(November 30, 2015) CREWE, England — The very first production Bentley Bentayga, the catalyst for one of the biggest investment programs in the company’s history, left the assembly line at Bentley’s iconic headquarters in Crewe, UK, last week.

Four years on from the initial concept stage, during which time over 1,500 UK jobs have been created, the car — part of an £840 million investment program — will now enter full production, with deliveries to customers starting in January.

Wolfgang Dürheimer, chairman and chief executive of Bentley Motors, said: “Bentley Bentayga will be the benchmark against which all other SUVs are measured, defining a new segment — the luxury SUV.

“This car is a celebration of UK manufacturing at its very best, not only reinforcing our commitment to industry in this country, job creation and significant investment, but to our home in Crewe. This is an important moment in our history, where we reflect and celebrate, but also look ahead to delivering this extraordinary car to our customers.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank my colleagues from all parts of the business for their dedication and professionalism in delivering the Bentley Bentayga. It would not have been possible to deliver this car without the support and belief from the UK Government, our parent company and other business partners. We can all take pride in this achievement.”

The first production Bentayga, finished in paint color — Anthracite — was handcrafted across 130 hours. During the assembly process, the car passed through a new bodystore, a new paint shop and a new assembly line, all part of this substantial investment.



Michael Straughan, Bentley’s member of the Board for Manufacturing, addressed the company’s workforce of 4,000 as the car was driven from the final production stage. He said: “This is a proud moment for the entire company. It’s been four years in the making and is a celebration of a sector-defining British handcrafted car.

The Bentayga is powered by a 6-liter 12-cylinder engine making 600 horsepower delivering 0-to-60 performance of 4.0 seconds with a top speed of 187 mph.

“Bentayga is the Bentley of SUVs, with a level of attention to detail only achievable thanks to the outstanding skill of a British workforce that blends exceptional craft and skill with modern production techniques and materials.”