Passenger cars use diesel fuel to cover long distances inexpensively. Heavy-duty trucks use it to carry and tow heavy loads. The new Bentley Bentayga Diesel uses it to haul ass.
The first ever diesel Bentley pumps that fuel through a triple-charged – yes, triple-charged – direct-injected 4.0-liter V8. That’s connected to a pair of variable-geometry twin-scroll turbos and an electric supercharger that’s designed to eliminate turbo lag. All of that engine gadgetry generates 429 bhp and 664 lb-ft of torque. When all of that power is put to the road at once, 60 mph comes in 4.6 seconds. The speedo pegs at 168 mph. Those numbers mean the Bentayga Diesel is not as quick as its W12-powered brother, but it is the world’s fastest diesel SUV, according to Bentley. Plus, it has a range of more than 621 miles.
Visually, the Bentayga Diesel is set apart from the gas-powered Bentayga by a V8 Diesel badge on the front doors, a chrome-ringed black matrix grille, and new “twin-quad” exhaust outlets. Inside, a newly available Liquid Amber veneer makes its debut. The Bentayga Diesel can also be fitted with the Mulliner Hamper Set, which includes a refrigerator, bespoke cutlery, crockery, and crystal glass, and a mechanical Mulliner Tourbillon by Breitling clock. It can be specified with either a solid rose or white gold case and a mother-of-pearl or ebony face trimmed with eight diamond markers.
Customers in Europe will start receiving deliveries of the Bentley Bentayga Diesel in early 2017. Buyers in Russia, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, and Taiwan will get theirs later in the year.
Derek Shiekhi's father raised him on cars. As a boy, Derek accompanied his dad as he bought classics such as post-WWII GM trucks and early Ford Mustang convertibles.
After loving cars for years and getting a bachelor's degree in Business Management, Derek decided to get an associate degree in journalism. His networking put him in contact with the editor of the Austin-American Statesman newspaper, who hired him to write freelance about automotive culture and events in Austin, Texas in 2013. One particular story led to him getting a certificate for learning the foundations of road racing.
While watching TV with his parents one fateful evening, he saw a commercial that changed his life. In it, Jeep touted the Wrangler as the Texas Auto Writers Association's "SUV of Texas." Derek knew he had to join the organization if he was going to advance as an automotive writer. He joined the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) in 2014 and was fortunate to meet several nice people who connected him to the representatives of several automakers and the people who could give him access to press vehicles (the first one he ever got the keys to was a Lexus LX 570). He's now a regular at TAWA's two main events: the Texas Auto Roundup in the spring and the Texas Truck Rodeo in the fall.
Over the past several years, Derek has learned how to drive off-road in various four-wheel-drive SUVs (he even camped out for two nights in a Land Rover), and driven around various tracks in hot hatches, muscle cars, and exotics. Several of his pieces, including his article about the 2015 Ford F-150 being crowned TAWA's 2014 "Truck of Texas" and his review of the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider, have won awards in TAWA's annual Excellence in Craft Competition. Last year, his JK Forum profile of Wagonmaster, a business that restores Jeep Wagoneers, won prizes in TAWA’s signature writing contest and its pickup- and SUV-focused Texas Truck Invitational.
