W12 is Dead, Long Live the V8: The New Bentayga Speed is Bentley's Fastest SUV Yet

Miami Herald

03-06-2025

Last year, British ultra-luxury powerhouse Bentley said its final goodbye to one of its most legendary creations. It wasn't a car, but rather a monster motor that exuded as much brashness and excess as the vehicles it was shoehorned under the hood of. In July 2024, the last 6-liter W12 engine left the masters of chaos at Bentley's Crewe factory. For over two decades, the twin-turbocharged twelve cylinders of fury would find themselves under the hood of multiple Bentleys, including the Continental GT coupe, Flying Spur sedan, and even the Bentayga SUV.
The W12 found a special home in the Flying B's SUV, where an uprated version powered the high-performance Bentayga Speed model. However, as demonstrated with the latest iteration of the Continental GT Speed and its hybrid twin-turbo V8, the departure of the W12 doesn't mean that Bentley's Speed models are no more.
Bentley's newest version of the Bentayga Speed may not feature the twin-turbo W12, but it doesn't entirely mean it is down on power. Notably, Bentley did not opt for the plug-in hybrid system that resides under the hood of the Continental GT Speed; instead, it chose an uprated version of the twin-turbo 4-liter V8, which comes standard with the vehicle.
The new Bentayga Speed makes 641 horsepower, 99 horsepower more than in its "standard" configuration and 15 more horsepower than the W12. While it is up on power, the new, smaller motor makes 37 pound-feet less torque than the outgoing W12, though it still makes a back-breaking 627 pound-feet of torque through its wheels.
As a result, Bentley claims that its large and in charge SUV goes from 0-60 mph in 3.4 seconds, and can rocket up to a top speed of 3.4 seconds. The new big Speed also weighs 95 pounds less than the W12 model and should feel more agile behind the wheel, thanks to new rear-wheel steering.
If you opt for the huge 23-inch Speed wheels, you can also opt for carbon-ceramic brakes for some extra help trying to stop the Speed's 5,435 pounds. The new Speed also features a new Sport driving mode, which tightens the suspension dampers by 15% compared to the Bentayga V8, as well as enhanced torque vectoring, making the steering sharper for spirited drives with the family. Bentley states that the Sport mode features an enhanced stability control setting, allowing the driver to execute "exhilarating drift angles or power-on oversteer when appropriate."
As a bonus, Bentley gave the new Speed a standard sports exhaust, as well as the option for a quad-tip Akrapovič titanium exhaust, which it claims "accentuates the power, drama and potency of the V8, with its aural expression of the performance that awaits at the merest flex of the throttle."
Bentley kept the Speed relatively classy with its exterior and interior accouterments compared to other "sport" or high-performance luxury SUVs with similar power numbers. The only distinct way to tell a Speed from the outside is darker-tinted chrome elements, subtle speed badges on the front doors, and unique wheels available in chrome or dark-tinted chrome. In addition, the Speed gets some unique headlights and taillights with darker housing and a contrasting black roof in a satin or gloss finish, which it says "makes a powerful, assertive visual impact."
Bentley continues the 'dark mode' theme on the inside. Its standard chrome accents can be ordered in a dark tint to match the outside, while the seat upholstery features darker hides and a new diamond-stitch pattern. The Speed-exclusive graphics on the gauge cluster, Speed badges on the dashboard and doorsills, and a Speed logo on the seats themselves remind you of just how special the SUV you're in is.
I feel that Bentley lopping off four whole cylinders from its engine is not a dealbreaker for many Bentley buyers. On its own, a Bentley Bentayga is already a fast, luxurious package offering many comforts and power that go above and beyond compared to other luxury offerings.
That said, I think this is a nice addition for the kind of Bentley buyer who isn't all into the "old money" look with all the chrome and pomp and circumstance. Bentley did not specify any pricing in its release, but I expect pricing to be prohibitively expensive.
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