Bentley adds 620-hp Speed variant to Bentayga lineup

Bentley is letting little time go by as it preps variants of the freshened 2021 Bentayga after its late June debut.

The British ultraluxury brand unveiled the high-performance Bentayga Speed variant Tuesday, and it will once again sit atop the SUV's U.S. lineup.

Power from the 6.0-liter, twin-turbocharged W-12 remains unchanged from the 2020 Bentayga Speed: 626 hp and 664 pound-feet of torque. Bentley says the performance SUV is still able to reach 190 mph. The W-12 now features cylinder deactivation for improved efficiency.

The Bentayga V-8, which accounts for the majority of the SUV's sales in the U.S. and worldwide, has 542 hp and 568 pound-feet of torque.

The automaker began rolling out Speed variants in 2007 with the Continental GT Speed and added the first Bentayga Speed in 2019.

Building off the exterior updates from the 2021 Bentayga update, the Speed variant has unique styling touches such as dark-tint headlights and taillights, body-colored side skirts and a spoiler.

The Speed's interior is highlighted by what Bentley calls a "color split" of dark colors complemented with lighter accents. Alcantara is also found throughout the cabin including portions of the seats, gear lever, steering wheel, upper pillar trim and the headliner.

Bentley says the latest Bentayga Speed will be "offered for sale in those regions where demand for 12-cylinder SUVs remains strong — the USA, Middle East and Asia Pacific regions."

Pricing for the 2021 Bentayga Speed was not announced, but the 2020 model year started at $243,125, including shipping. The 2021 Bentayga V-8 starts at $179,725, including shipping.

The Bentayga Speed is expected to arrive in the U.S. after Bentayga V-8 deliveries begin by the end of this quarter. The Bentayga Hybrid is the next freshened variant to be revealed.