Bentayga: Bentley's Fast, Luxurious First SUV

Competes with: Land Rover Range Rover, Porsche Cayenne Turbo

Looks like: A Bentley up front, generic luxury SUV in back

Drivetrain: 600-hp, 6.0-liter W-12; all-wheel drive; eight-speed automatic transmission

Hits dealerships: Early 2016

We knew it was coming. We knew it would have a hard-to-pronounce name. And now we know it’s going to be fast.

Bentley revealed the specifics of its first SUV, called the Bentayga, and they’re impressive. Lurking behind the trademark grille and headlights is an all-new 6.0-liter W-12 engine that the company says is rated at 600 horsepower and 663 pounds-feet of torque. Bentley claims it will reach 60 mph in just 4.0 seconds.

Right behind that claim, Bentley follows it with another in its press release, calling the Bentayga ” the world’s most powerful and fastest SUV.” However, Tesla revealed last week its upcoming Tesla X will hit the same mark in 3.8 seconds. Clearly this calls for a day at the drag strip.

Getting there will be a luxurious affair in the Bentayga. The handmade interior looks to be a step above even the automaker’s most recent sedans and coupes in terms of opulence. The second row can be outfitted for four with a center console or five with a bench seat, and that second row is fixed, separating it from the cargo area. There are 15 interior colors to choose from as well as a hands-free power tailgate.

If you are actually tailgating in the Bentayga — polo anyone? — there is an optional folding “event seat” that is trimmed in the same leather as the seats inside the SUV. There are also optional picnic boxes that fit into the cargo area outfitted with china, crystal, flatware and a blanket.

Getting to any picnic shouldn’t be a problem. The Bentayga comes with an air suspension with four different modes for off-road excursions. It can also be lowered to make it easier to get in and out.

Tech isn’t forgotten, and there is a slew of the latest on-road and safety features like adaptive cruise control with traffic assist that maintains speed with the car in front of you at various speeds. Parking the 202.4 inches of the Bentayga will be assisted by a 360-degree camera system and an available autonomous parking system. Inside there is an 8-inch touch-screen multimedia system for the driver and removable 10.2-inch Android tablet for passengers to surf the Internet.

Bentley has been testing not only the capabilities of the SUV but also the styling, and the final product seems to be a study in conservatism.

It clearly screams Bentley up front, but the profile is pretty standard fare for the luxury space except for the beefy haunch over the rear wheels. The backside is a bit subdued when compared to the front, but that’s the case with most of the Bentley lineup. Wheels range in size from 20 to 22 inches.

No pricing has been announced for the Bentayga, but we expect to learn how much this luxury SUV costs closer to its on-sale date in early 2016.

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