Bentley has revealed a radically modified version of its luxury SUV, the Bentayga X Concept, demonstrating the potential for a high-performance off-road variant. The vehicle was unveiled at the FAT Ice Race festival in Austria, highlighting its capability in extreme conditions.
Beyond Luxury: A New Bentayga Focus
While the Bentayga is best known for its opulent interior and smooth ride, Bentley is clearly exploring a more rugged side. The X Concept isn’t a production model yet, but the company says it’s designed to gather feedback on what a truly focused off-road Bentley could be. This move suggests Bentley may be considering a competitor to vehicles like the Land Rover Defender OCTA, which blends luxury with serious off-road ability.
Aggressive Modifications for Extreme Terrain
The Bentayga X Concept builds upon the existing Bentayga Speed model and features significant upgrades:
– Lifted Suspension: The ride height is increased by 55mm, giving it an impressive 310mm of ground clearance.
– Wider Track: A 120mm wider track, along with 40mm extended wheel arches, improves stability and handling on rough terrain.
– All-Terrain Tires: Forged 22-inch wheels from Brixton in Los Angeles are wrapped in massive all-terrain tires.
– Enhanced Wading Depth: The X Concept can now wade through water up to 550mm deep.
Practical Upgrades and Aggressive Styling
Bentley didn’t stop at mechanical changes. The X Concept also gets several practical and visually striking upgrades:
– Roof-Mounted Storage: A roof rack holds an electric go-kart, indicating the vehicle is designed for adventure.
– Spotlights and Towing Eyes: Four high-powered spotlights and dual towing eyes add to the rugged aesthetic and functionality.
– Alpine White Finish: The entire vehicle is finished in a striking Alpine white, including the wheels.
Unchanged Power, Still Blazing Fast
Under the hood, the X Concept retains the Speed model’s 641bhp 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 engine. This means a 0-62mph time of just 3.4 seconds, although the larger tires may slightly reduce this figure. The top speed is likely reduced compared to the standard Speed’s 193mph, but the optional Akrapovic exhaust ensures it still sounds exhilarating.
Testing the Limits on Ice
Despite weighing over 2.5 tons, Bentley confidently demonstrated the X Concept on a frozen lake near Zell am See, Austria. The event, FAT Ice Race, is known for pushing high-performance vehicles to their limits on ice, including hypercars like the Bugatti Bolide and Porsche’s 911 GT1. This choice of venue underscores Bentley’s commitment to proving the X Concept’s capabilities in harsh conditions.
The Bentayga X Concept represents a bold step beyond luxury, showing that Bentley is willing to explore the boundaries of performance and durability. Whether this concept leads to a production model remains to be seen, but it signals a potential shift in the brand’s image.
