When it comes to the world of flagship offerings, Bentley has been notably absent from the game ever since the Mulsanne left production a few years ago. The Bentayga SUV was considered by some to be the new flagship, but it lacked some of the opulent details to help it truly embrace the role. Bentley has fixed that issue and has unveiled the all-new 2023 Bentayga Extended Wheelbase model that adds more room and luxury to the Bentayga experience.
More Chrome And Style Define This Bentayga
The exterior styling of the EWB may look the same as any other Bentayga, but Bentley revealed that stretching it out was a much more difficult endeavor with Bentley and Volkswagen engineers having to redesign the roof, rear doors, side panels, and the underbody to accommodate it. These modifications cost a hefty sum, but they all do their part to transform it into the ultimate all-wheel-drive limo.
The stretch added an extra 7-inches of length but buyers looking for more discerning differences will have to look with a magnifying glass to spot them with only the redesigned front grille and the model exclusive 22-inch wheels being the lone identifiers here. This stretch allows the Bentayga to be more of a threat to the Rolls Royce Cullinan and it helps make this flavor of Bentayga stand out in a crowd too.
Lear Jet Levels Of Luxury
While the outside does a good job luring in viewers, slipping inside the Bentayga EWB is where the modifications come full circle. The core design and layout for the front occupants is largely unchanged, but things are vastly different for those in the back. The Bentayga EWB is only available as a two-row model (to maximize space) and includes a sunroof that was extended rearward so passengers could take in a good view of the sky.
But the seats are the stars of the show here, with the EWB debuting what Bentley calls the “Airline Seat.” Bentley claims that this novel seat is one of the most advanced seats in the industry and it certainly seems to be that way thanks to a myriad of features including 177 different adjustments that even allow the seats to do a three-dimensional twist. The individual rear seats also makes slight adjustments every three hours and this is meant to be an attempt to reduce stress on sensitive pressure points. These seats even come with a “Seat Auto CLimate” system that makes round-the-clock temperature adjustments on the seat cushion and seatback to ensure long-term seat comfort. Buyers looking for slightly more practicality can choose two additional configurations (four-seat or five-seat) though three rows are reserved for lesser Bentayga models.
Per Bentley custom, the amount of customization here is limitless with the Bentayga EWB offering 24 billion different interior possibilities. To save time, we’ll go ahead and highlight the center-mounted rear cooler (with champagne flutes,) LED lighting that comes through diamond-shaped patterns in the door panels, and power closing rear doors.
When Can I Buy One?
Bentley revealed that the Bentayga EWB will formally enter production in 2022 and while pricing was not released as of yet, look for it to be a sizable premium over the standard Bentayga. All EWB variants will be powered by the familiar 4.0 liter twin-turbocharged V8 which still makes 542 hp and 568 lb-ft of torque. That’s enough to make this giant limo make the sprint to 60 mph in 4.8 seconds with all of this power being routed to all four wheels via the carryover eight-speed automatic transmission.
Four-wheel steering is standard here and it’s a welcome addition that helps maneuvering this giant easier around town and into parking spaces. Look for sales here to eventually reflect the EWB’s role in Bentley’s broader plans with the model potentially being responsible for 45 percent of Bentayga sales especially once it becomes acclimated to the market.
Carl Malek has been an automotive journalist for over 10 years. First starting out as a freelance photographer before making the transition to writing during college, his work has appeared on numerous automotive forums as well as websites such as Autoshopper.com.
Carl is also a big fan of British vehicles with the bulk of his devotion going to the Morgan Motor Company as well as offerings from Lotus, MG, and Caterham. When he is not writing about automobiles, Carl enjoys spending time with his family and friends in the Metro Detroit area, as well as spending time with his adorable pets.