2017 BENTLEY BENTAYGA
See Light
To create such a revolutionary car, Bentley’s designers were compelled to think in new ways. When you look at a car, you don’t really see it. It’s the same when you look at any solid object. Colours and contours are merely illusions; all our eyes really see is light, bouncing off surfaces in different ways. It is the way our brains process light that gives us our 3D view of the world.
Bentayga’s exterior was designed with this principle in mind and made real with Bentley’s world-famous sculptural prowess.
Strategic design elements like the ultra-sharp power line, signature ‘horseshoe’ at the rear and the muscular haunch, adding volume and power to the taller profile, are complemented by individual and dynamic detailing: the B-shaped wing vent behind the front wheel arch and Bentayga’s signature ‘B’ graphic rear lamps.
From the four round headlamps that flank the matrix grille to Bentley’s trademark ‘double wing’ cockpit design, Bentayga brings the marque’s DNA to the SUV.
See Texture
Nowhere in the world are cars crafted with the same passion and skill as they are in the Bentley factory. Because, when it comes to the way we experience a car, the way it feels matters just as much as the way it looks. Texture is everything.
With the arrival of Bentayga, the world will see craftsmanship of this calibre applied to an SUV for the first time. For those lucky enough to experience it, new heights of luxury will be reached. For the rest of the world, the SUV category will never look the same again.
From the outset, Bentayga was going to be revolutionary. And a revolutionary car warrants a revolutionary approach, in every aspect of its development. When it came to designing the camouflage that would disguise the car during its open-air tests, inspiration was sought in the art world: in particular, the work of 1960s Op Art pioneer Bridget Riley, famous for her use of optical illusions in her paintings.
To truly understand the relationship between the texture of physical materials and the experience of driving Bentayga, you need to see how the two are intertwined; you need to see each aspect through new eyes.
Becoming Bentayga
An extraordinary car demands an extraordinary name.
With the world’s geology at our feet, we searched from a satellite’s eye view for a symbol of nature’s power and beauty. We alighted first on the Taiga – the vast continental snow-forest that crowns the Northern Hemisphere. Then, we focused our lens tighter. And, as ever with Bentley, it was in the meticulous detail that reward lay.
The Roque Bentayga – an iconic, eye-catching standalone peak in the Atlantic Canary Islands, provided further inspiration. A unique feature, one with gravitas and stature. One that draws attention from all directions. Locally and globally.
As Wolfgang Dürheimer, Chairman and CEO of Bentley Motors, said whilst announcing the name in Detroit earlier this year:
“Bentayga is a name that reflects what we know our SUV will do better than any other car in the world – combine the best automotive luxury with outstanding performance to take the Bentley experience to new environments.”
See Technology
Bentayga is leading the way in technological advances at Bentley. And much of that technological development has been focused on perfecting the driving experience. From easy access to a range of driving modes to cutting-edge driver assistance technology to electronic power assisted steering, Bentayga delivers driving pleasure in even the most challenging situations.
Every feature has been perfected as a result of research with Bentley drivers around the world, many of whom also drive at least one SUV. Bentayga is the first Bentley to offer more than two choices of sound system, including the most powerful system available in any SUV.
The interface is remarkably flexible, offering a choice of touch control, rotary dials, gestures or even voice, depending on user preferences or driving conditions.
Meanwhile, rear seat passengers can also enjoy TV and video entertainment, navigation features, games, video calling and media streaming.
In the Bentayga, this technology is applied with subtlety, with the aim of enhancing the experience for everyone inside the car. When not required, its presence is barely perceptible. When needed, the effects can be quite striking.
See Performance
The all-new W12 TSI engine is the most technically advanced 12-cylinder engine in the world, delivering the most power, torque and economy of any car in its class. However, this is too narrow a description of what true performance is. Only when you drive Bentayga over any imaginable terrain, and feel the smooth, balanced distribution of raw yet efficient power, does it become clear. Bentayga’s performance achieves the optimum balance of handling and efficiency – without a hint of compromise.
To put theory into practice, the world’s first genuine luxury SUV tackled some ‘real world’ testing in the demanding and unforgiving mountain terrain of Northern Spain. Bentayga was forced to demonstrate great traction and axel articulation on otherwise impassable routes. A breathtaking challenge, but one undertaken in true Bentley style – with unparalleled ride and cabin comfort.
When Bentayga returns to the tarmac, it achieves a 0-60 mph time of 4.0 seconds (0-100 km/h 4.1 seconds) and a top speed of 187 mph (301 km/h), once again demonstrating true Bentley spirit.
Bentayga and its all-new W12 engine has redefined what an SUV engine is capable of.
