4 seconds to 60 not fast enough? A quicker Bentley Bentayga could be around the corner

By Ronan Glon September 21, 2015

2018 bentley bentayga sport coupe news rumors specs front three quarter static 2 — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Introduced during the Frankfurt Motor Show, the controversial Bentley Bentayga (pictured) packs a 6.0-liter W12 engine that’s tuned to make 600 horsepower, enough to slingshot the behemoth from zero to 60 mph in four seconds flat. To put that figure into perspective, the Bentayga is about as quick as a Porsche 911 Carrera S.

911-like acceleration isn’t fast enough for some buyers, though, and a new report coming out of England finds Bentley is already developing a faster and more powerful version of its first off-roader that’s tentatively called Bentayga Speed. Full technical details aren’t available yet, but Bentley has hinted that the W12 can be taken considerably further in terms of how much power it generates.

The additional ponies will allow the Bentayga Speed to reach 60 mph from a stop in less than four seconds, making it one of the fastest off-roaders on the market, but it won’t become the first SUV to top 200 mph. Citing understandable safety concerns, Bentley has ruled out going beyond the symbolic 200-mph barrier.

The tuned twelve-cylinder will be complemented by a full assortment of brake, chassis, steering and suspension upgrades. Additionally, it will look the part thanks to a model-specific grille, deeper bumpers on both ends, side skirts, a roof-mounted spoiler, and new alloy wheels wrapped by high-performance tires.

If Autocar’s sources are correct, the Bentley Bentayga Speed will likely be introduced at a major auto show next year, and it will go on sale in time for the 2018 model year. Look for it to carry a base price of well over $230,000, a figure that will make it one of the world’s most expensive regular-production crossovers.

When it lands, the high-performance Bentayga will be in a class of its own. Its hegemony won’t last long, however, because Lamborghini is in the early stages of designing its next SUV, and it has already hinted at a more extreme, Superveloce-badged model.

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Ronan Glon is an American automotive and tech journalist based in southern France. As a long-time contributor to Digital…

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