2026 Bentley Bentayga Speed drops the W12, gains a 641-hp V8 and quicker reflexes
The Bentley Bentayga celebrates its 10th anniversary this year, and Crewe is marking the milestone with a serious mechanical update to its performance flagship. For 2026, the Bentayga Speed retires its hallmark 6.0-liter W12 in favor of a significantly enhanced 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8—one that still claims the title of quickest, fastest, and most agile Bentayga yet, at least on paper.
Powertrain and Performance
Bentley’s latest “high-powered” V8 delivers 650 PS (641 hp) and 627 lb-ft of torque, available from 2,250 to 4,500 rpm. The figures edge out the previous V8 S and even surpass the 626 hp of the outgoing W12, though torque drops slightly from the twelve-cylinder’s 664 lb-ft. On the road, however, the gains are clear: 0–60 mph is dispatched in a claimed 3.4 seconds, with top speed stretching to 193 mph. A standard sports exhaust ensures the V8 makes its presence known, while an optional titanium Akrapovič setup trades the oval finishers for four pipes and sharpens the soundtrack further.
Chassis, Brakes, and New Dynamic Tricks
The Bentayga’s improvements go well beyond raw acceleration. A revised SPORT mode now firms the air suspension by 15 percent, sharpens steering inputs, and leans more aggressively on brake-based torque vectoring. Newly available rear-wheel steering cuts the turning circle for easier maneuvering in tight spaces while boosting stability at highway speeds.
The stability control system also gains a new ESC Dynamic setting, loosening its grip enough to allow genuine power-on oversteer—remarkable in an SUV tipping the scales at over 5,500 pounds. Launch Control makes its debut on the Bentayga as well. For those chasing maximum stopping power, optional carbon-ceramic brakes shed 44 pounds versus iron rotors, enable fitment of upsized 23-inch wheels, and can be paired with calipers finished in seven different colors.
Design: Subtle Tweaks Rather Than a Redraw
At first glance, the 2026 Bentayga Speed appears little changed, carrying over the upright grille and oval taillights introduced in the 2021 facelift. Look closer, though, and the details sharpen the picture: darker brightwork, smoked headlamp internals, and grey-tinted rear lenses subtly dial back the chrome. Speed badging on the front doors, a choice of gloss or satin black roof panels, and exclusive 22- or 23-inch wheels further distinguish the range-topper, even if the silhouette remains instantly recognizable as a Bentayga.
Interior: Quilting, Contrast and a Few New Touches
Inside, the Speed specification brings a Precision Diamond quilt to the seat shoulders and door panels, paired with a darker secondary hide that sets a more purposeful tone. Customers can opt for traditional chrome or a new dark-tint finish on the signature bullseye vents and organ-stop pulls, while illuminated treadplates and bespoke digital cluster graphics reinforce the Speed identity. On the tech front, wireless Apple CarPlay, wired Android Auto, and the usual suite of connected services remain unchanged, meaning the updates here focus more on design details and material choices than on new hardware.
Position in the Lineup
With the W12 retired, the new Speed now crowns the Bentayga lineup, sitting above the V8 S and the plug-in Hybrid. The Continental GT and Flying Spur continue to offer twelve cylinders—for the moment—but in Bentley’s SUV stable, it’s the more compact, more efficient V8 that now takes the throne.
Pricing and Availability
Bentley has yet to announce U.S. pricing, but with the outgoing W12 Speed starting at $264,000, the 2026 Bentayga Speed is likely to open in the $270,000–$280,000 bracket—before options like Mulliner paints, carbon-ceramic brakes, or the upsized 23-inch wheels push the figure higher. First customer deliveries are expected in late 2025.
Taking Stock of the Faster Bentayga
To some purists, trading twelve cylinders for eight may seem like a retreat, but the figures argue otherwise. The 2026 Bentayga Speed is quicker off the line, flatter through bends, and—thanks to its retuned suspension and rear-wheel steering—more responsive than any version before it. Whether the V8’s sharper soundtrack can fully replace the W12’s effortless wave of torque is a matter of taste, yet on performance alone, Bentley’s latest flagship proves that downsizing doesn’t have to mean compromise.
