TORQUE TALK
Providing it is refined enough a powerful, torque-rich turbo-diesel is a natural partner for a big, heavy SUV, even if it makes the Bentayga V8 diesel 32kg heavier than its W12 petrol-engined sister. The diesel has bespoke control software for its air suspension, active damping and active anti-roll bars aimed at giving it the slightly softer character that Bentley thinks will best suit its clientele. The VW Group’s ‘triple charged’ 4.0 litre V8, which uses its 48-volt electrical system to provide initial boost while the two mechanical turbochargers spool up is very refined indeed and offers crisp throttle response and copious torque from just off idle. It is even quite sporty sounding when working hard. As you would expect, the diesel engine is far more efficient, returning an average fuel consumption of just 8.0 L/100km (35.3 mpg), versus 13.1 L/100km (21.6 mpg) for the W12 petrol version. And so the first heavy oil burning model in the illustrious history of the Bentley marque arrives with minimal downside in real world performance, but a substantial saving of around £26,000 in the UK and a huge advantage at the fuel pumps. Also used in the Audi Q7 and Cayenne S, this turbo-diesel has been suitably fettled by the Bentley engineers and ends up a perfect match for their super luxury offroader. It does all this with exactly the same silky smooth eight-speed automatic as the W12 version.
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