Bentley Bentayga Hybrid finally goes on sale in Europe

It’s been 18 months since the Bentley Bentayga Hybrid broke cover. For eager European adopters, the hybrid luxury SUV, which is Bentley’s first electrified car, is finally available for purchase. Prices start from 133,100 pounds (RM688k) in the UK, 141,100 euros (RM646k) across Europe, and US$160,000 (RM671k) in the United States – all prices exclude taxes. Deliveries start sometime in Q4 2019 for Europe, with the US to follow in Q1 2020.

Now, just as a refresher, the Bentayga Hybrid is powered with a new 3.0 litre turbocharged V6 petrol engine that makes 340 PS and 450 Nm of torque, married to an electric motor that makes 128 PS (94 kW) and 350 Nm of torque. Combined, the petrol-electric hybrid system produces 449 PS and 700 Nm of torque, enough to send the 3,250-kg tank from 0-100 km/h in 5.5 seconds before maxing out at 254 km/h.

It’s capable of cruising in pure EV mode as well. With an integrated 17.3 kWh lithium-ion battery pack, the SUV offers a zero emissions range of 39 km (based on the WLTP cycle, 51 km on NEDC standards), and a full charge when plugged into a 120-volt domestic household socket will take approximately 7.5 hours. Customers with a 240-volt industrial connection installed can reduce the charge time to 2.5 hours.

Thus equipped, the Bentayga Hybrid boasts a combined driving range of 747 km, an average fuel consumption of 3.5 litres per 100 km (WLTP standards), and CO2 emissions of 79 grammes per km. As with any Bentley models, the SUV can be customised however the customer sees fit, from trim choices and upholstery material to go with the usual array of posh accoutrements. Each handcrafted Bentayga Hybrid requires 130 hours to build in Crewe, England.

Safety-wise, it’s equipped with Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) and Traffic Assist, Traffic Sign Recognition, Park Assist, Electronic Night Vision and a head-up display. The eight-inch touchscreen infotainment system features a 60 GB hard drive – it supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionalities, including up to 30 pre-installed languages.