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Bentley Bentayga revealed, late 2016 debut likely for Australia

The all-new Bentley Bentayga has been given a digital unveiling, revealed online today ahead of its world premiere at this month’s Frankfurt motor show.


Named for the Roque Bentayga, one of the largest rock formations on the island of Gran Canaria in the Canary Islands, Bentley’s first-ever SUV promises opulent touring and, as an earlier teaser video suggests, some amount of off-road ability.

On the styling front, the Bentayga will continue the established themes of the existing Bentley line-up, moving away from the audacious changes presented with the earlier EXP 9F concept.

That means the same familiar quad headlight design is again featured here, in place of the 9F’s stacked headlight and foglight design.

The earlier concept’s heavily creased rear haunches have carried over to production, although they now sit below a redesigned D-pillar with a more distinct kink at the inside edge.

There are likewise few surprises at the back, with a long sloping rear window set above rectangular tail lamps that feature a LED ‘B’ design for Bentley.

The interior is also familiar fare, with the Bentayga’s dash design taking its inspiration from the Continental GT and Flying Spur models.

That means a long, curved top edge that dips deep to form the centre control space, which is dominated by a broad 8.0-inch touch-screen display, large circular air-conditioning points and a single row of switches.

A new steering wheel design is also featured, positioned in front of two large dials and a tall multi-information display.

The front seats are 22-way power adjustable, with integrated ventilation, heating and massaging functions.

Five and four-seat configurations are available, with the latter ensuring the Bentayga’s rear passengers are just as comfortable as those in the front. There’s broad individual seats with 15-way power adjustment, a wide centre console, a centre control display and two headrest-mounted Android-based entertainment screens.

A seven-seat option is also confirmed for debut in the coming year.

The usual array of genuine wood, metal and contrast stitched highlights feature throughout the cabin, alongside leather-wrapped surfaces and quilted leather seats. Other options include 15 shades of leather, 15 carpet styles and colours, seven wood veneers, and wheel design choices ranging in size from 20- to 22-inch.

The only powertrain detailed at this stage is the promised all-new twin-turbo 6.0 litre W12, although diesel and plug-in hybrid options are also confirmed.

In its base form, the W12 produces 447kW at 6000rpm and a big 900Nm of torque between 1250 and 4500rpm.

In current W12-powered Bentleys, outputs start at 423kW and 700Nm, through to 467kW and 820Nm in top models. Expect this all-new engine to star in future specials with even more power than currently offered.

Matched to an eight-speed torque converter automatic transmission, Bentley says the new direct- and indirect-injected engine will push the Bentayga to 100km/h in just 4.1 seconds, on its way to a top speed of 301km/h.

Fuel consumption figures are still to come, although Bentley promises an overall 11.9 percent efficiency improvement, with CO2 emissions listed at 292g/km.

That improvement is partly thanks to a coast or ‘sailing’ function, which allows the engine to sit at idle when the vehicle is at highway cruising speeds in gears five through to eight.

The Bentayga also introduces Bentley Dynamic Ride, a new electric active roll control system that works to counteract the intense lateral rolling forces inherent in tall SUV models.

Bentley says that while conventional anti-roll bars “present a compromise between body control and ride comfort”, Dynamic Ride allows the Bentayga to maintain maximum comfort while tearing through corners.

Dynamic Ride is joined by multi-mode air suspension, with four selectable modes: High 2, High 1, Normal, and Low. Bentley says that the High 2 setting is ideal for “more severe off-road surfaces”. The system can also be controlled from a switch in the boot, to ease loading and trail hitching situations.

Electric power-assisted steering is also featured, along with electronic stability control, a multi-mode traction control system, and hill descent control.

Bentley claims that the Bentayga has benefited from “more than 400 laps” of the Nürburgring Nordschleife to prove its dynamic on-road capabilities, along with multi-surface and multi-temperature testing in the UK, Norway, South Africa and Dubai.

The Bentayga will make its European debut in the coming months. A Bentley spokesperson has confirmed with CarAdvice today that, for Australia, a Spring debut next year is the "most feasible date at present".

Watch for the Bentayga to make its official debut at the Frankfurt motor show on September 15.

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