Bentley Bentayga S squeezes in between the V8 and Speed

While a 2.5 ton SUV cannot be called sporty, Bentley is making a successful go at it, and decided to offer their mammoth Bentayga in another flavour. The Bentayga S joins the luxury SUV range as a sportier middle ground between the base V8 Bentayga and the full-blown Bentayga Speed V12.

Let us address the elephant in the room. We all know that the rules of physics are not for automakers to disprove. And physics dictates that a colossal SUV like the Bentayga is not going to be a ballet dancer around corners but Bentley gives a shot at it anyway. The Bentayga S features a Bentley Dynamic Ride system, a 48-volt tech bit that can apply up to 1,300 Nm of torque in less than 0.3 seconds to counteract body roll.

Adding to this, Bentley Bentayga S also gets a Sport driving mode that improves steering feel, throttle response, and suspension stiffness. A performance exhaust system comes as standard too.

The Bentley Bentayga S gets its power from the same 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 shared with the Bentayga V8. The power and torque outputs remain the same at 542 hp and 770 Nm respectively. The sprint from 0 to 100 kph is taken care of in just over 4.5 seconds. The massive SUV can hit speeds up to 290 kph.

Numerous visual upgrades give the Bentayga S the sporty flair it needs to stand out. These include blacked-out door mirrors and side sills, tinted lights, a significant spoiler at the rear as well as oval exhaust tips.

Expect the new model to reach showrooms this summer.

For prices and specs, visit the Bentley car buyer guide.