Bentley Bentayga Extended Wheelbase Debuts With Heavenly Rear Seats
Quick question: what’s missing from the Bentley Bentayga? If your answer is a long-wheelbase variant, the British automaker now has you covered.
The goal with the Bentayga Extended Wheelbase is to provide the best rear cabin experience since the Mulsanne and build on record global sales of 14,659 units in 2021. Bentley expects the new model to account for up to 45 percent of all Bentaygas sold when it hits the market later this year.
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Supreme Comfort
Engineers have stretched the wheelbase and rear cabin space by an extra 180 mm, with an overall length of 5,322 mm. For maximum room and comfort, no third-row option is available here.
The definitive highlight is the new Bentley Airline Seat specification with 22-way adjustments plus world-first auto climate sensing system and postural adjustment technology. In Relax mode, the seat can recline to 40 degrees, while the passenger seat is motorized forwards and a beautifully leather-trimmed footrest deploys from the back of the front passenger seat. In Business Mode, the seat moves into its most upright position to make working on the go more comfortable.
The auto climate seat technology senses occupant temperature and surface humidity and then determines whether to apply heat, ventilation or both simultaneously. Isn’t that lovely? Meanwhile, the postural adjustment system automatically makes micro adjustments to the occupant’s seating position and pressure points by measuring pressure across the seat surface. According to Bentley, the system can apply 177 individual pressure changes across six fully independent pressure zones over a three-hour period.
New heated rear door and centre armrests, a separate air ionisation system that improves air quality, as well as exclusive stitching and trim further define the interior of the Bentayga Extended Wheelbase. Let’s not forget Bentley Diamond Illumination, which is part of the ambient lighting system and emits light through small perforations in the door trim.
With 24 billion trim combinations alone (and a total number of possible specifications running into the trillions), this marvellous cabin is capable of delivering the most individual Bentayga ever, Bentley claims.
Only the “Small” Engine
Bentley Dynamic Ride, the 48V active anti-roll control system introduced originally by the Bentayga, is naturally included as standard, providing the optimum balance between ultimate ride comfort and body control. Electronic All Wheel Steering increases stability at high speeds and manoeuverability at low speeds (by turning the rear wheels in the opposite direction of the front wheels), which results in a turning circle that is smaller than that of the regular Bentayga by 7 percent (11.8 m).
The only engine available with the Bentayga Extended Wheelbase is the 4.0-litre, twin-scroll turbocharged V8 that produces 542 horsepower and 568 pound-feet of torque. Acceleration from 0-100 km/h can be as quick as 4.6 seconds. For some unknown reason, no hybrid or W12-powered variant is planned, at least for now.
As for styling, the new front grille features a ‘Vertical Vane’ design similar to the Flying Spur, while the new polished 22-inch 10-spoke wheels add flair to the sides. The panoramic sunroof has been moved backwards by 125 mm so rear passengers can enjoy more natural light. Also, for the first time on a Bentley, power closing doors can be specified.
The Bentley Bentayga Extended Wheelbase will directly rival the Rolls-Royce Cullinan and Mercedes-Maybach GLS. Pricing and availability for Canada have yet to be announced.