Bentley have partially demoted their V8 engine in a bid to lower emissions and to avoid any costly fines and penalties for failing to meet EU CO2 targets. While the UK has left the EU, Bentley is very much still part of the federation. And to appease the powers that be the V8 is replaced with a V6 plugin hybrid. Bentley’s marketing team did a very good job of hiding the product downsizing and the communications team wrote high-quality jibberish in order to distract anyone who ever bothers to read a press release in its entirety. Welcome to the world of marketing folks.
Nevertheless, here’s what we managed to prize away from the cantankerous press release for the new V6-powered Bentley Hybrid model derivative. The Bentley Bentayga S Hybrid and Bentayga Azure Hybrid models are two new additions means that 50 per cent of the complete Bentley model range – seven models out of 14 – are now available with a Hybrid powertrain.
Riding on 22-inch alloy wheels, the Bentley S Hybrid’s combined output of 462 PS (456 bhp), the 3.0-litre TFSI V6 petrol engine and 100 kW electric motor-generator can power the Bentayga S Hybrid from zero to 62 miles an hour (100 km/h) in just 5.3 seconds, with a top speed of 158 mph (254 km/h).
The interior features a combination of Crewe’s flawlessly crafted hide and the tactile, nubbed finish of Dinamica, a subtle tribute to its use in motorsport. It is offered in a choice of colour splits.
The Bentayga’s new battery delivers E-Motor performance increases and enhanced range targeting 27 miles on electric power alone. The Bentayga S Hybrid features a stiffer chassis, a reprogrammed and more dynamic SPORT mode, and enhanced sports exhaust.
Bentayga Azure Hybrid utilizes the same powertrain and chassis minus the S suffix. The Azure model derivative focuses on wellness and maximum comfort, with a focus on specifications and technology to ease every journey such as digital acoustic sound deadening and double-glazed windows.
Bentley has yet to reveal the price for the new V6-powered hybrid model, of course they know but as usual they will wait for the next press release cycle to reveal all. The Bentley Hybrid S and Azure are scheduled to begin retail sales in Q1 2022.
