Bentley Bentayga Facelift: Is It More Luxurious?

The Bentley Bentayga Facelift was revealed earlier this week. It leaked recently so we have had an opportunity to see

The Bentayga has been a massive sales success for Bentley, propelling the British brand from the red into the black.

20,000 of the first generation Bentayga’s have been produced since it launched back in 2016. Since then though, competition has arrived in the form of the Rolls-Royce Cullinan, the Lamborghini Urus and the Aston Martin DBX.

Bentley Bentayga Facelift

The first point to make is that the Bentley Bentayga Facelift only applies, so far, to the V8 model. Bentley has promised a Speed version with its W12 engine, together with the Hybrid it announced last year.

The standard W12 model seems to have died a death. The V8 version is a worthy successor though. Featuring the 4.0 litre V8 uprated to 550 hp and 770 Nm of torque.

In terms of the exterior design, the Bentayga gets a light touch refresh. The matrix grille is now more upright. The taillights are completely new and use an intelligent LED matrix headlamp technology.

Heated, wet-arm windscreen wipers are available with 22 washer jets in each arm. A 20 mm wider rear track helps fill the wheel arches better.

At the rear, the Bentayga gets a complete redesign. The licence plate has been moved down into the bumper and the tailpipes are a new design.

The luxurious touches are saved for the interior though. The Bentley Bentayga Facelift gets a new centre fascia and steering wheel, new door trims and all-new seats.

The rear seats get ventilation for the first time. Depending on how you spec your Bentayga, the rear seats also feature increased legroom by up to 100 mm.

The infotainment system is Bentley’s latest, featuring a 10.9-inch display screen with edge-to-edge graphics. This means wireless car play, all-new navigation with satellite maps, online search and other features.

Other features include an embedded sim, USB-C data ports and a wireless phone charger which is now standard.

New interior options for the Bentley Bentayga Facelift include dark tint diamond brushed aluminium trim and two straight-grained veneers new to Bentayga: Koa and Crown Cut Walnut.

Mulliner Driving Specification adds a new quilting design, and micro piping detailing is a new option for the seats.

What does Bentley Say?

Chris Cole, Bentley’s Product Line Director for the Bentayga says:

“With new Bentayga, our objective was relatively straightforward – to take the best and make it even better. To do this, we listened closely to our existing Bentayga customers, then addressed their comments to ensure the new model offers an even more complete, all-round proposition.

“New Bentayga reflects the truly sophisticated qualities and design make-up of other members of the Bentley family, such as the new Continental GT and all-new Flying Spur. It was already the pinnacle of the luxury SUV sector but now we have taken it even higher.”

What is the Bentley’s Competition?

The Bentley Bentayga Facelift occupies the top rung of the SUV market. The outgoing model cost 174,811 euros in Germany and the Bentayga facelift is expected to retail at about the same price.

Bentley has more competition these days than it did four years ago. Four years ago, the Bentayga was up against the Range Rover, the Porsche Cayenne, and not much more.

In the intervening period, Lamborghini has released the Urus, Masertai has the Levante, Rolls-Royce has the Cullinan and Aston Martin are soon to begin deliveries of the Aston Martin DBX.

The marketplace looks pretty crowded!

What’s Next?

Expect separate releases for the Bentley Bentayga Speed facelift and the Bentley Bentayga Hybrid facelift. Otherwise, the range shouldn’t see much of a change anytime soon.

In terms of Bentley’s future plans, electrification is the key. Bentley’s CEO, Adrian Hallmark recently confirmed that the pandemic has placed a strain on Bentley.

The firm recently announced that 1,000 jobs will go. Development on combustion engines has taken a back seat with Bentley expected to release its first fully electric vehicle in 2025, an electric saloon.

Bentley Continental GT Pikes Peak Edition Revealed

Focus at Bentley’s Motorsport division has been aimed at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb for the past few years. The British manufacturer managed to secure two records in as many years, first with the Bentayga, and this year with the Continental GT. To celebrate its success, Bentley has revealed a special edition model, the Bentley Continental GT Pikes Peak Edition.

The limited-edition Bentley Continental GT Pikes Peak Edition will be replicated 15 times. The latest special edition model celebrates the outright production car record Bentley set earlier this year with the W12-powered Continental GT. It travelled the 19.99 km hill climb in just 10:18.488 minutes.

For the special edition model, Bentley has stuck closely to the livery of the original Continental GT challenger. This means a Radium by Mulliner paintwork and carbon fibre body kit as a minimum. While the Pikes Peak Edition adds nothing that you couldn’t already order on a standard Continental GT, it adds the colour and the ket to a package that collectors are likely to eat up.

Among the other changes Acid Green brake disc callipers, Pirelli P Zero Colour Edition tyres in Radium Finish and a Pikes Peak decal to the front bumper. In terms of standard specification, the 22-inch Mulliner Driving Specification wheels, finished in Gloss Black, have been added. An optional ‘100’ grille is available too.

Inside, Alcantara with contrasting Radium thread stitching is matched with Beluga secondary hide. The steering wheel features a honeycomb stitching design and a centre stripe in Radium. Carbon fibre fascias and door trim are complemented by a Piano Black centre console. The passenger-side fascia features a graphic showing a section of the Pikes Peak track, with five different graphics being used across the 15-car run, along with the record-setting time of 10:18.488.

The celebratory model is available to order from December 2019 but pricing is likely to be on request.

Bentley Working on Topless Limited Edition W12 Speedster

Bentley’s centenary year has been a little quiet by the standards set by other automotive brands. We have seen a few special edition model, a refreshed Flying Spur and a concept car in the form of the EXP 100 GT. yet there has been nothing truest special for the enthusiast to lust after. That might soon change if the latest rumours are to be believed.

Bentley is apparently working on a Speedster model, inspired by the Bentley EXP 100 GT concept, which would compete with the McLaren Elva and Ferrari Monza SP2. The rumours arrive through British magazine Autocar.

Autocar suggests that Bentley is working on the “ultimate open-cockpit sports tourer”. It is expected to arrive in 2021 as a two-seat barchetta-styled tourer. This means, no roof and a very limited, Collectors’ Series, production run.

The rumours are suggesting that the Speedster model would use a conventional petrol power plant. The 6.0 litre W12 unit is the prime candidate and should produce in excess of 630 hp. With the removal of the roof, the Speedster should prove significantly quicker than the Bentley Continental GT.

The Speedster model would be produced through Mulliner, Bentley’s special projects division. It hasn’t produced a bespoke vehicle since it produced the Queen’s state vehicle in 2002. The cost is expected to be in excess of £1 million.

Futuristic Bentley EXP 100 GT Celebrates 100 Years of Bentley

Bentley’s Centenary takes place today. The company is 100 years old. What better way to celebrate 100 extraordinary years than with a new concept car, indicating what lies in store for the upcoming years! The Bentley EXP 100 GT has arrived!

The Bentley EXP 100 GT is not something you will be able to buy from your local Bentley dealership. It sets out Bentley’s vision for the future of “sustainable luxury mobility that is autonomous and electric”. A few years ago it would have been unthinkable that Bentley’s would be powered by anything other than a big combustion engine. Now that is no longer the case!

The first thing that strikes us is the shape. Reminiscent of that superb EXP 10 concept we saw a few years ago, it is longer, wider and more dramatic. To put the size into perspective, Bentley’s Mulsanne measures just over 2 meters, the EXP 100 GT is a full 40 cm wider!

The concept is designed to present a vision of the Bentley range in 2035. One of the biggest features is an emotionally intelligent AI that allows the human element to be removed from the driving experience. It is called the Bentley Personal Assistant and it sits as a centerpiece of the main console.

Bentley Personal Assistant tracks movements, eye and head movements and blood pressure internally with sensors monitoring temperature and environmental conditions externally to deliver the ultimate driving experience and safety in all conditions. Five modes allow for individual characteristics including Enhance, Cocoon, Capture, Re-Live and Customise. Much like BMW, Bentley places a focus on hand movements to interpret commands.

The various modes alter inputs from the outside environment including light, sound, smell and air quality. Re-Live plays highlights of your journey.

Adaptable Biometric Seating can be configured to the driver’s every movement with biometrics playing a big part of the package. The driver sits surrounded by sustainable materials such as Copper Infused Riverwood provided by the Fenland Black Oak Project which supplies 5,000 year old wood, preserved in peat bogs, lakes and rivers. Embroidery is taken care of by Hand and Lock which supply British Military Dress uniform. Bridge of Weir supply the leather as is usual for Bentley.

In terms of power, Bentley’s concept uses a pure electronic drivetrain. Bentley’s concept for the EXP 100 GT includes a four-motor system with torque of 1,500 Nm. 100 km/h is possible in just 2.5 seconds and a 300 km/h top speed. Bentley believe that battery density will improve five-fold by 2035 and so, weight will be reduced but range will remain in the 700 km region with 15 minute charges capable of realizing 80 per cent capacity. Weight is said to be 1,900 kg.

It is clear that Bentley will incorporate elements of this design concept into its upcoming models in much the same way as it did with the EXP 10 concept. The release was accompanied by an announcement that Bentley plan to offer plug-in hybrid versions of all models by as early as 2023.

Bentley Bentayga Speed to Launch with 650hp W12

Bentley are working on a Bentley Bentayga Speed SUV. To be honest, this news comes as no surprise. The British brand has seen success with its SUV and, as with all of its other models, is looking to produce a range topping performance model. The ‘Speed’ model is the natural top of the tree.

The rumours, which originate from UK magazine Autocar, suggest that we could see the Bentley Bentayga Speed during the first half of this year, possibly during the Geneva Motor Show 2019.

The super-SUV is expected to use the twin-turbocharged 6.0-litre W12 petrol engine with a range of electronic tweaks. Power output is anticipated at 650 hp with a sub-4 second 100 km/h sprint time and a top speed in the region of 306 km/h. Bentley will also work on the chassis of the Bentayga to ensure that the additional power does not have a negative effect on the chassis.

Expect similar increases in interior luxuries and upholstery as well as a series of updates for the exterior to set it apart from other models. A Bentley Bentayga plug-in hybrid model is also set to join the range in late 2019, offering the first hybrid power SUV in Bentley’s history. Don’t forget too that 2019 is Bentley’s centenary year so expect surprises along the way to celebrate!

2020 Bentley Continental GT Convertible

Bentley’s Latest Drop-top is Everything You’d Expect and More   

Earlier this year Bentley released a totally redesigned Continental GT, which was the recipient of worldwide acclaim and fanfare. More recently – at the 2018 LA Auto Show taking place in late November – Bentley debuted the drop-top version of the aforementioned, formally known as the  Continental GT Convertible.

Overall the Continental GT Convertible isn’t far off from it’s coupe counterpart, which isn’t a bad thing at all. The convertible shares the same 6.0L twin-turbocharged W12 engine which produces 626-horsepower and 664 lb-ft of torque and is mated to an 8-speed dual-clutch transmission, delivering power to its all-wheel-drive system. This allows the Convertible to achieve 0-60 mph in just 3.7 seconds and a top speed of 207 mph.

Due to the extra hardware required for the drop-top mechanism, the Convertible does end up weighing in at 5,322 pounds, which is about 375 pounds more than the metal-top. However, this is still an improvement over the previous iteration of the drop-top, coming in at about 250 pounds lighter and with a much more powerful engine to boot. Ultimately I doubt customers will find much, if any significance in the car’s performance relative to its weight, with such differences between the coupe and convertible being virtually negligible anyway.  

Things remain identical with major chassis components as well, with the three-chamber air springs, 48-volt-controlled active anti-roll bars and enormous 10-piston and 4-piston calipers in the front and rear respectively.  Yup, that’s 28-pistons to make sure your modern day Cinderella carriage stops like a thoroughbred race horse.

Moving on to what really makes the Convertible different; its drop-top, of course. In expectedly Bentley fashion, the materials for the roof as well as its folding mechanism are extraordinary in themselves – the canvas Z-fold roof will be available in seven colors, with one being a ‘contemporary interpretation of traditional British tweed’ and can be raised or stowed in just 19 seconds with the car moving (up to 30 mph).

Designer-in-chief Simon Blake describes it best, remarking that “We’re Bentley. It’s fair to say (the roof cost) ‘a lot.’ Not just a couple dollars”.

Inside, the car remains opulent as ever with a rich serving of wood panels and high-grade leathers. The Convertible comes standard with 12.3” rotating touchscreen display, and a 2,000 watt Naim stereo is available as an option. Still important – but almost forgettable thanks to plethora of offerings on hand – are the standard neck warmers, and heated seats, armrest and steering wheel for those nippier top-down moments. Customers may commission a bespoke configuration with Bentley’s Mulliner division, should the standard catalogue be deemed insufficient.   

According to Bentley, they are slated to begin taking orders for the 2020 Bentley Continental GT Convertible early next year, with the first deliveries to be made soon after. Pricing will start at $236,100 USD.