Currently reading: Bentley further hints at new long-wheelbase car ahead of reveal
Fifth car in Bentley’s line-up will be revealed on 10 May and is tipped to be new extended-wheelbase Bentayga

Bentley has released an image showing the spacious interior of its upcoming new model, widely tipped to be an extended-wheelbase version of its Bentayga SUV. 

It follows a short video, revealed by Bentley last week, that references a “long-awaited” new model that will add “an extra dimension of on-board wellness”. The video shows the inside of a rear door, seemingly longer than that fitted to the current Bentayga, illuminated in a dramatic shade of purple. 

The model, to be revealed on 10 May, would become the fifth in the Bentley Bentayga line-up, joining the standard V8 car, the V6 plug-in hybrid, the firmed-up Bentayga S and the range-topping Speed. 

Such a model would command a healthy premium over the standard Bentayga, which starts at £155,555.

Although the model is unconfirmed, Bentley said: “With an extra dimension of on-board wellness, the new model will sit in sumptuous comfort at the pinnacle of its range, and deliver a breadth of capabilities - and configurations - beyond anything previously offered.” 

It added that 24 billion possible configurations will be possible. It is not known if this will be available across the Bentley range.

As well as this, the new model will include the option to fit the Bentley Airline Seat. The Crewe firm claims this will be the “most advanced seat ever fitted to a car”, down to the 22-way adjustment it offers, along with other postural features.

An extended version of the Bentayga has been on the cards since 2016, when company bosses told Autocar that the model’s sales success had prompted internal discussion about various new derivatives

Mooted were a coupé version, a limited-edition high-performance model (which we now know as the W12-engined Bentayga Speed) and a long-wheelbase version, which has been testing in camouflage on public roads since 2020. 

The Bentayga, introduced in 2016, has quickly become the brand’s top-selling model, accounting for 37% of sales.

While Bentley is exploiting the success of its Bentayga model by launching a number of derivatives, it is also readying for a new era of electrification. It plans to release five electric cars from 2025 as part of its Beyond100 plan to become an electric-only carbon-neutral brand by 2030. 

Advertisement

Read our review

Car review

The big-in-every-way Bentley SUV lands. We assess the impact of this most luxurious of luxury SUVs, which has few direct rivals with which to compare

Will Rimell

Will Rimell
Title: Deputy news editor

Will is a journalist with more than eight years experience in roles that range from news reporter to editor. He joined Autocar in 2022 as deputy news editor, moving from a local news background where he cut his teeth.

In his current role as deputy news editor, Will’s focus is with Autocar and Autocar Business; he also manages Haymarket's aftermarket publication CAT.

Writing is, of course, a big part of his role too. Stories come in many forms, from interviewing top executives, reporting from car launches, and unearthing exclusives.

Join the debate

Comments
2
Add a comment…
wmb 1 May 2022

While it has been long in coming, IMHO, when you consider what the competition has to offer in terms of size, even a longer wheel base version will still not measure up to other in the field! The Cullinan, DBX, Range Rover, GLS and X7, while not all are direct competitors, offer more space and ambiance for their top tier clientele. Attempting to compete on size against full size SUVs, with a midsize platform will just not measure up to those in the higher class. This stretched version will no doubt be the Bentayga's starting point in its next generation. That said, unless Bentley introduces a full size SUV/CUV, in comparison to their competition, the Bentayga will always be the great thing that comes in a small package!

Peter Cavellini 29 April 2022

 Big in China?, ok, America to!