This “Bentayga Coupe” version will be akin to BMW’s X6 M and Mercedes-Benz’s GLE63 AMG S Coupe, but obviously more luxurious and apparently with more grunt at its disposal. Set for reveal (at least in concept form) at the 2016 Geneva Motor Show, the cross-coupe will share much of the Bentayga’s styling, but with a more steeply raked roofline. It will still have four doors, but seating will be limited to four occupants and rear headroom will be diminished.
Bentley Product Line Director, Peter Guest, told Auto Express that the Bentayga Coupe won’t be as concerned about off-road ability as the Bentayga (not that many of the normal SUV’s customers will take their $220,000-plus vehicle off tarmac anyway) and will instead be honed for on-road driving performance.
Besides the coupe styling, the new variant will look more aggressive, with a wider body, bigger wheels, stiffer suspension, and a sports exhaust. Power for the derivative will likely come from a tweaked version of the brand’s new 6.0-liter, twin-turbocharged W12 engine, which, in the Bentayga makes 600 horsepower and 663 pound-feet of torque. Bentley has already made it clear that future Bentayga versions (most likely including a “Speed” iteration) will make more power, and we can consider the Coupe to be among them.
In addition to added punch, the Coupe will almost certainly lose a few pounds compared to the Bentayga’s 5,340 pounds, which should further help driving dynamics. With the standard Bentayga able to hit 60 mph in just 4.0 seconds, the Coupe will certainly best that and may even exceed its stable-mate’s 186 mph top speed.
Pricing and production date left in question, Bentley certainly wants to let upcoming rivals like Rolls Royce’s planned SUV, Land Rover’s new flagship, Lamborghini’s Urus, and Mercedes-Benz’s rumored Maybach SUV know of its intentions to remain in the spotlight.
