Bentley To Offer Diesel Engine For The First Time: Report

Bentley, the British luxury automaker, has been venturing into new territories off late. The most recent example would be the Bentley Bentayga - its first-ever SUV. Also deemed the world's fastest and most expensive SUV, Bentley also launched the Bentayga in India earlier this year at Rs. 3.85 crore (ex-showroom, Delhi). And now, if media reports are to be believed, the next 'new' element in the carmaker's stable will be a diesel engine.

Audi SQ7

Bentley, founded nearly 100 years ago, has offered a myriad of engines options on its cars over the years but never a diesel. However, De Telegraaf, a Dutch daily, reports that the company is putting a diesel model of the Bentayga SUV through its paces. It goes on to add that the model will derive power from Audi SQ7 TDI's 4.0-litre V8 motor. Mated to a 8-speed automatic transmission with tiptronic function, the engine puts out 429bhp along with 900Nm of maximum torque, offers a top-speed of 250Km/h and can go from standstill to 100Km/h in 4.8 seconds.

The Bentayga currently houses a twin-turbocharged 6.0-litre W12 engine under the hood that puts out 600 horses and a maximum torque of 900Nm. Also mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission, it is capable of achieving 0-100Km/h in just 4.1 seconds.

Bentley Bentayga

The diesel Bentley Bentayga will reportedly debut at the Paris Motor Show 2016 and go on sale in Europe only next year. It must be noted that not much can be said of the car's future in markets outside of Europe - at least not now.