641-HP Bentley Bentayga Speed V-8 Skips the Hybrid, Adds a Drift Mode
The 2026 Bentley Bentayga Speed packs a 641-hp twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V-8, skipping the hybrid setup seen on the Continental GT Speed.
The V-8 engine in this luxury SUV produces 627 pound-feet of torque, and Bentley claims the Speed can zip from zero to 62 mph in 3.4 seconds.
The Bentayga Speed also features a new ESC Dynamic mode that lets the hulking SUV swing out its tail for controllable drifts.
After a two-year hiatus, the Bentley Bentayga Speed has returned. Unlike the latest Continental GT Speed and Flying Spur Speed, however, the fastest version of the British automaker's SUV skips the 771-hp hybrid powertrain in those cars, instead turning up the wick on the existing twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V-8 to produce a 641-hp punch.
641 HP and a Drift Mode
The last Bentayga Speed was motivated by a W-12 engine, which brought a unique character but carried a weight penalty. But Bentley killed off the W-12 at the time of the limited-production Batur, so the new Speed utilizes a beefed-up version of the Bentayga's V-8, which produces 15 more horsepower than the W-12.
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Bentley
Torque, however, is down from 664 pound-feet with the W-12 to 627 pound-feet with the V-8. Bentley claims the Bentayga Speed will rip from zero to 62 mph in 3.4 seconds, a five-tenth improvement over the automaker's estimate for the previous Speed, while the top speed is listed at 193 mph.
The 2026 Bentayga Speed also has a party trick: the new ESC Dynamic mode will allow this giant SUV to drift. This setting scales back stability-control intervention to allow the Bentayga to get sideways, using torque vectoring to create sharper turn-in and then allowing you to put the power down on corner exit to execute a slide.
ESC Dynamic is paired with an upgraded Sport mode, which Bentley says provides better steering response and a 15 percent increase in suspension damping stiffness. Accessing ESC Dynamic appears to require opting for the optional carbon-ceramic brakes. The ESC Dynamic setting also brings a Launch Control function, a first for the Bentayga.
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Bentley
The 2026 Bentayga Speed also gains rear-wheel steering, helping the SUV feel nimbler at low speeds by turning the rear wheels in the opposite direction to the front wheels to reduce the turning circle. At higher speeds, the rear wheels steer in the same direction as the front wheels for better stability. Bentley also attached a new Sports exhaust system which it says emits a "rich, powerful engine note." You can spot this new setup by the dual oval tailpipes protruding from the rear bumper. Customers can also upgrade to a titanium exhaust from Akrapovič that brings quad tailpipes.
Sportier Design, Inside and Out
The Bentayga Speed is distinguished by darkened exterior trim, a dark tint to the headlights, and a gray finish to the taillights, as well as the customary chrome Speed badges adorning the front fenders. The Speed comes standard with 22-inch wheels finished in either a silver or dark look, but choosing the carbon-ceramic brakes brings 23-inch wheels, offered in either gray satin, black, or a mix of black and bright machined finishes. Both the standard brakes and the carbon-ceramic units can be painted in an array of seven different colors, and buyers can also choose a black roof with either a gloss or satin finish.
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Bentley
Inside, the Bentayga Speed features a Speed-specific display in the instrument cluster, a Speed badge on the dashboard and doorsills, and a Speed logo embroidered on the seats. The chrome brightwork can be finished in a dark hue, while the seats and door panels get a new "Precision Diamond" quilted pattern.
Bentley has yet to announce prices, but based on the pricing of the 2023 Bentayga Speed, we expect the new 2026 model to start at around $280,000. Bentley also didn't specify when the Bentayga Speed will go on sale but confirmed that the high-performance SUV will arrive for the 2026 model year, so deliveries should start closer to the end of this year.
Caleb Miller
Associate News Editor
Caleb Miller began blogging about cars at 13 years old, and he realized his dream of writing for a car magazine after graduating from Carnegie Mellon University and joining the Car and Driver team. He loves quirky and obscure autos, aiming to one day own something bizarre like a Nissan S-Cargo, and is an avid motorsports fan.
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