2026 Bentley Bentayga Speed drops the W12, gains a 641-hp V8 and quicker reflexes
The Bentley Bentayga turns ten this year, and Crewe is marking the anniversary by giving its performance flagship a substantial mechanical rethink. For 2026, the Bentayga Speed trades its signature 6.0-liter W12 for a heavily uprated 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8, yet still manages to be the quickest, fastest and most agile Bentayga to date—at least on paper.
Powertrain and Performance
Bentley’s new “high-powered” V8 produces 650 PS (641 hp) and 627 lb-ft of torque, delivered between 2,250 and 4,500 rpm. Those numbers surpass the outgoing V8 S and nudge past the 626-hp W12 they replace, though the torque figure is down slightly from the old twelve-cylinder’s 664 lb-ft. Even so, the stopwatch shows progress: 0–60 mph takes a claimed 3.4 seconds, and top speed climbs to 193 mph. A standard sports exhaust lets the V8 broadcast its intentions; an optional titanium Akrapovič system swaps the twin oval outlets for quartet pipes and should add even more bite to the soundtrack.
Chassis, Brakes, and New Dynamic Tricks
Performance gains aren’t limited to straight-line figures. A re-calibrated SPORT mode stiffens the air suspension by 15 percent, sharpens steering response and makes fuller use of brake-based torque vectoring. Newly available all-wheel steering trims the turning circle at parking-lot speeds and steadies the truck at highway pace.
The electronic stability program now offers an ESC Dynamic setting that relaxes intervention enough to permit power-on oversteer—yes, in a 5,500-plus-pound SUV—and even brings Launch Control to the Bentayga lineup for the first time. Optional carbon-ceramic rotors (Bentley claims they’re 44 lb lighter than iron discs) unlock a larger 23-inch wheel choice and are backed by calipers that can be painted in seven different hues.
Design: Subtle Tweaks Rather Than a Redraw
At a glance the 2026 Bentayga Speed looks familiar, echoing the 2021 facelift with its upright grille and oval rear lamps. Closer inspection reveals darker brightware, smoked headlight internals and grey-tint tail lamps that tone down the chrome. Speed badges on the front doors, an optional gloss or satin black roof panel and model-specific 22- or 23-inch wheels help separate the fastest Bentayga from its siblings, though the overall shape remains unmistakably unchanged.
Interior: Quilting, Contrast and a Few New Touches
Inside, the Speed treatment introduces a Precision Diamond quilt pattern on the seat shoulders and door inserts, matched to a darker secondary hide that dominates the cabin. Buyers can choose between classic chrome or new dark-tint finishes for the bullseye vents and organ-stop pulls, while illuminated treadplates and digital instrument graphics carry the Speed logo. Wireless Apple CarPlay, wired Android Auto and a host of connected services carry over from the standard Bentayga, so the tech story mostly centers on color and material updates rather than hardware changes.
Position in the Lineup
With the W12 gone, the new Speed sits above the V8 S and the plug-in Bentayga Hybrid in Bentley’s SUV hierarchy. The Continental GT and Flying Spur still offer twelve-cylinders (for now), but in the Bentayga’s bay the smaller, cleaner V8 is now the top dog.
Pricing and Availability
Bentley has not finalized U.S. pricing, but given the outgoing W12 Speed’s $264,000 base sticker, expect the 2026 Bentley Bentayga Speed to start somewhere in the $270,000–$280,000 range before you dive into Mulliner paint, carbon brakes or those 23-inch wheels. First deliveries should begin toward the end of 2025.
Taking Stock of the Faster Bentayga
Swapping twelve cylinders for eight might sound like a step backwards to some traditionalists, yet the numbers tell a different story. The 2026 Bentayga Speed accelerates harder, corners flatter and—thanks to new suspension tuning and all-wheel steering—should feel more responsive than any Bentayga before it. Whether the richer V8 soundtrack compensates for the loss of the W12’s effortless surge will come down to personal preference, but on performance metrics alone, Bentley’s refreshed flagship makes a strong case for downsizing.
-Ed
2026 Bentley Bentayga Speed
