A new flagship version of the super-luxurious crossover is here and we are not talking about it just as the most luxurious, but also about the fastest crossover around, as it took over the lead from Lambo Urus. With the 2021 Bentley Bentayga Speed, the focus is on performances, so you won’t see too many differences compared to the rest of the lineup in terms of aesthetics. Of course, there is enough space for details, but the overall design is largely the same. On the other side, changes are significant under the skin.
This model comes with the upgraded version of a familiar W12 engine, as well as with upgrades in terms of suspension, brakes and chassis in general. All this resulted in significantly improved performances, especially when it comes to the on-track performance, where 2021 Bentley Bentayga Speed can be taken in serious consideration if you’re are picking a hi-performance crossover.
2021 Bentley Bentayga Speed Engine
Of course, the core of the new 2021 Bentley Bentayga Speed is the engine. Things may look familiar, but the 6.0-liter W12 engine gets more power and now delivers 628 horsepower and 663 pound-feet of torque. That doesn’t seem like a big improvement, considering that the standard version with this engine is good for about 600 horsepower.
However, the small difference provides 0.2 seconds quicker acceleration, so this 5.500-pound heavy crossover now needs 3.8-seconds to hit 60 mph. As you may conclude, that’s not the quickest 0-60 time at all, but the 2021 Bentley Bentayga Speed features the highest top speed among crossovers, which goes up to 190.1 miles per hour. That’s 0.1 mph more than the Urus.
Still, the numbers aren’t the thing that impresses us most about this crossover. It is the actual driving experience. The engine may not be significantly tuned, but we really like the fact that a huge W12 engine delivers an enormous amount of low-end torque, so the peak power is actually available in a pretty wide rev range that goes from 1.500 to 5.000 RPMs.
2021 Bentley Bentayga Speed Upgrades
The engine isn’t the only aspect of the 2021 Bentley Bentayga Speed that gets upgraded. There is actually much more. One of the things we should mention is the suspension. Of course, we are talking about an air suspension, which has been significantly revised for this occasion. Naturally, it is stiffer and ensures much better acting in corners and on track in general.
Another important thing to mention is the revision of brakes. This is a pretty heavy crossover, so it’s no wonder that the manufacturer has left the choice to buyers, in accordance with their preferences. Standard models come with fade-free carbon-ceramic brakes. If you aren’t that much about braking performance and you would rather pick something that lasts longer and costs less, there is also a version with more conventional cast-iron rotors.
There is one more, very important thing to mention. The Sport model has been revised as well. Things are pretty simple here. The throttle has been revised as well as the transmission, which offers tighter upshifts and downshifts. This ensures much better driving dynamics and definitely is one of the reasons why 2021 Bentley Bentayga Speed offers much more than just straight-line improved performance.
2021 Bentley Bentayga Speed Price
As you may presume, this is the most expensive version of Bentayga, with the starting price of 235.700 dollars.
Bentley Bentayga Plug-In Hybrid On the Way
Another new version of the uber-luxurious crossover is about to come. Of course, we are talking about the electrified version. This will be a new entry-level version, with the most affordable price among all powertrain options in the offer. It will use a plug-in hybrid system that is based on a 3.0-V6 gasoline engine, which gets power from a 94-kW electric motor and comes in pair with a 17.3-kWh battery pack. The total output will go around 443 horsepower and 516 lb-ft of torque and the system will be paired with a familiar 8-speed automatic transmission, which sends power to all wheels. This version will go around 157.000 dollars.