The new Bentayga S is Bentley's finest SUV yet, how does it compare to its rivals?
4-litre twin-turbocharged V8, which vies with the EA888 2-litre four to see which can appear in more VW models, doesn’t have a single drop more power or torque than in the regular Bentayga V8, so 542bhp and 568lb ft are still responsible for hauling 2400kg on its way to 62mph in 4.5 seconds and on to 180mph. With the V8 and Hybrid now the only Bentaygas available in the UK – the W12-engined Speed no longer on sale in its home market – it’s also the quickest.
It’s then that it comes to you the work that has gone into creating the S runs far deeper than an algorithm change to some of the chassis technology underpinning it. The spring and damper rates have been recalibrated to increase control, firm up the ride and better manage body roll, with the standard-fit air-suspension also tweaked to provide firmer support but not at the expense of comfort.
Wind the driving mode up to Sport and the S is able to show its hand even more clearly. An extra 15 per cent tightening of the chassis and an additional level of sharpness to the steering tie the big Bentley down further still, but still not at the expense of ride comfort, the S meeting the expectation that every Bentley should focus on cossetting its occupants rather than leaving them shaken and stirred and the rear-seat passengers’ champagne spilled.
Sport mode also brings with it a new state of tune for the ESC, relaxing its grip and allowing the torque vectoring to do its thing before the safety systems interfere. In reality you’ll need to take some sizable liberties to experience this benefit at speed, but out of slow, tighter turns the Bentayga S is more agile and willing to change direction much quicker than the standard V8 model on which it is based.
It’d be a big stretch to suggest a chassis tweak via software calibration transforms this luxury SUV into a bonafide performance car, but it does highlight the bandwidth Bentley’s engineers have available to them to operate within and what’s possible when they’re allowed to develop the software that controls the hardware. Which also leaves you asking: why not offer this set-up as standard? It takes nothing away from Bentley’s pursuit of ultimate driving luxury but it does add so much more.
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