Bentley Bentayga SUV OFFICIALLY revealed – costs from £160,000 (+video)

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The Bentley Bentayga SUV has been officially revealed as ‘the most exclusive SUV in the world’ ahead of its debut at the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show. Will cost from £160,200.

Finally, after a poorly received concept, several years and plenty of tease, the new Bentley Bentayga SUV has been revealed as, to quote Bentley, “…the fastest, most powerful, most luxurious and most exclusive SUV in the world”, with a W12 engine, 4WD, 0-62mph in 4.1 seconds and a price tag starting at £160,200.

Pitched above the most expensive Range Rover, Bentley is the first to arrive with a production car in the ultra-luxury SUV segment, a market that will soon be populated with cars like the Rolls Royce SUV and Lamborghini Urus. But Bentley has certainly put down a benchmark with the Bentayga.

With styling that’s been heavily influenced by the Continental GT and Flying Spur – and far better looking than the original EXP 9 F Concept – the Bentayga is a bit longer than a long wheelbase Range Rover at 5.14 mteres, but it’s also lower than Land Rover’s finest by 60mm. In fact, it has a similar presence to the overtly sport Cayenne, albeit bigger and more luxurious.

Bentley has used their take on the MLB Evo platform which underpins the new Audi Q7 for the Bentayga, and has made liberal use of aluminium and composites to keep the weight in check, despite which the Bentayga weighs in at a not inconsiderable 2422kg.

But the Bentayga’s heftiness will be tamed by liberal dose of power and torque thanks to the 600bhp W12 TSI sitting under the bonnet, which comes with 663lb/ft of torque and can get to 62mph in 4.1 seconds and on to 187mph, with power driven to all four wheels – with a Torsen centre diff – by an eight-speed auto gearbox.

This will be the only model available at launch, but the Bentayga will get a hybrid version, a diesel-engine option and probably a Speed version W12 with more power (and, we expect, a V8 version too) in time.

Despite the weight and the W12 engine, Bentley are quoting official economy of 22.1mpg and emissions of 292g/km, thanks in part to stop-start, cylinder deactivation and a ‘Sail’ mode –  but in the real world, especially if you use the Bentayga’s performance, you might struggle to make double figures.

The Bentayga also gets what Bentley are calling “… the world’s first electric active roll control technology that utilises an unrivalled 48V system”, which counteracts lateral rolling forces when cornering, as well as adaptive and reactive suspension all designed to give dynamic handling and good comfort levels with four different levels for the multi-mode air suspension – High 2, High 1, Normal and Low.

Inside, the Bentayga offers a cabin that is probably a notch up from the best Range Rover can offer, with endless combinations of leather, wood and metal, a dashboard inspired by Bentley’s ‘wing’ design that flows from door to door over the top of the instruments, down under the centre console and back up round the foot well.

The seats have 22-way adjustment and massage function – as well as being heated and ventilated – quilted leather and contrast stitching are available, a full-length panoramic roof, hands-free tailgate, optional seven-seat layout and fold-out event seat in the boot.

The new Bentley Bentayga SUV will debut at Frankfurt and be in Bentley’s UK showrooms early 2016 from £160,200.

Bentley Bentayga SUV Video