Bentley Bentayga Artenara, a special edition with the very best in design

When Bentley announced in 2015 that an SUV would join its lineup and that it would be called Bentayga, many of us, anyone familiar with the name, assumed it was inspired by the Bentayga rock on the island of Gran Canaria. We were not far off, as Bentley explained at the time, but that explanation ended up blurred into a story involving the English taiga, the Bentayga rock and a name that also recalled Bentley itself.

Perhaps at that moment Gran Canaria missed the chance to firmly claim that one of the world’s finest luxury SUVs bore the name of one of its formations listed as a Site of Cultural Interest, but now, 10 years later, Bentley and the Bentayga are reaffirming their connection to the island with the new Artenara special edition. The name comes from the Canarian town that sits at the highest altitude on the island and that, together with other towns, shares the Nublo rural park, where the Bentayga rock is located.

With the Bentayga Artenara, the brand has set out a special edition that brings together some of the finest things its personalisation department, Bentley Atelier, can offer, such as elegant colour combinations and finishes, all complemented by extended equipment. Furthermore, to reach more customers, it will be available with the V6 plug-in hybrid in standard form or with the V8 in both standard and extended wheelbase versions.

For the Bentayga Artenara, Bentley has carefully selected eight exterior finishes, each with its own complementary three-tone interior scheme. These colours are Beluga, Granite, Pale Brodgar, Glacier White, Sequin Blue, Dark Sapphire, Verdant and Havana. Regardless of the chosen finish, certain exterior chrome elements, such as those on the lower part of the doors and both bumpers, are painted in the same colour as the rest of the bodywork to achieve a cleaner visual look.

Complementing the exterior are other exterior trim pieces that will indeed be chrome, although Bentley will optionally allow selection of the Blackline specification, which replaces the previous chrome with gloss black on elements such as the front lower panel, the rear diffuser and the new and exclusive double-diamond grille. The double-diamond pattern also appears in other areas, such as the side ventilation grilles and the specific emblem of this Artenara special edition. The exterior is finished off with 22-inch Mulliner wheels painted grey with polished details, which can also be specified in gloss black with granite details or in a fully polished version. As an option, there is also the possibility of fitting the new 23-inch Super Lux wheels.

Inside, the tones you will find depend largely on the exterior colour chosen. For example, if you opt for Pale Brodgar, the upholstery is in Linen leather while the inserts are in Piano Linen veneer; or, to give another example, if you choose Verdant bodywork, the proposed interior is upholstery in brown and Camel tones, with inserts in glossy Cumbria Green veneer and a centre console in eucalyptus wood with wavy grain. Either way, you will know you are in the Artenara special edition thanks to the silhouette of the mountainous landscape surrounding Artenara, present on the seat backs, door panels, the welcome light projection and the dashboard, in the latter area with the exact coordinates of the Bentayga rock.

As I mentioned a little earlier, the Bentley Bentayga Artenara will be available in the standard bodywork version with the plug-in hybrid powertrain featuring a 3,000 cc V6 block that produces 450 CV or, if you prefer more power and less electrification, the 4,000 cc Twin Turbo V8 that delivers 550 CV. In this latter case, it can be chosen with either the standard bodywork or the extended wheelbase (EWB) bodywork.

Technical specifications of this car

CrossoverBentley Bentayga12 versions · from 216,580 €