Bentley Motors has provided specifications for Bentayga Diesel, its first diesel model in the British brand’s history. Bentayga Diesel goes on sale next year for European customers, with other countries such as Russia, South Africa, Australia, and Taiwan following, but apparently not where the mountain peak Bentayga is located in the Canary Islands. Compared to the W12 powered Bentayga, it’s discounted by about £30,000, with prices starting at £135,800 (~$176,00 U.S.). The oil-burning Bentley is unlikely to ever appear in the States.
Is there is any appeal for the super-rich for a high mileage Bentley? The Crewe, UK-based, VW-owned purveyor of luxury cars and Bentayga trucks, claims this is also the fastest diesel SUV: 0-100 km/h in 4.8 seconds with a top speed of 270 km/h (168 mph). Wolfgang Dürheimer, now chairman and chief executive of Bentley Motors, championed development of the diesel engine years ago before he returned to a top engineering job in Germany. Rumor has it that as soon as he was across the English Channel, the diesel was dropped as inappropriate for a Bentley. When Dürheimer returned in 2014, so did the Bentley diesel.
“Immense power, grand touring capabilities and superb refinement – this is a true Bentley. Only Bentley could produce a car so powerful, yet so refined,” said Dürheimer.
Audi Derived Diesel
The 4-liter V8 engine is derived from Audi’s SQ7 TDI, which is also not on sale in the U.S. The V8 is bolted to a ZF eight-speed automatic transmission. Bentley rates it at a class-leading 435 PS (429 horsepower) and 900 Nm (664 lb. ft.) of torque. Variable-geometry, sequential twin-scroll turbochargers are powered by the exhaust gases, while a third electric supercharger – powered by a 48-Volt system – spools up within 30 microseconds to eliminate turbo lag while the exhaust-driven turbos catch up.
“The effect is effortless, seamless power delivery across the entire engine-speed range – the quintessential Bentley driving experience,” claims Dürheimer.
The Bentayga Diesel has the lowest CO2 emissions of any Bentley, 210 g/km, as well as a range of over 1,000 km (621 miles). This allows owners to, for example, drive from London to the Verbier, Bordeaux bordering on Switzerland or the Scottish Highlands on a single tank of diesel. Fuel consumption ranges from 7.9-liters to 9-liters per 100 kilometers or 29 mpg to 26 mpg in the U.S.
Bentayga Diesel has the optional Bentley Dynamic Ride – the world’s first electric active roll control technology that uses a 48V system. Larger vehicles with a higher center of gravity need help to counteract lateral rolling forces when cornering. This provides maximum tire contact and it’s claimed class-leading cabin stability, ride comfort and exceptional handling. The pioneering use of a 48V system – which on Bentayga Diesel has a new lithium-ion battery system to offer more reserves of power – results in silent, instantaneous responses to deal with all road surfaces.
