The Bentley Bentayga is one of the most expensive SUVs in the world. Aside from not knowing how to spell it properly (who can blame you?), here are five other things you didn’t know about the model.
It’s named after a rugged peak and a portmanteau.
Bentley isn’t willing to stick with one story about how the SUV got its name. The first is that it was named after the Roque Benntayga, a sacred rock in in the Canary Islands. The other is that it is a portmanteau of the words Bentley and Taiga. Taiga is the world’s largest biome.
The “Bentayga” name has two origins;[7] one comes from “Roque Bentayga”,[8][9] an emblematic highland rock situated in massif central Gran Canaria, in the Canary Islands; the other one comes from a portmanteau of Bentley and Taiga, the world’s largest transcontinental snow forest.
Development of the SUV took it to five continents.
Photo courtesy of Bentley Motors
The development of the Bentayga was the most exhaustive program in Bentley history. It took engineers, designers, and product planners to adventures on five continents. Test drivers put the model through its paces in the dirt and gravel of South Africa; the dunes of Dubai; the muddy fields of Cheshire, England; and the -30°C air North Cape, Norway to searing 50°C desert heat.
The model has stops at three plants before it’s finally assembled.
Photo courtesy of Bentley Motors
Initially, the Bentayga started its life at Volkswagen’s Bratislava, Slovakia plant before moving to England. Now, the SUV is manufactured at VW’s Zwickau-Mosel plant in Germany. From there, the models are moved to Paintbox Banbury in England before reaching final assembly in Crewe, England at Bentley’s home factory.
Each model takes over 100 hours to complete on a dedicated production line. A team of 230 craftspeople work on the models, assembling each Bentayga by hand.
Just 608 First Edition models were made.
Photo courtesy of Bentley Motors
Why 608? The number was picked for a reason. That’s how much metric horsepower the car’s 12-cylinder engine produces.
The Bentayga Special Edition featured black inserts in its 22-inch wheels, Union Jack badging, carbon-fiber accents, and illuminated door sills on the exterior. The cabin came equipped with a brushed metal version of the British flag on the passenger dash panel, unique contrast stitching, embroidered “Diamond within Diamond” quilted seats, and unique ambient lighting.
Each model also came with a Breitling watch. Buyers could pick between three different options. When new, the Bentayga First Edition retailed for $297,400 all-in.
Bentley has made 200,000 Bentaygas.
The super luxury automaker celebrated the 20,000th Bentley Bentayga rolling off the line in Crewe on June 4, just four years after the model’s debut.
