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Automotive

Bentley’s Bentayga SUV crosses milestone with production of 20,000th vehicle

June 4, 2020

The ride for huntin', shootin' and fishin': Bentley Bentayga. Image courtesy of Bentley Motors The ride for huntin', shootin' and fishin': Bentley Bentayga. Image courtesy of Bentley Motors

 

British automaker Bentley Motors has built its 20,000th Bentayga since the sports utility vehicle was first introduced to the market four years ago.

With an estimated starting price of $166,000, the Bentayga is one of the top-selling models in the Bentley range, going head to head with Rolls-Royce Motor Cars’ Cullinan SUV in the ultra-luxe segment of this market.

Sporting behavior
The Bentayga is handcrafted at the Bentley factory in Crewe, England.

Each vehicle takes more than 100 hours and a team of 230 workers to assemble by hand, with veneered woods, leather, metal and paintwork customized to each order.

Since its 2016 launch, the Bentayga is now available in five derivatives and four powertrains. The SUV has a 3,500kg towing capacity.

Please click here to view the Bentayga milestone video

Owned by German automaker Volkswagen, Bentley last year reported its first profit in years.

The company said sales rose 5 percent in 2019 with delivery of 11,006 cars including its Continental, Mulsanne, Flying Spur and Bentayga lines.

Last year was the seventh consecutive annual period for crossing 10,000 cars delivered to customers.

The Bentayga played a key role in keeping deliveries above that mark, as more affluent customers add ultra-luxury SUVs to their fleet.

Bentley Bentayga. Image courtesy of Bentley Motors. Photo: James Lipman/jameslipman.com Bentley Bentayga. Image courtesy of Bentley Motors. Photo: James Lipman/jameslipman.com

HOWEVER, THE COVID-19 coronavirus lockdowns and resultant economic slowdown likely may affect Bentley sales, as it will its rivals’.

But that setback has not stopped Bentley from donating to COVID-19 medical relief or plugging ahead with ambitious plans for its cars, including the new flagship Flying Spur.

Eco-consciousness has also taken root at the automaker.

The Bentayga Hybrid is Bentley’s first foray into full electrification. The new plug-in hybrid model brings together an electric motor with a V6 petrol engine, with claimed carbon dioxide emissions of 79 grams per kilometer.