Bentley's Bentayga Speed: The beast in a Savile Row suit

There’s something fundamentally contradictory about a fast SUV. It’s a paradox, a rolling oxymoron – like a cathedral on roller skates. But then, Bentley has always excelled at reshaping contradictions into marvels of automotive engineering. And when the British marque calls a new Bentayga the “most dynamic and exhilarating” ever, it warrants a closer look.

When the original Bentayga launched in 2015, it was a fusion of Crewe’s time-honoured craftsmanship with performance figures that nudged into supercar territory. Then came the first Bentayga Speed, powered by a mighty W12, which took that formula and turned up the heat, pushing the boundaries of what a luxury SUV could be. Now, with this new V8-powered Bentayga Speed, Bentley dials it up even further – sharpening the performance, enhancing the dynamics, and promising a more visceral, more exhilarating experience than ever before.

Beneath the bonnet is a reworked 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8, good for a staggering 650 horses and 850 Nm of torque. That makes it the fastest Bentayga ever built, capable of catapulting from 0-100 km/h in just 3.6 seconds, on its way to a staggering 310 km/h. Wrap your head around that for a moment. This is a full-sized, leather-swathed, wood-trimmed, family-lugging SUV with the aerodynamic grace of a brick, and yet it’ll embarrass sports cars at the lights.

It’s important, though, to temper that excitement with perspective. Speeds like this are, frankly, ludicrous for everyday use – especially in a car that might carry kids in the back, groceries in the boot, and perhaps even a golden retriever in between. The average school run or mall dash doesn’t require 650 horses under the hood or drift angles calibrated by ESC Dynamic. But in a controlled environment – say, a private track day or an empty stretch of mountain switchbacks – the Bentayga Speed would be a revelation. It’s less about outright velocity and more about how Bentley delivers it: with poise, control, and that all-important sense of occasion.

Where the previous W12 engine was buttery smooth and almost stealthy in its delivery, this new V8 will be more vocal, more eager. Based on Bentley’s past calibrations, the standard sports exhaust system is likely to inject a welcome dose of theatre – expect a raspy growl on startup that builds to a rich, mechanical snarl under hard acceleration. And for those who crave even more auditory drama, the optional Akrapovic titanium system should allow the Bentayga to bark with operatic intent through its quad tailpipes, amplifying the V8’s character with every prod of the throttle.

But the real transformation lies beneath the surface. A revised Sport mode stiffens the suspension, sharpens steering response, and, when combined with optional carbon ceramic brakes and rear-wheel steering, promises to make this two-and-a-half-tonne SUV feel exceptionally agile. Torque vectoring by brake, ESC Dynamic programming with launch control, and the ability to induce on-throttle slip angles might sound like jargon, but on the road, all this is sure to translate to a machine that’s startlingly responsive to the driver’s touch.

Visually, the Speed sets itself apart with dark-tinted chrome, unique 22- or optional 23-inch wheels, and subtle Speed badging. Inside, it’s a masterclass in Bentley luxury, with the added flourish of Speed-exclusive trim, quilted leather, and that unmistakable blend of old-world charm and cutting-edge tech.

It’s a paradox, yes. A contradiction on wheels. But just like its W12 predecessor, the new Bentayga Speed isn’t here to make sense – it’s here to make a statement. A thunderous, unapologetic declaration of power, performance, and prestige. And when that statement comes wrapped in handcrafted luxury, hurling two and a half tonnes of British craftsmanship towards the horizon at warp speed, reason takes a back seat – and exhilaration takes the wheel.

Bentley Bentayga Speed: Fast Facts

• Engine: 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8

• Power: 650PS (641bhp)

• Torque: 850Nm

• 0–100kph: 3.6 seconds

• Top speed: 310kph – fastest Bentayga ever

Sony Thomas is a senior automotive journalist