Eight for the country estate: Bentley Bentayga V8 detailed

Published: 14 January 2018 Updated: 15 January 2018

► Bentley Bentayga V8
► Engine from Cayenne Turbo
► Plus new customisation options

Bentley has expanded the Bentayga range to include a new petrol V8 option. The new petrol-powered V8 option is the Bentayga’s ‘most sporting guise to date’. The new petrol V8 car sits alongside the diesel V8 and the full-fat W12 petrol.

The Bentayga’s new V8 derivative is a 4.0-litre twin-turbo producing 542bhp and 569lb ft of torque, with a 4.5sec 0-62mph time and a 180mph top speed.

Bentley Bentayga side pan

Those stats may sound familiar to Porsche fans, as the engine used in the Bentayga V8 has the same capacity and produces the same power and torque as the one found in the Porsche Cayenne Turbo – another VW Group SUV that uses the same underpinnings as the Bentayga. The Cayenne is quicker to 62mph (thanks to it being around 200kg lighter than the Bentley) but the Bentayga’s top speed is 2mph higher than the Porsche.

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However, unlike the Cayenne, Bentley’s version of the V8 has cylinder deactivation tech for better efficiency, so much so that the big SUV’s fuel economy and emissions are rated slightly better than the lighter Porsche – 24.8mpg combined and 260g/km are claimed.

What else is new? Not a whole lot else, really. Carbon ceramic brakes are now an option, and Bentley claims the front discs are the largest ever put on a production car with a 440mm diameter.

Bentley also says that you can spec new details like high-gloss carbonfibre fascia trimmings, ‘cricket ball’ leather upholstery and a new leather and wood-trimmed steering wheel can be ticked on your endless option list.

Check out our Bentley reviews

By Jake Groves

CAR's deputy news editor, gamer, serial Lego-ist, lover of hot hatches

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