Con Crowley gets behind the wheel of Bentley's new luxury SUV the Bentayga
It’s a rather incongruous location for the showroom of the world’s number one luxury performance motor. Bentley Surrey is tucked around the back of an industrial corner of Byfleet. Blink and you might miss it.
Not the most auspicious setting you might think for the local showcasing of Bentley’s long awaited luxury SUV the Bentayga .
But while location, location, location might be the mantra for the world’s most luxurious property, it doesn’t make a ha’penny of a difference when it comes to the world’s most luxurious SUV, because when you sit high on its unblemished hide seats and engage its six litre engine this beauty will take you effortlessly anywhere in the world at unimaginable speeds and levels of comfort.
Granted this heavyweight doesn’t leave the ground, but it certainly flew through the Surrey countryside when local dealership H R Owen allowed a privileged gathering of local journalists a go behind the wheel.
Bentley describes the Bentayga as “the fastest most luxurious SUV in the World.” It will do 0-60 in 4.0 seconds and has a top speed of 187 mph. It starts in price at £160,000 but you wouldn’t want it without a list of extras that will add at least another £33,000, and nearer £80,000 if you opt for everything.
The kit is impressive. It has functions that correct your diving errors, scanning the road for possible collisions, alerting the driver and even, if necessary, applying the brakes for you.
If you are driving in town it will warn you of pedestrians, tell you whether a parking space is big enough and even automatically guide you in if you don’t feel confident about doing it by yourself.
Then there is its clever “heads up” display, which, as if by magic, appears on your windscreen telling you your speed and the current speed limit on the road you are driving along.
And this is all before you start to talk about its levels of comfort and luxury.
Made at Bentley’s Crewe factory, the Bentayga combines the German technology of the marque’s VW Audi owners with the handmade skills of its original coachbuilders.
The car is understandably proving popular. Notwithstanding its humble location on Oyster Lane, Byfleet, Bentley Surrey has already sold four since the Bentayga was launched in spring.
To be fair Byfleet is one of H R Owen’s top selling dealerships outside of London. It is strategically located in the heart of Bentley’s target market – the uber rich of Weybridge, Esher, Ascot and the Surrey Hills who are all just a rev away.
Brand ambassador at the showroom, Peter Matthews, says that it is actually a very fitting location for the dealership - on the edge Brooklands, the historic racing circuit where, in the early days of motorsport, the Bentley brand made its name.
“People forget that Bentley is very much about performance motoring. Our owners are looking not just for luxury and image, but also a vehicle that will drive well,” he says.
So sports coupés and SUVs are very much in the Bentley mould while he would argue its twin brand, Rolls Royce has traditionally been more about looks and luxury and chauffeur driven journeys.
But with the current worldwide market for evermore-luxurious SUVs showing no let up, Bentley will need to keep one eye over its shoulder. For even Rolls Royce is gearing up to enter the market with its own super luxury SUV out in 2018.
For more detailed information about the Bentayga visit bentleymotors.com
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