Drive Wire for August 10th, 2016: Bentley Mulls a Diesel Bentayga

Will Bentley buyers accept an oil-burner—even a great V8?

byThe Drive Staff|
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Today on Drive Wire, rumors of a diesel Bentley SUV.

Though criticisms have been leveled against the Bentley Bentayga’s somewhat-unusual shape, not a single review has said anything against the luxury SUV’s 600-horsepower, twin-turbo W-12 engine. Still, rumors are circling that Bentley might make the torque-rich diesel V8 from the new Audi SQ7 available in the Bentayga—surprisingly, for reasons of performance, not economy. With two turbos, a 48-volt compressor plus the inherent torquiness of a diesel motor, the 4-liter diesel Audi V8 provides 664 lb-feet of torque, just like the W-12. However, much of that would be available at a low rev range, providing the instant thrust that Bentley drivers are accustomed to. It’s unclear if Bentley would bring a diesel SUV to the US, considering the reputation of the technology following the VW scandal.

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