Right then. Big, British, and barrelling towards the future a little quicker than before, the new Bentley Bentayga Speed is here. And it's dropped the old W12 like a soggy scone.
Instead, under the vast bonnet is a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 that now makes 650bhp and 850Nm of torque. That's 15 horses more than the W12 and only 50 Nm less. It also means the Bentayga Speed now hits 100 kmph in just 3.6 seconds and tops out at 310 kmph, which is adequately brisk for something that weighs 2,466kg, down by 42kg, thanks mostly to the smaller engine.
Not that Bentley's shouting about it. The exterior changes are subtle. There are Speed badges, 22-inch wheels, and if you're feeling enthusiastic, optional 23-inch wheels with carbon-ceramic brakes. Inside, it's business as usual — swathes of luxury, now with extra embroidery and a redesigned digital display to remind you you've bought the fast one.
But this isn't just a swap-and-go engine job. Bentley also returned the drive modes. Sport mode now stiffens the dampers by 15 per cent and relaxes the ESC, so you can technically drift your Bentley, if you're that sort of person. There's also rear-wheel steering, which helps in tight city corners and adds stability at speed — a helpful trick when you're nudging 300 kmph in something the size of a semi-detached house.
There's a standard sports exhaust, and if you'd like to wake the neighbours with a bit more razzmatazz, an optional Akrapovic titanium system is available. Because, of course, there is.
Now, if you're wondering where the Bentayga Speed fits in, consider it comparable to a Lamborghini Urus SE or an Aston Martin DBX707. It's posh, loud, fast, and unapologetically large. Only now is it a touch lighter and a fair bit quicker.
It's also proof that you don't need twelve cylinders to go fast in a Bentley anymore. Although if you still want twelve cylinders, Bentley will politely steer you toward the Mulsanne archives.
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