Bentley details Bentayga First Edition

BENTLEY has uncovered the strictly limited First Edition version of its Bentayga SUV at an event in Los Angeles, ahead of a global roll out in the coming months.

The Volkswagen Group-owned British marque has announced that just 608 examples of the First Edition will be made available globally, with a Bentley representative confirming that 10 had been allocated for the Australian market.

Additional flourishes on top of the 'regular' Bentayga include Union Jack badges, illuminated treadplates, and 22-inch black painted and polished wheels.

Ten different exterior colours will be available for the First Edition.

Inside, the special Bentayga features 'Diamond within Diamond' quilting, more Union Jack badges, contrast stitching, embroidered seats and ambient lighting.

The 608 in the allocation number refers to the engine output in PS (Pferdestarke or power strokes), which converts to 447kW and 900Nm from the all-new twin-turbocharged 6.0-litre W12 crammed under the bonnet. It is paired with an eight-speed ZF automatic transmission driving via a permanent all-wheel drive system.

Bentley says that, when matched with the big 12-cylinder engine, the Bentayga can race from 0-100km/h in 4.1 seconds and onto a top speed of 301km/h, making it “world's most powerful and fastest SUV”.

Cashed-up First Edition buyers will each receive a Breitling watch with their ultra-luxury SUV, with three different watches on offer.

The three watches include the Emergency, which includes a dual-frequency personal locator beacon, the electronic multifunction Cockpit B50 and the Chronomat 38 that is designed for women.

Each watch features a black mother-of-pearl dial, an all-black case, bronze-toned hands that matches the livery of the first Bentayga that was shown publicly and a rubber strap that matches interior elements.

“With the First Edition we have created the ultimate expression of the Bentayga’s spirit,” said Bentley Motors board member for sales, marketing and aftersales Kevin Rose. “It is equipped with an array of striking features that celebrate both the pioneering nature of the Bentayga and its unique abilities.” The First Edition will start to roll into Australian Bentley showrooms in May next year, while the remainder of the range will start to arrive later in the year.

It will be among the first of a range of ultra-premium SUVs, and will be joined locally by vehicles like the Maserati Levante and Rolls Royce’s forthcoming SUV, currently known as Project Cullinan.

Underpinning the Bentayga is the Volkswagen Group's MLB2 platform that is shared with the latest Audi Q7 and the 2017 A8.

As well as the powerful W12, Bentley has previously confirmed that the Bentayga will also be available with a diesel and a hybrid powertrain down the track.

Bentley sales have dipped in Australia so far this year, with 98 units shifted to the end of October down four per cent from the 102 it had sold at the same point last year.

The Continental coupe and convertible have dropped by 10.6 per cent to 59 sales this year, while the Mulsanne and Flying Spur is up 8.3 per cent to 39 per cent.