The name Bentley is synonymous with opulence as these luxury marques carry themselves with a sense of grace. After a road trip in the new Bentley Bentayga Diesel to Uva Mira Mountain Vineyards, where space and silence roam free on the slopes of the Helderberg Mountain Range, Wilhelm Loots discovered that the new addition to the Bentley legacy adds a new dimension to the ultimate luxuries of life – space and silence.
The Cape winelands are replete with routes and byways to surprise and delight the most seasoned road tripper, but none are as well suited for testing the most luxurious SUV in the world than a trip over Helshoogte and down the Banhoek valley towards Pniel, and on to Franschhoek before ascending the twisty Franschhoek Pass and dropping down to Theewaterskloof Dam, followed by a long sweeping arc past Villiersdorp towards the N2 and Sir Lowry’s Pass, before heading back towards Stellenbosch and our final destination, Uva Mira Mountain Vineyards. It is the road oft’ travelled by those in the know because the experience is always different, depending on the time of day, the weather, the stops along the way and, of course, your steed of choice.
So, on a perfect sun soaked winter’s day, our steed of choice was the Bentley Bentayga Diesel, the first diesel model in the history of Bentley, and arguably the most efficient and silent diesel ever created. At the heart of the fastest and most powerful luxury diesel SUV in the world beats an engineering marvel, an all-new, triplecharged, 4.0-litre, 32-valve V8 diesel engine. Developing 320 kW and 900 Nm of torque, the Bentayga Diesel is capable of a top speed of 270 km/h and can accelerate all of its 2.4 tons from 0-100 km/h in 4.8 seconds. Even more remarkable is the total lack of any of the usual irritations of diesel engines – noise, vibration, and pollution.
New clean technology ensures the lowest CO2 emissions of any Bentley, as well as a range of over 1,000 km, which would allow you to drive from Johannesburg to Port Elizabeth, on a single tank … in virtual silence as the V8, much like a petrol engine, imparts only a sonorous and reassuring hum when summoned.
Equally impressive is an all-new chassis system with self-levelling air suspension that takes ride comfort to new levels of comfort and control, with dedicated offroad modes for snow, sand, grass, and trails. A pioneering active anti-roll control system virtually eliminates body roll on the road and helps to accommodate undulations in road surface, meaning the Bentayga is as suited to a spirited drive along a mountain pass as it is to any offroad environment.
Designed, engineered and handcrafted in the Bentley factory in Crewe, the styling of the Bentayga Diesel is pure Bentley. The exterior shows off an elegant, timeless execution, even if somewhat conservative, and thus hiding much of its athletic ability. Inside, the Bentayga Diesel continues the Bentley tradition of intricate detailing and fine, handcrafted precision using authentic materials. As such, you can specify hand cross-stitching, which highlights the interior styling lines of the seats and door panels, and you have a choice between a four-, five-, or seven-seat configuration, for ultimate versatility. The detailing in metal, wood, and leather represents the epitome of modern British luxury, along with a number of unique styling additions, including a new Liquid Amber veneer introduced with the Bentayga Diesel.
A true Bentley, the Bentayga Diesel combines unparalleled luxury with exceptional ability, off-road performance, and everyday usability, unrestrained by climate or terrain.
