Bentley’s Bentayga SUV is getting a refresh for 2020, with some big changes hiding underneath the cladding
It’s the SUV everyone loves to hate. Bentley’s Bentayga has been the source of much controversy for the brand, but then it’s also brought plenty of revenue with it. Unfortunately, with the impressive new Continental range now well pretty well integrated into the range, the Bentayga’s aging tech and awkward aesthetics have never been more obvious. To counter this Bentley is working on an updated version, which will break cover on Tuesday June 30th.
Though it offers little in the way of detail, a teaser film posted on social media does give us a glimpse at an updated wheel and headlight design. A brief look at the steering wheel also suggests we’re likely to see changes in the cabin, including the integration of upgraded tech first seen in the new Continental GT.
Test mules spotted late last year gave us a look at what’s to come for the exterior; the biggest changes appear to come at the rear, with a new clamshell rear tailgate hiding under cladding which likely form a sleeker design similar to that on the new Continental GT.
In order to do this, Bentley has moved to a one-piece rear light which will sit within this new clamshell bootlid, similar in execution to the Audi Q7. This is a remarkably big change for what would otherwise be a mid-cycle update, as to suit the new bootlid a revised body-in-white is required, hence the odd proportions of this prototype’s cladding. You can see this change in the tailgate shutline, which now flows around the side of the car, rather than straight down the rear face of the current model, which has a more traditional split rear light design.
The new sheet metal also extends to the front. A new bonnet, bumper and wings will clean up the current model’s design with a smoother, tighter aesthetic that again, draws inspiration from the new Continental GT. The headlights are just about visible underneath the translucent cladding, and look smaller and more ornate, with more rake than before.
Something else set for a big update is the Bentayga’s tech, and the interior it will sit within. Already out of date when it was first launched, the Bentayga’s ancient Golf-derived infotainment system will surely be updated to the newest systems employed by Bentley, which in-turn will require a revised dashboard design to house it.
Powertrains will likely mimic the current car’s range of twelve- and eight-cylinder options, with a high likelihood of an upgraded plug-in hybrid model in an attempt to reduce running costs and clean up the Bentayga’s ethical image. Speed, V8 and Mulliner editions will also arrive over the model’s lifetime.
The 2020 Bentley Bentayga will be unveiled on Tuesday June 30th, and will be the first model launched under the marque’s Beyond100 business strategy.
This article originally appeared at evo.co.uk
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