2022 Bentley Bentayga S is Sportier and Louder

Published on May 25, 2021 in New Models by Louis-Philippe Dubé

The super-luxurious Bentley Bentayga has been steadily growing in popularity since its launch, and while the British marque doesn’t always blend its renowned luxury appeal with high performance looks, it now intends to do so with a new S version of this posh SUV.

Meet the Bentley Bentayga S, a performance-enhanced variant of the Bentayga V8.

This newcomer keeps the original nuts & bolts under the hood, with the 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 cranking out a healthy 542 horsepower and 568 pound-feet of torque. However, the S will tackle corners much better thanks to Bentley’s 48-volt-powered active roll technology.

Of course, you can fit this technology on your “normal” Bentayga V8 for a fee, but it is standard fare on the S. For even more fun, it comes with a new “Enhanced Sport Mode” which will curate the usual recipe by improving steering feel, throttle response, turn-in dynamics and stability. But it will also dial in 15% increase in damping stiffness.

For those who are brave enough to take the Bentayga off-road, the All-Terrain Specification option on the S deploys a choice of six available off-road modes along with a 19.6-inch wading depth, just so their loafers don’t get wet.

Outside, bystanders can indulge in the best of the Bentley’s V8 soundtrack thanks to a new sports exhaust system which makes the S louder and delivers “enhanced character.”

A Meaner-Looking Bentayga

At first glance, you will notice that this Bentayga looks sportier than the base V8 model. A new 22-inch wheel design is on the menu, letting buyers choose from gloss black, “black and bright” and silver tones. The multiple exterior chrome accents have been blacked out, including the mirrors and the door sills. A dark tint was also applied to the headlights/taillights. Gloss black lower bumper grilles and black-painted exhaust tips complete the look.

In this segment, “Sport” always rhymes with Alcantara. This material was applied to parts of the seats, the gear lever, the steering wheel, and the headliner. The S badging is applied and embroidered in key places for a distinctive look. On a more practical note, the digital instrument cluster’s design resembles that of a Swiss chronograph.

Canadian pricing has yet to be announced, but the 2021 Bentley Bentayga V8 starts at just over $200,000.