Bentley Bentayga V8 Diesel is the first Bentley diesel – is there a good cause?

There’s no easy way to say this – whereas the Bentayga is the first Bentley SUV, the Bentley Bentayga V8 Diesel is the first Bentley… with a diesel engine.  Gulp.

Low-rev high-torque

Sure, part of the Bentley driving experience is a low-revving engine with big old torque, but usually gets a V8 turbo or W12 to do that.  Now, ironically, the low-rev high-torque characteristics so typical of a turbodiesel engine finds a (previously thought unlikely) suitable place in a Bentley.

Triple-charged

The 4.0 V8 engine is triple-charged:  its 2 turbochargers are joined by 1 electric compressor.  This diesel engine is good for 320 which it makes at that low-revving 3750-5000 rpm, and a proper 900 Nm peaking at just 1000 revs, which it maintains until 3250.  By comparison, the 6.0 Bentayga W12 petrol turbo engine makes 447kW and also 900Nm.

“The world’s most powerful diesel”.  Hold on, Bentley – this is not the most powerful diesel engine in an SUV – it is the same engine and same output as the SQ7 TDI, by co-owned brand, Audi.  Fair enough – it shares the top podium.

London to Bordeaux on 1 tank

Despite a kerb weight (empty SUV, without people or expensive luggage) of 2499kg for the Bentayga V8 Diesel, its claimed to be able to sprint a 4.8-second time to 100 km/h.  The top speed is 270 km/h (short of the W12’s 4.1-sec and 301 km/h, but still fast for such a big high heavy vehicle).

So a diesel should also be efficient, right?  The company spec sheet shows 7.9 l/100 km, combined.  New clean technology gives the Bentayga V8 Diesel the lowest carbon-dioxide emissions of any Bentley (210 g/km) and efficiency gives it a potential range of over 1000 km.  This means owners can hop from London to Verbier in Bordeaux, France, on 1 tank of diesel.  Convenient.

V8 Diesel signs

How to tell the diesel apart?  The badge on the front just above the door side moulding reads “V8 DIESEL”, the exhaust outlets are in a new “twin-quad” design, while the grille is in black matrix instead of the brightwork, though still has the chrome outline and central bar (vertical split line).

Is there a good cause for a diesel Bentley?

Is there a demand for a diesel Bentley?  What is the business case for putting a diesel in a Bentley, other than the aforementioned long-range travel?  Is it to drive it more without the inconvenience of having to fill it up?  A diesel usually makes sense in an SUV, but what if this diesel (despite its class-leading outputs) is slower than the bigger W12 petrol?  The Range Rover buyer is given a TDV8 or Supercharged V8 petrol option, so it does make sense to offer the upper-luxury SUV buyer a fuel choice.

If you want a Bentley with an engine that is actually closer to the old-school low-rev high-torque driving style, as found in the Mulsanne (with its 6-and-¾-litre V8 turbo petrol) yet not in the 4.0 V8 nor 6.0 W12, then the V8 Diesel is the one to bring it back.

While the Bentayga W12 is already in South Africa, the V8 Diesel is not confirmed.