Article by:
Jonathon Ramsey
In the U.S., there's no replacement for displacement. In Bentley's home of Crewe, England, there's no substitute for Speed—capital S in reference to the Speed trim, the flagship of any given Bentley model range. The Speed formula has been to start with a vehicle of already abundant power, handling, and hedonism, and enlarge the bounds of all three.
Until recently, Speeds were endowed with the best of the brand's W-12 engine. Then Bentley retired that engine with full honors. Its heir is a V-8. In the 2025 Continental GT Speed and the 2025 Flying Spur Speed, it's part of a 771-hp plug-in hybrid powertrain known as the Ultra Performance Hybrid.
Over in the SUV wing, Bentley retired the Bentayga Speed at the end of 2023. Filling in was the Bentayga S, a trim that wedded a tweaked Sport mode and an active anti-roll-bar system to the standard Bentayga's powertrain. The result: a modicum of improved handling in a vehicle that seemed more about a higher price point than increased athleticism.
The Bentayga Speed returns for 2026, ushering the S into retirement. And unlike the brand's hybrid coupe and sedan offerings, the Bentayga Speed remains a pure internal-combustion experience.
Eight Is the New 12
Up front is the same twin-turbo 4.0-liter V-8 shared with other Bentleys. Engineers increased airflow compared with the rest of the Bentaygas, achieving 641 horsepower and 627 pound-feet of torque. That's 99 horses and 59 pound-feet over the retired Bentayga S and current lower Bentayga trims. It's 15 more horses and 37 less pound-feet compared with the previous Bentayga Speed, a familiar spec-sheet bracketing after an engine downsizing.
Benefits show up first in acceleration to 60 mph, which Bentley quotes at 3.4 seconds, 0.1 second quicker than the last Bentayga S we tested and 0.4 second quicker than Bentley's claim for the W-12 Speed. We reckon the new model can do the deed in closer to three seconds. Terminal velocity hits 187 mph, but that's with the standard brakes. Pay extra for massive carbon-ceramic units—17.3-inch rotors in the front, the largest ever on a Bentley, and 14.6-inch rotors in the back—and the top speed nudges up to a claimed 193 mph. Read more...
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