Bentley Bentayga downsizes to V8

UPDATE: 17/01/2018 6:30pm: Bentley has confirmed a price of $334,700 plus ORCs for the Bentayga V8 ($300 less than the Diesel, making it the new entry model in the SUV range), first Australian deliveries of which will take place from June.

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Bentley has revealed the first V8 version of its hulking Bentayga SUV and it will cheaper but only a little slower than the W12 flagship – the “world’s fastest SUV”.

Australian pricing, specifications and arrival details are yet to be confirmed, but you can expect the Bentayga V8 to be priced above the entry-level Diesel (priced at a cool $335,000 plus on-road costs) but below the $427,300 W12.

Close to $400,000 is still serious money for an SUV though, so luckily the Bentayga V8’s 404kW/770Nm Porsche Cayenne Turbo-sourced 4.0-litre twin-turbo bent eight doesn’t spare the horses.

Fitted as standard with an eight-speed ZF automatic transmission and a 60 per cent rear-biased all-wheel drive system, Bentley claims the 2395kg Bentayga V8 can sprint to 100km/h in just 4.5 seconds, on its way to a 290km/h top speed, making it one of the world’s fastest SUVs.

Fuel consumption, meantime, is listed at 11.4L/100km on the NEDC combined European cycle, thanks in part to cylinder deactivation and idle-stop systems. CO2 emissions are listed at 260g/km and Bentley says the Bentayga V8 is good for a 746km driving range.

In comparison, a 447kW/900Nm 6.0-litre twin-turbo 12-cylinder pushes the 2440kg Bentayga W12 to 100km/h in 4.1 seconds and a benchmark top speed of 301km/h. Its fuel consumption is 13.1L/00km.

A 320kW/900Nm 4.0-litre twin-turbo diesel V8 accelerates the 2499kg Bentayga Diesel to 100km/h in 4.8 seconds and its official fuel consumption is 8.0L/100km.

There’s more than just a new engine, however. Available like its Bentayga siblings in four-, five- and seven-seat configurations, the V8 debuts the option of Bentley’s carbon-ceramic braking system.

While the standard brake callipers are painted Tornado red, the optional ceramic set-up ditches the standard model’s 400mm front and 380mm rear rotors for massive 440mm discs up front -- claimed to include the largest available on any production car.

Framed by 11 wheel designs including a new 22-inch five-spoke alloy with black painted and polished finish, they combine with 10-piston callipers that Bentley says deliver braking torque of 6000Nm.

Featuring twin-quad exhaust outlets and a black and chrome grille, the Bentayga V8 also debuts new high-gloss carbon-fibre interior trims and a new three-spoke wood/leather steering wheel, and the option of new ‘Cricket Ball’ red leather trim, joining 15 interior colour choices.

The V8 rides on multi-mode air suspension and, like all Bentaygas, “offers the widest range of on- and off-road drive settings of any vehicle” via Bentley’s Drive Dynamics Mode and optional eight-mode All-Terrain Specification.

Other standard features include an 8.0-inch touch-screen infotainment system with “class-leading” navigation, a 60GB hard drive and a choice of up to 30 languages, plus Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) including Stop & Go, navigation-based Predictive ACC, Traffic Assist, Traffic Sign Recognition and Rear Crossing Traffic Warning

But there will be a host of expensive options, including Bentley Dynamic Ride, which company claims is the world’s first electric active roll control technology with a 48V system.

Also on the options list is Top View, Park Assist, Night Vision, Head-Up Display, Bentley Entertainment Tablet (a removable 10.2-inch Android device with 4G, WiFi and Bluetooth for rear-seat passenger connectivity) and three different sound systems: Bentley Standard Audio, Bentley Signature Audio and the 1950-Watt, 18-speaker Naim for Bentley Premium Audio.