Over ten years since the nameplate made its global debut, the new Bentayga Extended Wheelbase (EWB) continues to push the envelope of what we call the luxury SUV. Built on a new platform, the second generation of this Bentley EWB SUV features a wheelbase of 3175mm, which is 180mm longer than the standard Bentayga. The entirety of this 180mm of space is attributed to the rear of the cabin, making the already spacious Bentayga roomier still. With one of the largest rear cabin spaces in its class, and Bentley’s emphasis on wellness, the brand introduced auto climate and advanced postural adjustment for the rear seats. A world first combination. In fact, the 22-way adjustable Bentley Airline Seat specification is the most advanced in the world. In Relax Mode, the front passenger seat moves forward and the seat immediately behind inclines to 40 degrees while the occupant’s feet rest on an exquisitely crafted footrest.
The Bentayga EWB also benefits from power closing doors for the first time. A couple of switches at the rear of the extended centre console sit within easy reach of passengers. Pressing and holding the switch will close the door on the corresponding side, giving the occupants access to a valet even when there is no valet.
At the heart of the Bentley Bentayga EWB sits a 4-litre 32-valve dual twin scroll turbo V8 engine mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission. Peak power is 550 ps while maximum torque is 770Nm. From a standing start, this stately SUV can get up to 100kmph in just over 4.6 seconds while top speed is 290kmph. In doing so, the new Bentley Bentayga EWB remains true to its identity of being the luxury grand tourer of SUVs.
The first-generation Bentley Bentayga, named after the Roque Bentayga, on the island of Gran Canaria, Spain, was the most luxurious, hand built, all-terrain vehicle ever made when it was first launched in 2015. It blended performance, craftsmanship, engineering and technology to bring alive an SUV experience that had not been felt until then. A year later, in 2016, the Bentayga debuted in India. Built on a new platform, the Bentayga’s exterior styling featured a muscular power line created by a sharp crease immediately after the front wheel arch. The beautifully handcrafted interiors of the car used different kinds of wood veneers to create a ‘ring of wood’ around the occupants. Light from the panoramic sunroof glinted off metal surfaces and shone on polished wood to create a glorious glow inside the luxuriously appointed cabin. Hand stitched leather upholstery, precision knurled metal detailing and optional mood lighting completed the package. The world of the Sports Utility Vehicle had never experienced this sense of occasion or basked in so much finery ever before.
Bentayga blended two worlds, that of the SUV and its all-terrain life with the grand tourer philosophy, a format that Bentley has mastered to perfection. An entirely new class of luxury SUV was born with the Bentayga. The Bentayga however didn’t just remain a stellar product. It came to represent the notion that even the rough and tumble world of all-terrain motoring can be experienced in complete comfort and luxury.
Bentley then followed up with the Bentayga Mulliner, which was the world’s most luxurious SUV featuring 22-inch Paragon wheels, LED welcome lamps and bespoke Mulliner treadplates. The cabin featured a four-seat Comfort Specification with rear seats featuring 18 adjustments and offered ventilation and massage functions. There was a new veneer concept, bespoke Mulliner interior colour split with contrast stitching, special optional Duo Tone exterior paint and a Mulliner bottle cooler. A one-off example featuring unique marquetry inspired by the Monte Rosa mountain range was displayed at the 2017 Geneva Motor Show. Built in limited numbers, the Bentayga Mulliner was the absolute final sentence among luxury SUVs and is coveted even today.
In 2017, Bentley was pushing the boundaries of luxury in SUVs, in 2018, the brand took the front row in technical innovation by introducing a new powertrain for Bentayga owners. The first was the innovative new V8 engine with 550hp on tap, pushing the SUV to its 290kmph top speed, dispatching 100kmph in 4.64 seconds from a standing start. What was incredible about this engine was its tractability. The entirety of its 770Nm of peak torque became available from 2000rpm and stayed till 4500rpm, which resulted in a phenomenally smooth drive along with very sprightly and sustained acceleration.
Bentley continued to push the limits of engine engineering in 2019 with the introduction of the Bentayga Speed. It was the ultimate expression of performance in a luxury SUV in 2019, when it was the fastest SUV in the world. Top speed was a staggering 306kmph and a zero to 100kmph acceleration run was completed in just 3.9 seconds. Powering the Bentley Bentayga Speed was a W12 engine with an incredible 635hp making it the most powerful Bentayga ever. There was a specially enhanced Sport Mode that stood out in sharp contrast with the more benign Comfort Mode and allowed the driver to access the absolute top layer of its performance, returning a truly dynamic driving experience.
Three years later, the marque decided to again forge a path in a new direction and launched the Bentayga Extended Wheelbase (EWB). Stretched by 180mm over the already spacious Bentayga, the EWB was a revelation in how liberating space inside the cabin could reinterpret the idea of luxury. Then there were the 24 billion, literally, trim combinations, the world’s first integrated seat technology and the world’s first auto climate sensing postural adjustment. The Bentayga EWB also featured the Bentley diamond illumination for the first time, further pushing the boundaries of what a luxury SUV could offer. On the technical innovation front too, the Bentayga EWB offered something new. Rear wheel steering to ensure that driving dynamics of the Bentayga EWB weren’t affected by the extra length. By 2023, Bentley was again pushing the envelope with the Bentayga EWB Mulliner, which featured almost 4,000 tri-tone interior colour combinations to choose from. This beautiful expression of luxury in SUVs also saw the first use of olive tan leather in the global automotive industry and sustainable carpets made from recycled wool and nylon. It had self-levelling wheel badges, vented wings, a unique 22-inch wheel design and that Double Diamond front grille. The Bentayga EWB Mulliner seemed like the final expression of modern craftsmanship, incredible dynamics and breathtaking luxury.
Over the years, with each iteration, Bentley has been setting a new benchmark in how the world perceives a luxury SUV. From powertrain technologies and driving dynamics to expressing a more luxurious idea of luxury, the one thing that has remained true to the Bentayga nameplate for over a decade is its ability to bridge two worlds. The world of luxury and comfort with the rough world of all-terrain motoring. That, is what makes the Bentley Bentayga a grand tourer of the SUV world, the physical expression of an idea that is classically timeless.