Bentley Bentayga debuts in India at Rs 3.85 crore, gets over 100 bookings

Bentley Motors unveiled its new Bentayga, the world’s first super luxury SUV, in New Delhi today and is all set for a commercial rollout of the model in the Indian market.

Even before its launch, the Bentley Bentayga has received three-digit bookings over the last six months in India with the first delivery to start within two weeks. Buyers will have to wait for around five months to get delivery as each Bentley car is handcrafted at its production base in Crewe England.

Priced at Rs 3.85 crore ex-showroom, the super luxury SUV is powered by an all-new 6.0-litre twin-turbocharged W12 petrol engine coupled with an eight-speed automatic transmission, making the Bentayga the fastest and most powerful SUV in the world according to Bentley. The luxury SUV is EU6 and US LEV III-emission compliant and accelerates from 0-100kph in 4.0 seconds. The supercar has a maximum speed of 187mph/301kph and delivers an urban fuel efficiency of 19.2 litres per 100km.

On the outside, the design bears resemblance to other new Bentley models – most notably, the grille and headlamps while the car also features prominent haunches and skid plates. The SUV sits atop massive 22-inch alloy wheels.

Inside, high-quality materials have been used extensively. The dashboard design reflects the wings of the Bentley badge, flowing from door to door. A ‘floating’ driver info panel with bright mineral glass used for the screen, speaker grilles behind a fine metal mesh, intricate knurling on switchgear and new diamond-quilted seats with up to 22-way adjustment are some of the other highlights.

Mechanically, the Bentayga gets a new air suspension with adjustable ride height and damping and active roll bars to keep the SUV riding flat. The car also gets a braking system that mimics a locking differential.

Powering the behemoth from Bentley is a 6.0-litre twin-turbo W12 motor developing 608hp and an enormous 900Nm of torque with maximum torque available from as low as 1350rpm. Power is channelled to all four wheels via an eight-speed automatic gearbox. Bentley claims a 0-100kph time of just 4 seconds and a top speed of 301kph.

Designed, engineered and handcrafted in Crewe, the Bentayga has been styled according to the Bentley touch. With four round LED headlamps and a large matrix grille adding to the distinctive power line and muscular haunches, the Bentley DNA is apparent throughout.

Globally, Bentley is bullish on selling 2,600 units of the Bentayga in 2016 and around 3,000 units annually. The carmaker has 200 dealers in 55 countries currently. In India it has a showroom each in Delhi and Mumbai, both with a service centre, with a third coming up at Hyderabad within the next two months.

Satya Bagla, managing director of Exclusive Motors which retails Bentley cars in India, said at the launch that at present India has a 250-unit supercar market in a price bracket of Rs 2.5 crore and above. “India is aggressively growing in the luxury automobile space. With the arrival of the Bentayga, Bentley will set a benchmark for the SUV segment in India and the world will see craftsmanship of unsurpassable calibre applied to an SUV for the first time.”

According to him, sales of Bentley supercars in India are growing at 15 percent year on year and the luxury maker will add one showroom every year in the country.

Crewe, which is home to Bentley Motors, has production lines for the company’s three models – the Continental, Flying Spur and Mulsanne – and employs 3,800 people.

Bentley has allocated only 20 Bentaygas to India this year, with all 20 models are reportedly already sold out. The customers for these models are expected to be from amongst the current crop of Bentley owners and some select brand loyalists.