European emission legislation is to be blame.
In September 2017, Bentley unveiled its first diesel model. The Bentayga Diesel is the world’s most refined 4.0-liter V8 diesel engine. It produces 429 horsepower (320kilowatts) at 3,750 rpm. It also has 664 pound-feet (6900 Newton-meters of torque) and is almost twice the price of its Audi SQ7 counterpart. The Crewe-based manufacturer has decided to cancel the sale of the diesel-powered luxury SUV.
“Over the past months, Europe’s political and legislative environment has changed. A significant shift in attitudes towards diesel-powered cars is well documented. These factors, along with the introduction of the Bentayga’s V8 and our strategic focus on electrification, led us to make the decision to only offer gasoline Bentayga derivatives on European markets starting in September
Bentley’s diesel Bentayga is being discontinued. This is because the vehicle is in a market where hybrid and gasoline powertrains are dominant. Although it’s not known how much of the Bentayga’s worldwide sales have a diesel engine or what percentage has hybrid powertrains, it is likely the most popular of all models.
Bentley plans to continue offering the Bentayga Diesel in certain markets, despite its cancellation in Europe. The SUV with a V8 compression ignition engine under the hood will still be available in at least thirteen global markets, including Australia and Russia. The Bentayga diesel is still an option on Bentley’s UK website.
The Bentayga Hybrid, an SUV/hybrid that the automaker introduced earlier this year at the Geneva Motor Show. The vehicle combines a 3.0-liter V6 engine with an electric motor. It can travel 31 miles (50 km) in fully electric driving during the NEDC range test. It should be available for sale next year “in select markets”.