The British carmaker has revealed the Bentayga V8 – a petrol-engined equal to the Bentayga Diesel, sitting below the W12-engined model. The V8 sits almost directly between the two existing Bentayga variants. Its 4.0-litre V8 makes 550hp and 770Nm of torque, affording a 0-100kph of 4.5sec. This unit is shared with the Porsche Panamera Turbo and also set to feature in the new Bentley Continental GT.
The Bentayga V8's top speed is 289.6kph – 19.3kph higher than the diesel and 11.3kph down on the W12. Despite the performance sitting between the two variants, the price of the V8 petrol Bentayga is marginally more than that of the diesel.
The differing market demands for the V8 diesel and V8 petrol implies that sales volumes of the diesel are unlikely to be affected in spite of the petrol’s greater performance and similar price.
The V8’s cylinder shut-off technology is a fuel-saving measure which effectively makes it a four-cylinder motor in certain circumstances.
Externally, the new model is largely unchanged from the full-fat W12 Bentayga, although red-painted front brake callipers are a subtle hint at the car’s new engine. There’s a new 22-inch alloy wheel design, too, and the V8 gets altered front grille and tail-pipe designs.
Brakes can also be optionally uprated, with the carbon-ceramic set-up taking the title of the world’s largest front brakes on any production model, with 440mm (17.3in) discs at the front. The rears are 370mm (14.6in) units, and together, Bentley claims, they combine for almost 6,000Nm of stopping force. Option prices are not yet finalised, but this is likely to command a low-five-figure premium.
The inside features a new wood and leather steering wheel, a gloss carbon-fibre trim finish for the doors, centre console and dashboard fascia. In addition, a new leather colour is available – the chestnut-coloured ‘Cricket ball’. These features will be rolled out across the Bentayga range after being launched on the V8.
The Bentayga V8 won’t be the smallest-capacity variant for long, however; a hybrid Bentayga with the same 416hp, 3.0-litre petrol V6 plug-in hybrid powertrain as the Porsche Cayenne S E-Hybrid is due, later this year.
While there is no word on the British brand bringing this version to India, Bentley currently retails the full-fat W12 model in the country for Rs 3.85 crore (ex-showroom, Delhi). It rivals the likes of the recently launched Lamborghini Urus.
Rivan RS 
Viraaj Bhatnagar
Uday Singh
Suraj Viswanathan
