Bentley Facelifts The 2021 Bentayga Speed, The World’s Fastest SUV

Hot on the heels of the Bentley Bentayga range being facelifted for the 2021 model year, the British marque has unveiled the new Bentayga Speed, a more performance-focused variant of the luxurious SUV.

Powering the Bentayga Speed is a 6.0-liter W12 twin-turbocharged engine producing 626 hp and 664 lb-ft (900 Nm) of torque available between 1,500 rpm and 5,000 rpm. This engine is mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission and sees the SUV hit 62 mph (100 km/h) in a mere 3.9 seconds while topping out at 190 mph (306 km/h).

Bentley hasn’t just focused its energy on making this engine exceptionally powerful but has also spent considerable time making sure it is efficient. As such, the ECU is able to deactivate one complete bank of six cylinders as required and can switch between A and B bank based on information received from the inlet and exhaust sensors, reducing cylinder and catalytic converter cool down to avoid spikes in exhaust emissions. Additionally, if the SUV is in 5th to 8th gears and the driver releases the throttle, the Bentayga Speed will open the torque converter, dropping the engine to idle.

Elsewhere, the Bentayga Speed includes the Bentley Dynamic Ride system that has electric active roll technology uses a 48V system. The SUV’s Torque Vectoring by Brake system has also been recalibrated for the Speed. Buyers can also option carbon ceramic brakes.

On a visual front, the Bentayga Speed has a sportier look than the regular model and includes dark-tint headlights, body-colored side skirts, bespoke front and rear bumpers, and an enlarged rear spoiler. It also sits on 22-inch wheels available in two finishes and has oval-shaped tailpipes.

Like other Bentley models, customers are offered a wide array of paint options, with no less than 17 standard paint colors and a further 47 hues available in the Extended and Mulliner ranges for the Bentayga, plus an additional 24 duo-tone options. As if that wasn’t enough, Bentley will create a custom color to match any sample a customer provides.

Alterations made to the Bentayga Speed continue in the cabin through a unique color split that has “dark colors enhanced by primary hide accents running throughout the seats and interior trim,” the company says. Customers can also have various parts finished in Alcantara, such as the seat cushions and back rest center panels, gear lever, steering wheel, lower knee trim areas, upper pillar trim, and headliner. These parts can be finished in leather if the customer so desires.

The same 10.9-inch touchscreen infotainment system found across the rest of the 2021 Bentayga range is also featured. New is a fully digital instrument cluster that can be customized and offers a host of different displays.

Bentley is also offering the Bentayga Speed in ‘Black Specification.’ This package replaces all exterior chrome parts and other bright detailing with gloss black or carbon fiber parts. It also comes with gloss black roof rails, 22-inch wheels, and black tailpipes. The standard roof spoiler is also replaced with one made from carbon fiber.

Pricing details have yet to be announced but Bentley says the SUV will be sold in the USA, Middle East, and Asia Pacific regions.