The Bentley Bentayga Speed took a short nap after the W-12 engine was discontinued in 2024. You might call it a power nap, as the most powerful Bentayga is back for the 2026 model year with 15 more horsepower than before; it wasn’t a torque nap, though, as max twist is down 37 pounds-feet.
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The Alternative Is Not Bentayga Sloth
Nevertheless, with a 641-hp, twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V-8 engine generating 627 pounds-feet of torque, the new Speed is said to accelerate from 0-60 mph in 3.4 seconds. That’s 99 hp and 59 pounds-feet more than the non-Speed Bentayga. It’s also 0.4 second quicker than Bentley claimed for the previous Speed and a full second quicker than the regular V-8 Bentayga. Top speed is said to increase 3 mph from the last Bentayga Speed, to 193 — 13 mph faster than the non-Speed Bentayga.
Rear-wheel steering is standard on the Speed, and while the springs and dampers themselves don’t change, the software controlling them does. Bentley boasts that the dampers are 15% stiffer in Sport mode than a regular Bentayga’s. Additionally, a new Dynamic setting for stability control allows for on-throttle slip angle, meaning Bentayga drivers can try to drift but the software will try to save them when they lift off the gas. There’s also a new launch control mode that contributes to this Speed being quicker than its W-12 predecessor.
Standing Apart While Disappearing Into the Distance
Darkened exterior brightwork, including the head- and taillight bezels, distinguishes the Speed from slower Bentaygas, and a black roof is available with certain paint colors. Chromed bits inside the cabin are also darkened, and the Speed gets a unique design for its digital instrument cluster, as well as Speed badging and seatback embroidery. There’s also an exclusive color split for the Speed’s two-tone leather interior, adding to the five two-tone combinations available to buyers of the regular Bentayga.
Buyers who opt for the carbon-ceramic brakes unlock access to the optional 23-inch wheels, a first for Bentley. With either the standard or carbon-ceramic brakes, seven caliper colors are available. A sport exhaust, available on the regular Bentayga, is standard on the Speed, and a titanium setup from Slovenian aftermarket manufacturer Akrapovic is optional.
Release Date and Pricing
The new 2026 Bentayga Speed is available to configure now on the Bentley website, but the brand hasn’t specified what it will cost. Based on the premium Bentley charged for the last Speed, expect pricing to start around $280,000.
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