Say Hello To Bentley's First Ever Diesel Model

The Bentley Bentayga Diesel uses the 4.0-litre triple-boosted V8 first seen in the Audi SQ7, and is the company's first oil burner

Matt Robinson

Updated: 10 Oct 2024

Say Hello To Bentley's First Ever Diesel Model

The Bentley Bentayga is one of the most indulgent cars you can buy right now. Not only is it a big, heavy SUV festooned with luxuries, it also has just one gas guzzling engine option: a 600bhp, 6.0-litre W12. However, that big ol’ 12-banger has now been joined in the range by something that clobbers the environment a little less: a 4.0-litre V8 diesel.

It’s rather unimaginatively called the Bentley Bentayga Diesel, and it’s the company’s first ever oil-burner. It’s packing the same engine that debuted in the Audi SQ7, featuring a pair of conventional exhaust gas-driven turbos, supplemented an electric supercharger - powered by a 48-volt ‘sub system’ - to deal with boost at low revs.

As a result, the Bentayga makes peak torque (664lb ft, exactly the same as the W12) at just 1000rpm. And with 429bhp on tap, it’s decently quick: 0-62mph takes just 4.8 seconds, and it’ll hit 168mph, making it - according to Bentley - the fastest production diesel SUV in the world.

The official combined MPG figure is 35.8mpg, while those fat tailpipes will puff out 210g/km of CO2. In contrast, the W12 uber model manages just 21.6mpg, while letting out a considerable 296g/km of CO2.

Want one? You’ll need at least £135,800, about £25,000 less than the W12. Deliveries will kick off in Europe early next year.

Growing up on a diet of World Rally Championship highlights and lengthy Gran Turismo 2 sessions, a life in cars was as good as inevitable for Matt.

Comments

Surely if you have £135k, you can afford to run the W12. Why wouldn’t you buy the W12?

cough high petrol prices cough

Because triple turbos! :P

So you can go for longer without having to fill up, rich people can also be impatient

Hello, Bentley’s first ever diesel model! Nice to meet you.

now can you hide away, where no-one can see you. Thanks! Bye!

Nice to meet you too, sir.

The real question is why not just buy a Q7? Sure it doesn’t have the 10k clock in the dash but it does have leather. Lots of it too. Its basically just as good as the Bentayga…