Bentley Bentayga V8
BBC TopGear India|April 2018

It would be misleading to call this a downsized engine. A full-blooded V8 under that calm demeanour makes you want this Bentley

Girish Karkera
Bentley Bentayga V8
As most of us know, the car has been around since 2015 and created quite a furore for the wrong reasons when the good blokes from Crewe first presented the concept – EXP 9 F – at the 2012 Geneva motor show to preview its SUV intentions. Well, unlike most movies, the trailer was disappointing but the actual film wasn’t. With a much better looking design, the Bentayga did eventually what its makers had hoped it would do sell a lot more cars. In fact, it comprises nearly half of Bentley’s global sales and that says a lot.

Meanwhile, what we had in Austria was a Bentayga with an all-new petrol engine. The car was launched with nothing less than a W12, so in those terms, this engine maybe a down-size, but make no mistake... it is still a 4.0-litre V8. 542bhp. 770Nm. We are talking some serious numbers here, so the car had to be shown some respect. Especially since we had, obviously, snow to tackle here. Lots of it.

The engine is all new and a result of a collaboration between Bentley and sister company Porsche. So, the base hardware is the same including the part where the twin-scroll turbo sits inside the ‘V’ for better efficiency but engineers from ‘ol blighty took over for the calibration and tuning, which is something they know best of what Bentley’s customers would desire. This V8 can hit a maximum of 7200rpm. May not sound much but is in fact, the highest revving unit ever for a production Bentley.

Sorry to spoil it, but firing up the V8 isn’t the most dramatic part of this car. It is fairly loud, yes, but we’ve heard better. And there is a reason because while typical Bentley owners do love a “sporty” car, they still expect a certain level of refinement and sophistication and that includes the exhaust note. The V8 sounds glorious if you make it shriek but you would probably enjoy the orchestra more on the outside. Inside, it’s quiet.

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة April 2018 من BBC TopGear India.

ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة April 2018 من BBC TopGear India.

ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.

المزيد من القصص من BBC TOPGEAR INDIA مشاهدة الكل
The Next Great Family MPV?
BBC TopGear India

The Next Great Family MPV?

“Whoa, that’s a nice-looking Minivan!” Said no one ever.

time-read
6 mins  |
November 2024
MG COMET
BBC TopGear India

MG COMET

A LOT OF PEOPLE HAD THOUGHT THIS CAR TO BE COMPLETELY useless when it came out.

time-read
1 min  |
November 2024
BMW i7
BBC TopGear India

BMW i7

WHEN THE i7 PULLED INTO MY GARAGE AND PARKED ITSELF next to the Mercedes EQA and the MG Comet, it just struck me that this is how the future will be.

time-read
2 mins  |
November 2024
SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP
BBC TopGear India

SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP

McLaren's finest faces off Corvette's nat-asp swansong as the Brits and the Americans square up... in a Spanish playground. Expect fireworks

time-read
6 mins  |
November 2024
NEXT LEVEL
BBC TopGear India

NEXT LEVEL

Thought the 750S was fast? The McLaren P1's successor - the W1 is ready to spread its wings

time-read
6 mins  |
November 2024
MANUAL LABOUR
BBC TopGear India

MANUAL LABOUR

Two cars from opposite ends of the performance spectrum with one crucial thing in common...

time-read
5 mins  |
November 2024
PRO VS SLOW
BBC TopGear India

PRO VS SLOW

At last, we have our hands on the Valkyrie. But is its performance only accessible for the pros... or can anyone enjoy it?

time-read
5 mins  |
November 2024
THE OUTBURST OF OFFROADING
BBC TopGear India

THE OUTBURST OF OFFROADING

The high-volume market is a point of interest for all manufacturers here in India.

time-read
4 mins  |
November 2024
THE BATTLE OF CRUISER-COMMUTERS
BBC TopGear India

THE BATTLE OF CRUISER-COMMUTERS

WHO DOES THE BEST COMMUTER WORK WHILE NOT BEING A TRUE COMMUTER MOTORCYCLE?

time-read
7 mins  |
November 2024
LEAVING EVERYTHING ON THE TRACK
BBC TopGear India

LEAVING EVERYTHING ON THE TRACK

FT. YMRP ROUND 3 From being second, I DNF'd from the race on the last corner

time-read
4 mins  |
November 2024