Bentley has recently facelifted its first and only SUV so far, the Bentayga, but it looks like it has more in store for the super luxury SUV. An intriguing Bentayga prototype was spotted on and around the Nürburgring Nordschleife this week wearing a camouflage branded “Beyond100”. That’s the name of the company’s new business strategy that aims to transform Bentley into “the world leader in sustainable luxury mobility.”
The facelifted Bentayga was the first
Bentley launched under the Beyond100 plan, and it appears that the second could
be a new Bentayga derivative. If you look closer at the rear doors, you’ll
notice they are way longer than the stock model’s. This means Bentley is
testing a long-wheelbase variant, which will probably be called the Bentayga
Extended Wheelbase (EWB), just like the discontinued Mulsanne EWB. In the
absence of a flagship saloon, the Bentayga EWB will become the pinnacle of the
Bentley range, especially in combination with the 626 HP 6.0-liter twin-turbo
W12 engine from the Bentayga Speed. The 542 HP 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 will
likely be the base powertrain.
The longer wheelbase should provide
impressive levels of legroom in the rear passenger compartment, seeing as the
standard model is already a very roomy vehicle thanks its 2,995-mm wheelbase. Expect a pair of business class reclining seats with heating,
ventilation and massage functions, as well as the utmost luxury and
craftsmanship Bentley has to offer.
With the Bentayga EWB, the British brand
will target obvious markets such as China and the Middle East, though a fair
share of them will probably find a home in the United States too. Expect the
range-topping Bentayga to debut sometime in 2021.