Bentley Claims New Bentayga Speed As 'World's Fastest SUV'
Bentley touts the 2019 Bentayga Speed as the fastest production SUV ever to grace planet Earth with its presence. However, the claim is actually a little white lie.
The performance Bentayga’s 190 mph top speed technically ties it with the Lamborghini Urus, which also uses the MLBevo platform and is slightly faster to 60 mph. Of course, there are many things in the Bentley you won’t find in the Lambo. The British SUV benefits from an almost grotesque amount of luxury and an available 6.0-liter W12 rocking 626 bhp with 664 lb-ft of torque. Meanwhile, the Urus has to make due with its little 4.0-liter V8 and superior acceleration.
Alright, so we’re giving Bentley a hard time for making a pretty bold claim. But you can’t say you’re the fastest when it’s not demonstrably true and not expect some good-natured ribbing.
By and large, the Bentley’s SUV remains an exceptional vehicle, and the addition of a Speed variant only makes it better. The Bentayga Speed adds 26 ponies to the standard Bentayga’s W12, in addition to their swifter maximum gallop of 190 mph. But buyers will also receive a more aggressive exhaust note during start-up and downshifts, a firmer suspension tune, and a remapped Sport mode with more assertive throttle and transmission responses. Sadly, Bentley’s gigantic 17.3-inch ceramic brakes, which are shared with the Urus, remain optional.
On the outside, the upgraded Bentayga receives unique 22-inch wheels (in multiple finishes), a darker grille, tinted headlamps, and a rear spoiler that feels unnecessary but was likely a mandatory addition for improving the top speed. There is also the obligatory performance badging that lets the world know this is a model they should covet.
Inside, the Speed receives diamond-quilted seating and contrasting leather just about everywhere. However, since this is the premiere performance trim, some materials have been swapped out for a racier experience. Alcantara on the steering wheel and pieces of carbon fiber (in lieu of wood) help to hit this point home. Bentley says the tiller can be converted back to soft leather at no additional cost. That’s actually pretty much the case across the board, though. Bentley truly lets owners go hog wild on cabin customization.
While the automaker suggests a 3.9-second rush to 62 mph (100 kph), we’d expect it to be slightly faster, as the standard W12 Bentayga routinely outperforms manufacturer-claimed acceleration times. Either way, it’s not bad for a car weighing 5,340 pounds. Just be sure to option those very expensive brakes to help bring its monumental mass to a halt.
The 2019 Bentayga Speed makes its debut in March at the Geneva Auto Show. While Bentley has yet to announce all details and pricing, we’d be shocked if it started below $250,000.
[Images: Bentley]
A staunch consumer advocate tracking industry trends and regulation. Before joining TTAC, Matt spent a decade working for marketing and research firms based in NYC. Clients included several of the world’s largest automakers, global tire brands, and aftermarket part suppliers. Dissatisfied with the corporate world and resentful of having to wear suits everyday, he pivoted to writing about cars. Since then, that man has become an ardent supporter of the right-to-repair movement, been interviewed on the auto industry by national radio broadcasts, driven more rental cars than anyone ever should, participated in amateur rallying events, and received the requisite minimum training as sanctioned by the SCCA. Handy with a wrench, Matt grew up surrounded by Detroit auto workers and managed to get a pizza delivery job before he was legally eligible. He later found himself driving box trucks through Manhattan, guaranteeing future sympathy for actual truckers. He continues to conduct research pertaining to the automotive sector as an independent contractor and has since moved back to his native Michigan, closer to where the cars are born. A contrarian, Matt claims to prefer understeer — stating that front and all-wheel drive vehicles cater best to his driving style.
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Perhaps it's an SV but at $250k+, it will never be an SUV.
Let's be honest. This is not a good looking vehicle.