When Bentley launched the Bentayga, it was christened the “World’s fastest SUV”, but its brother Lamborghini Urus took the crown, which was then handed over to the Aston Martin DBX 707.
But Bentley has recently introduced the Bentayga Extended Wheelbase version, this grand touring SUV takes luxury to a new level, and happens to be the fifth product in the range.
It could easily be mistaken for being nothing more than a stretched Bentayga with extra room, but there is a lot more to it. Bentley hasn’t forgotten the most important ingredients: sublime performance, attention to detail in the craftsmanship and the personalization options that customers can choose from.
The first-generation Bentayga, introduced in 2015, saw a huge demand for the SUV – and it has done wonders as far as being the ‘complete package’ is concerned. Strong performance, unique specifications, hybrid technology and its ability to rough it out in the slush are only some of the many attributes that make the Bentayga what it is. Being the British manufacturer’s best-selling model, it has set the bar high for other luxury SUVs.
The mission of the Bentayga EWB is to offer everything you had on the regular Bentayga, and some more.
Bentley managed to sell a record-breaking 14,659 cars in 2021; a huge leap compared to the sales recorded from the previous year. The SUV market continues to thrive the world over, but the same cannot be said of the E-segment, which hasn’t seen much success. Bentley wants to address the elephant in the room in the D-segment, pushing it to do better than their very own Mulsanne luxury sedan.
Bentley’s customers are reported to have high expectations from their models, when it comes to design, performance and technology before making a purchase – and not to mention, the handling characteristics being a priority among Bentley’s customers. It is also reported that a lion’s share of Bentayga customers, put their SUVs to regular use.
The EWB takes all of the above and pushes luxury’s boundaries further. Bentley’s aspires that 45% of Bentayga sales are for the EWB model when it arrived in the second half of this year. Banking on the success of the regular Bentayga, we’re sure the EWB version is going to be the cherry on the cake!
On the outside, there are some significant changes that include a new front grille, a stretched profile, a sunroof that’s positioned further back and the lovely new 22-inch, 10-spoke wheels. But the overall silhouette remains the same. The EWB’s grille is inspired by the one on the Flying Spur, and the ‘Vertical Vane Grille’ looks imposing and classy.
The wheels receive a new mirror-polished finish, specifically for the Bentayga EWB. The sunroof has been pushed further back, allowing natural light from outside to fill the cabin. There is a touch-screen remote in the back that controls the sunroof.
The stretched wheelbase also meant there was going to be a huge difference in the amount of space inside. The result is increased legroom, headroom and a roofline that’s 4-inches lower than its rivals, hinting at a sporty look. The cabin reflects the hard work that’s gone into the details and the recent technology is up-to-date as well.
It is quieter inside than before, states Bentley. The 4+1 seating configuration comes as standard, along with a pair of outer rear seats that feature 16 ways of adjustment, ventilation, heating and five individual massage programs. There’s even a seat in the middle for a third passenger.
For those of you who’ve watched all the reviews of the regular Bentayga, it is no surprise that the SUV is praised for its dynamic prowess, performance and ride and handling. Nothing changes with the EWB, and it now incorporates Electric All-Wheel Steering and Bentley Dynamic Ride as standard. The former feature was introduced first on the new Flying Spur; it ensures the car is planted at high speeds. Changing lanes and parking is likely to be a lot easier. The rear wheels steer in the opposite direction to the front wheels – and this is prominently evident at parking speeds. The Bentayga EWB is powered by a 4.0-liter, 32-valve dual-twin-scroll turbocharged V8 petrol engine that’s paired to an 8-speed automatic transmission. The engine makes 549hp and 568 lb-ft of torque, and manages a top speed of 180mph, with 0-62mph coming up in 4.5 seconds.
Barring a few countries in Europe, the Bentayga is ready to order for the rest of us. It still remains the ultimate SUV, if not the fastest. And with the labor and precision that goes into building these beauties, it’s hard for someone with a garage-full of cars to resist having one for the daily office run.
Source: Bentley Media
