Bentley has revealed an updated version of the Bentayga Hybrid - the most popular model in its Bentayga luxury SUV range. The firm says this is the first of two plug-in models it will release in 2021.
The hybrid Bentayga joins the already facelifted versions of the standard 4.0-litre V8 powered Bentayga and the 626bhp 6.0-litre W12 engined Bentayga Speed, arriving with a six-cylinder petrol engine combined with a battery and electric motor system.
The powertrain goes unchanged from the previous version of the Bentayga Hybrid. The 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged V6 petrol engine and electric motor combination develop a maximum power output of 443bhp (335bhp from the engine and 126bhp from the electric motor) and 700Nm of torque.
Bentley hasn’t revealed any updated performance figures, so the Bentayga Hybrid should continue to do 0-62mph in 5.5 seconds and go on to a top speed of 158mph. 31 miles on electric power only is claimed thanks to a 17.3kWh battery, but that’s a figure using the old NEDC standard. When approved under WLTP, the 24 mile range of the pre-facelift car should remain.
A top speed of 84mph is possible without help from the petrol engine. EV Drive, Hybrid and Hold drive modes allow the driver to manually manage battery usage on the move, while a max charging rate of 7.2kW means a full top up can be achieved in two and a half hours.
The Bentayga Hybrid’s facelift majors on design and interior technology updates, as is the case for the rest of the Bentayga line-up. The exterior design is updated to fall in line with the brand’s latest design language. That means a taller, squarer front end with smaller headlights is joined by a totally revamped rear, where a new tailgate is found along with new elliptical lights.
Inside, the Bentayga Hybrid’s interior is updated with new material and trim options. There’s also a redesigned steering wheel, behind which sit fully digital instruments for the first time. The centre console has also been updated, and a new central infotainment screen sizing up at 10.9-inches now appears.
Five and four seat layouts are available. The five-seat layout benefits from a new rear bench frame that doubles the amount the rear seats can recline, while the four-seat layout with full size rear centre console has been redesigned for an additional 30mm of knee room.
The new Bentayga Hybrid will go on sale in China and the United States first before joining the rest of the UK line-up this summer, with prices likely to start from around £140,000.
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