Bentley Bentayga Speed (2025): Why we won't mourn the W12
For what felt like five minutes, the Bentley Bentayga Speed was once the world's fastest sport utility vehicle – back in 2019, when the 306 km/h colossus with its equally colossal twelve-cylinder engine was unveiled to the public. But does that even matter to customers? Sure, the "Speed" is in the name, but it has nothing to do with barroom bragging. Imagine the concept somewhat like Alpina: It's all about confident travel, garnished with superior comfort and the finest materials. The new Speed, which replaces the Bentayga S, offers all of this.
Okay, so the W12 has been sent into regrettable but well-deserved retirement. But fortunately, the VW Group's product range offers more than just a sporty all-purpose engine. What the EA 888 is for the compact series, the four-liter twin-turbo V8 (EA 825) represents for the more massive models. We already know its 650 hp and 850 Nm version from the Lamborghini Urus. The power is achieved through larger chargers and higher boost pressures combined with slightly reduced compression. This results in a 0-100 time of 3.6 seconds and a top speed of 310 km/h at the new speed. This makes the new model not only faster than its predecessor, but also more agile. Although the weight advantage of the V8 doesn't really make a difference. At 2,466 kilograms, the luxury SUV is still no lightweight, but it does shave almost 50 kilograms off the W12's figure.
To achieve this, they've made the suspension 15 percent stiffer in Sport mode than in the base model. And the optional titanium Akrapovic exhaust system (-12.5 kg, €9,211 extra) delivers a deep, sporty sound, which makes us inclined to say that this almost infantile roar and double-declutching doesn't really fit a Bentley. On the other hand, we'll let it slide in the Sport model, which is explicitly marketed as such; there are other variants for more refined driving.
Also new: Dynamic mode allows for gentle power oversteer, although Crewe doesn't want to go so far as to call it drift mode. And there's full-fledged launch control.
On the body side, the Speed is recognizable by its special splitter, sills, and a hint of a diffuser. These are complemented by bright LED taillights and, for the first time, optional 23-inch wheels. The 440-millimeter carbon-ceramic brake system isn't new in itself, but the design options with seven brake caliper colors are. In any case, virtually everything on the Bentayga is customizable – in various forms, depending on the customer's budget.
On the road, the V8 pushes us into the cozy leather seats with such force that we're in danger of being caught by a speed camera within seconds. While the 5.14-meter-long lump can corner, even with all the electronic control's tricks, physics can't be completely outsmarted. Things get particularly impressive, however, when Bentley unleashes us on a fast off-road gravel course. Suddenly, weight hardly seems to matter anymore; it's all about angle of attack and traction – almost like drifting on ice. But who would do that with a Bentayga Speed?
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