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Bentley bends the rules: luxury meets serious off-road capability
Imagine a tailored British aristocrat swapping loafers for mud-stained boots and heading straight into the mountains. That playful image is exactly what Bentley is selling with the Bentayga Concept X. More than a design exercise, this concept blends the marque's signature refinement with pronounced off-road hardware — and the brand says it could be a testbed for a production model.
Bold design and engineered toughness
The Concept X is a beefed-up interpretation of the Bentayga Speed: it sits about 55 mm higher and sports a 120 mm wider track. Those changes are not just cosmetic. The stance is more planted, stability improves on rough terrain, and the larger footprint helps the SUV tackle technical trails.
Visual highlights include forged 22-inch wheels wrapped in chunky off-road tyres, pronounced wheel arches, heavy-duty body cladding and an adjustable air suspension tuning that keeps body roll under control on the toughest tracks. Bentley claims a wading depth of more than half a metre, broadening the Bentayga's capability envelope from gravel drives to real overlanding scenarios.
Performance and unique extras
Under the bonnet sits the familiar 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8, tuned to around 650 hp, paired with a titanium sport exhaust that promises an audible, muscular presence off-road as well as on. Bentley kept the powertrain pedigree while adapting the chassis and underbody protections for adventure use.
Perhaps the most whimsical touch is on the roof: a reinforced rack with auxiliary spotlights, extra luggage capacity and, remarkably, a small electric go-kart mounted for recreational use — a cheeky nod to lifestyle buyers who want weekend fun on frozen lakes or private circuits.
Highlights:
- Engine: 4.0L twin-turbo V8, approx. 650 hp
- Ride height: +55 mm; Track width: +120 mm
- Wheels/tyres: 22-inch forged wheels with chunky off-road tyres
- Chassis: adaptive air suspension; increased wading depth (>0.5 m)
- Unique: roof rack, spotlights, and roof-mounted electric kart
"Bentley designed this concept to test market appetite," the company says, inviting feedback as it gauges demand for a more rugged Bentayga variant.
Market positioning and what it means
The Bentayga Concept X targets affluent buyers who want luxury without compromising on adventure capability. It sits in a niche where bespoke craftsmanship meets capability hardware — a segment that's growing as wealthy customers seek experiential purchases over simple opulence.
If production is approved, expect a limited-run, highly optioned model aimed at collectors and buyers who want a luxury SUV that can handle real off-road challenges rather than just the occasional dirt track.
Whether Bentley will greenlight series production remains unclear, but given the appetite for distinctive, high-margin SUVs, the Concept X could well see the green light.
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