Lovers of the opulent, over-the-top Bentley Bentayga have reason to get excited, as the British automaker just announced it would expand the nameplate's offerings with a new V-8 model. While slightly down on power compared to the previous 12-cylinder variant, the new Bentayga V8 still comes brimming with luxury, technology, and impressive speed.

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The Full Story

When Bentley initially announced its intentions to create its very first SUV, it hoped to do it right by offering customers the fastest, most powerful, and most expensive SUV in the world. The end result is a luxury box on wheels with a twin-turbo 6.0-liter W-12 engine, 600 horsepower and 664 pound-feet of torque, an eight-speed automatic transmission, AWD, advanced air suspension, a 0-to-60 mph time of 3.5 seconds, and a top speed of 187 mph. Pricing starts at over $200,000.

All told, Bentley frames the Bentayga as “the ultimate Grand Touring experience unrestricted by landscape or conditions.” Impressive stuff, no doubt about it, but obviously any time you create the “ultimate” of anything, you leave the door open for the creation of something, well, slightly less ultimate.

Enter the V-8 model, which arrives with a VW-sourced 4.0-liter V-8 powerplant, once again packing in the air thanks to two turbochargers. Standout features include 32 valves and a hot-vee placement for the twin-scroll turbos. Peak output is rated at 542 horsepower and 568 pound-feet of torque, while the top speed clocks in at 180 mph and the 0-to-60 mph sprint is achieved in 4.4 seconds. The V-8 also manages up to 25 combined mpg thanks to start/stop tech and cylinder deactivation that turns the 'eight into a four-banger, a vast improvement compared to the W-12 model's 15 mpg combined.

Bentley claims that this new V-8 model assumes the nameplate's “most sporting guise to date,” but considering the numbers in play here, we can't help but question that statement. After all, the V-8 isn't as powerful and the model isn't nearly as fast as the '12, while the rest of the equipment looks more or less unchanged.

Drivetrain Specifications

But maybe Bentley is referring to the brakes, as the V-8 Bentayga also comes with the option for carbon ceramic stoppers. This motorsport-inspired system is a first for the model, and Bentley brags its the largest front brake system available on any production car on the market, measuring in with enormous 440 mm (17.3-inch) diameter discs and 10-pot calipers. Meanwhile, the rear gets 370 mm (14.6-inch) diameter brake discs.

Keeping it shiny side up is a multi-mode suspension system, with Bentley Drive Dynamics offering a variety of settings that adjust the SUV's attitude to better suit either comfort or sportiness. The V-8 Bentayga also continues with standard off-roading settings for the Drive Dynamics system, and includes a variety of variable for the ride height.

In terms of aesthetics, the V-8 Bentayga offers buyers 11 individual wheel design options, including a new 22-inch five-spoke design painted in polished black. Overall though, the V-8 model looks quite similar to the older W-12 model, with only minor visual cues added as indication of the new engine under the hood. That includes a black chrome grille up front and twin-quad exhaust tips in back.

Inside, the V-8 Bentayga continues the theme of superlative luxury, and now gets new wood trim and hide on the steering wheel, plus a new carbon fiber panel in high-gloss finish for extra sporting cred. A high-end stereo is also on the options list, offering 1,950 watts of power routed through 18 speakers. An 8-inch touchscreen takes its place in front, and there's a removable 10.2-inch Android tablet in back, plus onboard WiFi support. Rounding out the tech suite is a variety of driver assists, such as adaptive cruise control, traffic assist, park assist, night vision, traffic sign recognition, and the like.

Pricing for the V-8 Bentayga has not yet been announced, but we expect it to be well below that of the W-12 model.

For reference, the new Bentayga will go up against competitors like the Mercedes-Benz G-Class and Land Rover Range Rover Supercharged.

The Merc is powered by a twin-turbo 4.0-liter V-8 making around 415 horsepower and comes packing with some very impressive off-roading chops, and the whole package is expected to see a solid upgrade with the up-and-coming 2019 model year. Pricing starts at $123,600.

Meanwhile, the Range Rover gets 510 horsepower and 461 pound-feet of torque thanks to a blown 5.0-liter V-8, and while it's definitely designed primary for paved-road duty, it's got the goods for a jaunt in the rough stuff as well. Pricing starts at $104,890.

References

Bentley Bentayga

Read our full review on the 2017 Bentley Bentayga.

Read more Bentley news.