Meet Bentayga: Bentley's SUV +VIDEO

By: Michael Bernstein
Editor
Michigan Bureau
The Auto Channel

Like a proud father, Bentley dealer and Suburban Collection owner Dave Fisher was all smiles as he greeted a very select group of journalists who were invited to meet his latest addition, the Bentayga. He was joined by Bentley Motors, Inc. chief communications officer, Jeff Khulman, to introduce and answer questions about the venerable British brand’s first SUV. Mr. Wolfgang Duerheimer, president of the VW Division, was scheduled to attend, but was unable to due to travel delays he experienced. The event was held not at the NAIAS press preview, but in Mr. Fisher’s newly remolded 5,400 square foot dealership that looks more like an art gallery than an automotive showroom.

The Bentayga joins an already impressive line-up that includes the Flying Spur V, the Mulsanne, and the three Continental GT models-the hardtop, convertible and Speed.

Slated to hit dealerships in the early spring, the company hopes to sell around 1,500 units in the U.S. market alone. The first 600 will be badged as “First Edition” versions. These are pre-ordered, pre-packaged and cannot be customized, but later models will be a blank canvass that can be tailored to the buyers exacting standards-colors, fabrics and materials-that can be blended to the buyer’s exact specifications. Lead time for a customized version is five months, but considering the amount of hand tooling, stitching and craftsmanship that go into the production of this outstanding motor vehicle, it’s not that long of a wait.

The Bentayga features Bentley’s new 600HP, 12 cylinder engine that assures a smooth exhilarating ride, unprecedented towing capacity and off road capabilities. The proof is in the numbers- 0-100kmh in a staging 4.1 seconds, three and half ton towing capacity and off road performance at longitudinal angles up to 35 degrees. Not bad for a vehicle that weights in excess of 6000 lbs. This weight would have been much greater if composite materials and aluminum were not used for the body panels and other components.

Obviously this vehicle is not for everyone with a starting MSRP of $229,000, but when you add all the goodies the price increases to just south of $300,000. It’s not in my budget, but if the right Powerball numbers are picked, I told Mr. Fisher that I’d be back for one, to which he replied, “I will deliver it to your house personally.” Now that’s what I call service.

�Marty Bernstein, INC, Used with permission