The Bentley Bentayga is one of the more recent SUVs->ke145 to hit the market, but it sure is making up for lost time by taking a deep dive into the world of app integration with the release of a new app dedicated to the Apple Watch. Needless to say, the app works only for those people who own a Bentayga and and Apple Watch.

People who do find themselves included in this particular group will have the benefit of pairing their smart watches to the Bentayga’->ke5088s infotainment system. Simple enough, right? Once the pairing is successful, users can control certain features of the Bentayga, including on-board climate and entertainment systems. They can also adjust the heating, ventilation, and massage functions of their seats, while also monitor real-time information like vehicle speed, distance traveled, and outside temperature. Unfortunately, it can’t perform other tricks like remote starting the car if they don’t have an iPhone that’s paired to the same infotainment system.

Nevertheless, the app aims to provide an improved level of connectivity with the Bentayga. It’s a nice little feature that should come in handy in certain conditions, all in the name of enhancing customer service. That, in a nutshell, is what this app is for. It may not prove to be as useful when it’s the driver who’s wearing the watch->ke3691 – all the info he might need is staring at him in the face – but it could turn into a useful feature for passengers of the SUV, especially those at the back who may be less inclined to exert any kind of effort when they’re sitting comfortably in the luxurious and spacious rear section of the interior.

The app itself is pretty straightforward so those who end up downloading it should be able to learn all of its tricks in short order. Then again, those who are averse to the whims of technology->ke1701 are probably better off spending their money on something a little more to their liking. Care to interest anyone on a diamond-studded Mulliner Tourbillon by Breitling mechanical clock that costs $220,000?

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Why it matters

While it is pretty neat that Bentley would come up with something like this, I don’t think it’s going to be as useful as it thinks it’s going to be. Sure, the novelty of being able to control certain functions of the SUV from the watch is cool, but the laid out features aren’t that really exciting to begin with, are they? The only thing I’m particularly curious to try out is the massage functions on the seats, and even then I wouldn’t necessarily go out of my way to buy an Apple Watch just to try it.

I’m not completely dismissing the app even though it sounds like I am. I actually think that it’s a great first step for Bentley in embracing the enormous potential of app integration into its vehicles. It has this app now and I’m sure that the company will have more in the future. That tells you that Bentley isn’t just content with having an SUV that’s considered the fastest and most powerful in the market. The company is doing what it can to provide owners of the Bentayga with add-on features like this app to keep them interested in the product. It’s a great way to pave the way for future technologies.

But as far as the app itself is concerned, it doesn’t really do much in the way of differentiating itself from what other automakers have already done in the past in some form of fashion. It’s a nice app that lets you control features of the car from your watch. Take out the watch, replace it with a smartphone, and boom, it’s been done before. Nothing to get too excited about in my opinion.

Now about that $220,000 Breitling clock. That’s how you differentiate yourself, Bentley Bentayga.

Bentley Bentayga

Read our full review on the Bentley Bentayga here.