 2026 Land Rover Defender updates look subtle, but they fix one huge annoyance for owners
2026 Land Rover Defender updates look subtle, but they fix one huge annoyance for owners
Land Rover has introduced new, larger white-painted steel wheels for models with big brakes, fixing one massive irritation with the previous generatio… Car Deal of the Day: Hit the road in style with the electric BMW i4 for only £344 a month
Car Deal of the Day: Hit the road in style with the electric BMW i4 for only £344 a month
It may be a little overlooked these days, but the i4 is still a fine electric saloon. It's our Deal of the Day for 30 May New single-motor Skoda Enyaq SportLine 85 goes the distance with 356-mile range
New single-motor Skoda Enyaq SportLine 85 goes the distance with 356-mile range
More range for less from new Enyaq SportLine 85, which is £1,500 cheaper than 4WD model
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Reuters
an hour ago
- Reuters
Xiaomi to unveil prices for new YU7 SUV at June 26 launch
SHANGHAI, June 23 (Reuters) - Xiaomi's CEO Lei Jun said on Monday that the firm plans to hold an official launch event for its new YU7 electric sports utility vehicle on Thursday, where it is expected to announce pricing and start taking orders. Lei made the announcement on his Weibo account. Xiaomi earlier announced specifications for its second EV model in May.
Leader Live
2 hours ago
- Leader Live
Brexit rules spark ‘clear demand' for more motorhome parking, lobby group says
Boosting provision for these vehicles would generate more revenue for local businesses and increase the number of visitors to tourist destinations outside the peak summer season, the Campaign for Real Aires (Campra) said. Aires is a French word used to describe designated stopping places for motorcaravans – the collective term for motorhomes and campervans – which are much more common in continental Europe than the UK. Post-Brexit rules mean UK passport holders are prohibited from being in the Schengen area – which covers most of the European Union and some other European nations – for more than 90 days within a 180-day period. That means many UK-based motorcaravan users are seeking domestic destinations for overnight trips. But a survey of 6,731 users suggested 88% are dissatisfied with the UK's availability of overnight parking in desirable locations. The poll also indicated that motorcaravaners spend an average of £51 per day in local businesses and £23 per night on overnight parking or campsite fees. Many respondents commented on the UK's lack of infrastructure and welcoming attitude compared with continental Europe, Campra said. Last month, Hampshire County Council approved plans to ban campervans and motorhomes from staying overnight at the south coast beauty spot of Keyhaven, near Lymington. It claimed the move would 'bring order' to the area. Campra managing director Steve Haywood said welcoming motorcaravans to an area 'can be a hugely positive move'. He went on: 'There is a clear demand – emphasised by post-Brexit travel restrictions – for more overnight stay options in UK towns and cities, and those towns and cities could benefit hugely by embracing motorcaravans. 'More councils are seeing the benefits of providing facilities, instead of suffering the cost of enforcement and bans, not to mention the loss of potential revenue to businesses. 'In Fleetwood, Lancashire, for example, the introduction of overnight parking in the seafront car park for £5 per night has seen a huge boost in revenue for local shops, and has been so successful that additional facilities are now being planned for motorcaravanners. 'Every council that has operated a 12-month trial aire has been successful and made the overnight parking permanent.' Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency figures show more than 416,000 motorcaravans are registered in the UK. A spokesperson for the Local Government Association said: 'Policies around overnight motorcaravan parking and the provision of facilities are a matter for local councils.'
South Wales Guardian
2 hours ago
- South Wales Guardian
Brexit rules spark ‘clear demand' for more motorhome parking, lobby group says
Boosting provision for these vehicles would generate more revenue for local businesses and increase the number of visitors to tourist destinations outside the peak summer season, the Campaign for Real Aires (Campra) said. Aires is a French word used to describe designated stopping places for motorcaravans – the collective term for motorhomes and campervans – which are much more common in continental Europe than the UK. Post-Brexit rules mean UK passport holders are prohibited from being in the Schengen area – which covers most of the European Union and some other European nations – for more than 90 days within a 180-day period. That means many UK-based motorcaravan users are seeking domestic destinations for overnight trips. But a survey of 6,731 users suggested 88% are dissatisfied with the UK's availability of overnight parking in desirable locations. The poll also indicated that motorcaravaners spend an average of £51 per day in local businesses and £23 per night on overnight parking or campsite fees. Many respondents commented on the UK's lack of infrastructure and welcoming attitude compared with continental Europe, Campra said. Last month, Hampshire County Council approved plans to ban campervans and motorhomes from staying overnight at the south coast beauty spot of Keyhaven, near Lymington. It claimed the move would 'bring order' to the area. Campra managing director Steve Haywood said welcoming motorcaravans to an area 'can be a hugely positive move'. He went on: 'There is a clear demand – emphasised by post-Brexit travel restrictions – for more overnight stay options in UK towns and cities, and those towns and cities could benefit hugely by embracing motorcaravans. 'More councils are seeing the benefits of providing facilities, instead of suffering the cost of enforcement and bans, not to mention the loss of potential revenue to businesses. 'In Fleetwood, Lancashire, for example, the introduction of overnight parking in the seafront car park for £5 per night has seen a huge boost in revenue for local shops, and has been so successful that additional facilities are now being planned for motorcaravanners. 'Every council that has operated a 12-month trial aire has been successful and made the overnight parking permanent.' Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency figures show more than 416,000 motorcaravans are registered in the UK. A spokesperson for the Local Government Association said: 'Policies around overnight motorcaravan parking and the provision of facilities are a matter for local councils.'
