The Bentley Bentayga can go faster than any other production SUV available on the planet right now, but there’s plenty of performance and luxury on offer from other manufacturers, and more to come, too, from the likes of Range Rover, Rolls-Royce, Lamborghini and Porsche.
It’s rumoured to be named the Cullinan, and will likely be powered by a 600hp BMW V12. Its platform will be entirely new, and company insiders say it should offer “90 per cent” of the off-road ability of a Range Rover, which should be good enough for anyone. What we don’t know is what it will look like, when it will appear or how it will be received. But it’s definitely happening, and Bentley will be looking over its shoulder.
As quick to 100kph as the Bentayga, and not far short when it comes to maximum speed, the Turbo S is insanely fast. On the tarmac, it’s capable in almost any given situation, but is limited when it comes to off-road prowess. It’s also very Porsche inside – not that there’s anything wrong with that, it’s just that Bentley’s SUV interior trounces this and everything else out there.
The SVR’s design brief was basically to be able to tackle a racetrack in the morning and go mud plugging after lunch without changing its tyres. It pulls it off, too, with enormous grunt from the supercharged V8 donated by its Jaguar F-Type R cousin, and crushing on- and off-road abilities. The ride is harsher than the Bentayga’s, however, and its 260kph top speed is way off the Bentley’s 300kph.
Another SUV that’s perfect for the UAE’s market has been green-lit for production. It will arrive in 2018, powered by a twin-turbo V8. It’s being developed for serious off-road use, and will no doubt be wildly styled if the concept of 2012 is anything to go by. Overnight, it’s expected to double Lamborghini’s annual production numbers.
