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In cars, the driver often gets priority. How does the vehicle drive? How fast is it? Manual or automatic? There are endless questions.
But the new Bentley Bentayga Extended Wheelbase (EWB) turns this idea on its head, as this British-built four-seater 4×4 is designed to pamper chauffeur-driven passengers in the back – evoking the luxury of first-class air travel.
This is because this week the brand celebrated a record sales of 15,174 cars in 2022 (over 15,000 for the first time). Riding on 22-inch, 10-inch wire wheels, the car is stretched an extra 7 inches compared to the standard Bentayga wheelbase – all added to the rear cabin.
Stretch out: Bentley’s extended Bentayga SUV is focused on passenger comfort
Little effort is required even to get in: the rear doors open automatically at the push of a button.
Bentley says the two reclining airplane-style rear seats are the most advanced ever fitted to a car, with 22 positions for adjustment and postural massages. You can adjust your seat manually or choose one of three fixed configurations.
Footrests extend electronically from behind the front passenger seats, and there are clever fold-down veneered picnic tables.
My variant even had a rear console between the two rear seats containing a bottle cooler for champagne, plus two hand-crafted Cumbria Crystal flutes.
A ski hatch to the boot between the two rear seats is ideal if you’re heading to the Alps this season.
Willing family guinea pigs tried out the experience in motion while I played driver. And from them it was a smug thumbs up all around.
Driving is also fun and engaging. Powered by a 542PS 4-litre twin-turbocharged V8 petrol engine, mated to an eight-speed automatic gearbox, it accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in just 4.5 seconds and up to 160 km/h where legal, in 10 seconds, with a top speed of 180 mph.
It’s smooth in comfort mode, more engaging in standard Bentley mode and has plenty of grit in sport mode. Electronic four-wheel steering eats corners.
But fly first class and you’ll pay prices to match – an eye-watering £211,300 in this case, including £32,000 in extras.
The price is roughly 15 percent above the equivalent standard-wheelbase Bentayga.
New seat technology with automatic climate control senses the temperature and humidity of the surface and applies heat, ventilation or both simultaneously as needed to provide occupants with ‘optimum thermal well-being’.
Each seat automatically senses pressure across the surface and makes small adjustments to seating position and pressure points to maximize comfort and minimize fatigue.
My Azure luxury trim included a unique 22-inch 10-spoke steering wheel, brightly colored lower bumper grilles, custom Azure embroidery and badging, padded seats, ambient lighting, a heated steering wheel, and a host of driver assistance and safety features.
This British-built four-seater 4×4 is designed to pamper passengers with a driver in the back
Riding on 22-inch, 10-inch spoked wheels, the car is stretched an additional 7 inches compared to the standard Bentayga wheelbase
Powered by a 542PS 4-litre twin-turbocharged V8 petrol engine mated to an eight-speed automatic gearbox, it accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in just 4.5 seconds
It’s smooth in comfort mode, more engaging in standard Bentley mode and has plenty of attitude in sport mode
But fly first class and you’ll pay prices to match – in this case an eye-watering £211,300, including £32,000 in extras
Extras included aircraft seat spec (£8,395), four seat spec (£2,790). The Naim for Bentley sound system (£6,860), Mulliner drink cooler kit (£4,800) and privacy glass (£1,000).
My luxurious interior also included the Bentley Diamond Illumination option (£1,810) which provides cabin lighting through handcrafted perforated leather.
Bentley announced its record sales results this week, saying: ‘Continued demand for SUVs ensured that Bentayga remained Bentley’s number one model, with more sales in its sixth year of sales than ever before, accounting for 42 percent of total sales and establishing itself as the most successful luxury SUV in the world.”
This included a ‘strong order book for hybrid and extended wheelbase (EWB) models’.
Bentley Motors Chairman and CEO Adrian Hallmark said: “The Bentayga Extended Wheelbase is our first car truly dedicated to the well-being of its occupants on board.
“Each Bentley will take you to your destination feeling more relaxed than when you started your journey, yet with the Extended Wheelbase we are able to go even further thanks to the application of the world’s first wellness technology embedded in our unparalleled interior design.’
He added, “In what was another year of unpredictability, the company overcame significant headwinds and showed great resilience to deliver its third consecutive year of record sales.”
Teslas achieve the highest safety scores in crash tests
Two electric Teslas achieved the highest crash test safety scores in their category, EuroNCAP experts revealed. The Model S is the top car and the Model Y the safest small off-roader.
From China, the new electric Ora Funky Cat achieved the highest safety award for small family cars, while the Wey Coffee 01 triumphed in the large off-road category.
The Model S (pictured) is the top car and the Model Y the safest small off-roader
Korea’s Hyundai Ioniq 6 won the best-in-class award in the large family car category, achieving an “exceptional” 97 percent for adult occupant protection.
EuroNCAP said: ‘Tesla has made a huge impact on the European car market because of its design, ethos and safety performance. Model S and Model Y both achieved the highest 98 percent safety support score of any vehicle.”
Suzuki premieres the battery-powered compact SUV
Suzuki has previewed its electric future with the world premiere of a prototype battery-powered compact SUV.
The eVX will go on sale within two years
The Japanese automaker said: “The eVX combines Suzuki’s strong 4×4 DNA with the advanced features of the latest battery electric vehicles.”
Suzuki has previewed its electric future with the world premiere of a prototype battery-powered compact SUV
It is planned to be on the market by 2025. With an exterior designed to be instantly recognizable as a Suzuki SUV, it aims to carry on the brand’s 4×4 legacy into a new electric era.
It was launched this week at Auto Expo 2023 in Delhi, India, by the company’s president, Toshihiro Suzuki, who said: ‘Tackling global warming is a priority. We promote a range of global measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. That’s why I’m excited to unveil the eVX, our first global strategic EV.”
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