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Bentley Bentayga Spied Doing Fast Nurburgring Lap: Elephant Ballet?

Somewhere between the Porsche Cayenne GTS and the BMW X5 M, we got the idea that SUVs are supposed to go around race tracks, just like sportscars. It's not just for the remarkably fast SUVs because pretty much every model from the VW Tiguan to the Kia Sportage has been developed at the Nurburgring in some way.
Bentley Bentayga testing at Nurburgring 1 photo
Photo: screenshot from Youtube
This next video, courtesy of YouTube user cvdzijden, shows how a team of Bentley test engineers are honing the upcoming Bentayga SUV. As stupid as it might sound, testing this at the Nurburgring will have huge benefits in the real world because most drivers will drive it fast. Any handling problems are likely to be discovered on the numerous corners of the 'Ring.

Stability is a huge issue for taller vehicles, as some might tip over without well honed electronic nannies if the driver is too aggressive with the steering wheel. Of course, the Bentayga is built for both speed and comfort, being equipped with overpowering engines.

Volkswagen Group recently unveiled an all-new 6-liter W12 TSI engine that it says has already been honed for all-wheel drive use. It's fitted with all sorts of new technologies while delivering 608 PS (6,000 rpm) and a maximum torque of 900 Nm (1,500 - 4,500 rpm). A 4-liter V8 and plug-in hybrid system are also likely.

As you can see, this thinly disguised test prototype looks like an Audi Q7 with all the edges rounded off. The similarities go below the skin since the same MLB platform has been used to develop Bentley's first SUV. It's a huge advantage. The all-new Q7 is the only model in this class to weigh a little under 2 tons.

Bentayga body shells will be fabricated in Slovakia, probably entirely from aluminum, after which they will go to Britain where they are joined with the mighty W12 engines and all the other components.

So yes, the Bentayga going around the Nurburgring is like an elephant doing ballet. But it's a lightweight, flexible and smart elephant that knows what it's doing, so it's not unpleasant to watch.

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About the author: Mihnea Radu
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Mihnea's favorite cars have already been built, the so-called modern classics from the '80s and '90s. He also loves local car culture from all over the world, so don't be surprised to see him getting excited about weird Japanese imports, low-rider VWs out of Germany, replicas from Russia or LS swaps down in Florida.
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