490kW Bentley Bentayga Speed on the way

Bentley will launch a new more powerful performance SUV flagship later this year when it unleashes a new Bentley Bentayga Speed.

Almost certain to claim a new world speed record for the fastest production SUV, the Bentley Bentayga Speed is set to eclipse the incredible 301km/h the W12 Bentayga recorded before its launch back in 2015.

Sharing the same twin-turbocharged 6.0-litre W12 petrol with the current flagship Bentayga W12, the new Speed is rumoured to have its power boosted from the standard version's 447kW to almost 490kW.

With a sizeable increase in peak torque, over the W12's already mighty 900Nm, the Bentayga Speed should be capable hitting 100km/h in less than 3.9 seconds before topping out at more than 306km/h.

That means the Lamborghini Urus will still beat the Bentley away from the lights (3.6 seconds 0-100km/h) but will have to cede the fast lane on the German autobahn with its lower 304km/h maximum speed.

Helping it hit a higher top speed, the Bentayga Speed is set to feature a subtle more slippery styling kit.

To cope with the extra performance, meanwhile, engineers are believed to have completely retuned the air suspension and dampers and added more powerful brakes.

What won't be possible, is reducing the weight of what remains a colossal SUV.

The standard Bentayga W12 tips the scale at 2440kg meaning its rival, the closely-related Lamborghini Urus that shares its platform, is a huge 220kg lighter.

Inside, the Bentayga Speed will therefore not be stripped-out affair, with only a pair of sportier bucket seats differentiating it from the luxurious W12. Expect acres of leather, metres of timber and a top-drawer finish.

In European markets, the Bentayga Speed is tipped to be priced around $35,000-40,000 more than the regular Bentayga with Bentley's new performance SUV flagship set to cost around $460,000 (plus on-roads.)

Following the Bentayga Speed's launch, Bentley will introduce a plug-in version of its luxo SUV in Europe this October. Sharing its electrified 3.0-litre V6 petrol with the Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid, the Bentley should produce 340kW, average less than 4.0L/100km and have a pure-electric range of around 50km.