Bentley was founded back in 1919, but the company is nowhere even close to slowing down. In fact, it is reaching new heights with every passing year. The company recently reported that it has had the best-ever first quarter this year in its history, and even its operating profits have increased 162-percent. Believe it or not, the company earns revenue of €212,000 (approximately $224,000 at current exchange rates) per car. And, the Bentayga has to be given credit for much of its success, after all, it accounted for over 33-percent of Bentley’s sales in 2021.
As is with any uber-luxury brand these days, its SUVs are the breadwinners, and Bentley is no exception. The Crewe-automaker realizes this and keeps making new additions to the Bentayga lineup. The latest addition in the model’s portfolio is the Extended Wheelbase version to make it even better for owners who will have it chauffeur-driven. Did I mention it has also gotten a lot more luxurious?
What’s Special About The Bentayga Extended Wheelbase?
The Bentayga Extended Wheelbase (EWB) becomes the fifth variant in the model’s lineup, joining the Bentayga Speed, the Bentayga S, the Bentayga V8, and the Bentayga Hybrid. But, first things first, let’s talk about the wheelbase. Bentley has extended the wheelbase on this opulent offering by 7.1 inches (180 mm).
Courtesy of this, the Bentayga EWB’s wheelbase now measures 125 inches (31,75 mm), up from 117.9 inches (2,995 mm). The overall length now measures 209.5 inches (5,322 mm). The automaker had to make changes to the underfloor, side panels, door, and the roof. On the outside, there are four distinct changes. The SUV is longer, obviously, then there’s a new front grille, a repositioned sunroof, and new, polished 22-inch 10-spoke wheels. For the rest of it, the SUV remains pretty much the same.
Bentley noted that the increased length is all in the rear door. But, it isn’t only about increased legroom. The SUV comes with the new Bentley Airline Seat specification. This is the most advanced seat ever fitted to a car, according to Bentley. It features 22 ways of adjustment. When you select the Relax mode, the seat reclines to 40 degrees and a leather-trimmed footrest pops out of the back of the front passenger seat. The rear door and center armrests are also heated in the Bentayga EWB. What’s also new to the Bentayga, and Bentley, in extension, are power closing doors. This is the first they’re being offered on a Bentley.
It also has a new auto climate sensing system, which is essentially a climate control for the seats. It senses the occupant’s temperature and determines whether to apply heat, ventilation, or both. There’s a postural adjustment technology as well, wherein it automatically makes micro-adjustments to the seating position and pressure points, by measuring pressure across the seat surface. It can apply 177 individual pressure changes across six fully independent pressure zones over a three-hour period. If you still get tired after a long journey, well, that’s on you! As for the seating layout, the Bentayga EWB comes with a 4+1 seating configuration as standard. You can also opt for a four- or five-seat option.
The British automaker has upped the ante in terms of interior quality as well. It comes with a new stitching design on the seats, a unique design on the doors, etc. There are also things like Bentley Diamond Illumination, wherein light is emitted through small perforations in the soft feel door trim. We know that uber-luxurious automakers offer you a plethora of customization options, but Bentley takes it to the next level. It offers 24 billion trim combinations alone! The chances of Bentayga being one-of-a-kind are quite high.
What Powers The Bentley Bentayga EWB?
The SUV also comes with Electronic All-Wheel Steering, which is a first for the Bentayga. It was introduced on the new Flying Spur. Since it is longer than the standard Bentayga, the turning radius should be higher. But, thanks to this, the turning radius is actually seven-percent less than the standard SUV. You also get the Bentley Dynamic Ride, a 48V active anti-roll control system.
Bentayga Extended Wheelbase First Edition
Bentley will offer a First Edition model, but there’s no word on how many examples will be made. However, it will come with the following things as standard:
- Bentley Diamond Illumination- Metal overlays in the veneer- Naim for Bentley Premium Audio- LED welcome lamps- Unique embroidery, inlays, and badging
Conclusion
The Bentayga is a very important product for the automaker. Bentley noted that 82-percent of the owners drive the Bentayga every day, which shows it is a practical, opulent SUV. The company also estimates that 45-percent of all Bentayga sales will come from the EWB model when it goes on sale. No wonder the company made a nine-figure investment into developing this version, even though it can be discounted as just a stretched version of the standard model! We’ll have to wait and watch how the Bentayga performs on the sales charts once it goes on sale in the fourth quarter of 2022.