As if the standard Bentayga Extended Wheelbase (EWB) wasn’t already opulent enough, Bentley has now unveiled a new flagship variant for the luxury SUV, this time with the touch of its coachworking division, Mulliner.
Described as the “new pinnacle” for the Bentley model range, the Bentayga EWB Mulliner exudes elegance with the division’s signature Double Diamond front grille, complemented by the same pattern on the wing vents. The 22-inch Mulliner-exclusive wheels are finished in polished silver or grey finishes, and as a true mark of luxury, they also come with self-levelling wheel caps that remain upright as the wheels rotate.
As with all Bentley models these days, the Bentley Bentayga EWB Mulliner is also available in a Mulliner Blackline Specification, which darkens all of the exterior chrome trims and mirror caps, save for the Bentley emblems. Completing the stealthier look are the gloss black 22-inch Mulliner wheels.
ALSO READ: 2023 Bentley Continental GT Speed launched in Malaysia – Crewe’s sportiest model in history
The lavish embellishments continue on the inside, with Grand Black veneer trim spanning across the dashboard, overlaid with silver accents including the Mullinner lettering and Bentayga silhouette ahead of the front passenger, the Bentley ‘B’ mark on the door waistrails, as well as a three-dimensional diamond milled finish on the centre console.
Naturally, only the highest quality leather is used on the inside, with nearly 4,000 three-colour hide combinations – tanned using a sustainable process using organic by-products of the olive oil industry – available for choosing if the eight recommended ones are not to your taste.
The hide is garnished by Harmony Diamond Quilt patterning as a mark of exquisite craftsmanship, and on the doors, the small perforations in the leather are fitted with LEDs to create what the Crewe carmaker calls “Bentley Diamond Illumination” to makes up part of the interior’s ambient lighting system.
The highlight of the Bentayga EWB Mulliner’s cabin, however, is in the rear quarters – specifically the “Bentley Airline Seat” specification, which Bentley calls “the most advanced automotive seating system in the world”. The first-class seats offer 22 ways of adjustments, and can be reclined up to “nearly 40 degrees” in Relax mode, thanks to the 180 mm of extra space afforded by the stretched wheelbase.
A Postural Adjustment function uses thigh and shoulder air pockets to “subtly yet continuously change the shape of the seats to ease pressure points around the body”, while the auto climate seat technology senses occupant temperature and surface humidity, and determines automatically whether to apply heat, ventilation, or both simultaneously to keep the passenger at “optimum thermal wellbeing”.
RELATED: The new Bentley Flying Spur Mulliner is for when “luxury” just isn’t enough
The Bentley Bentayga EWB Mulliner is powered by a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 engine, offering 550 hp and 770 Nm of torque. Drive is sent to all four wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive system, dispensing the century sprint in just 4.6 seconds on its way to a top speed of 290 km/h.
On a car like this, though, power is nothing without comfort. Road-going duty is handled by the Bentley Dynamic Ride 48V active anti-roll control system, alongside three-chamber air springs and rear-wheel steering as standard, the latter providing a turning circle that’s actually smaller than the standard-wheelbase Bentayga by 7%. All of these add up to make the Bentayga EWB Mulliner “an accomplished driver’s car as well as a luxurious SUV limousine”, says Bentley.
WATCH: Bentley Continental GT Speed, on a SOAKING wet track in Adelaide!
GALLERY
