Of course there’s a new Bentley Bentayga Speed in the works

The Bentley Bentayga recently got prettier. Or less eye-gougingly gopping. Maybe you think it’s still an absolute gargoyle, or perhaps it was, in your eyes, never anything less than gorgeous. 

What we can all agree on is that the Bentley Bentayga has always been a trifle quick. Indeed, the Bentayga Speed, equipped with its twin-turbo 6.0-litre W12 engine, was good for a 190mph v-max. Which made it, by a sole mile-per-hour, the fastest SUV in the whole wide world. Because that's a sensible, necessary thing to be, apparently. 

Now, the newly facelifted Bentayga – the one with the oval taillights cribbed from Bentley’s sublime Continental GT – is only available with a V8 in the UK. It’s still quite some powerhouse: the 4.0-litre twin-turbo engine delivers 542bhp. But, the loss of the flagship W12 option might have had you worried for a sequel to the range-topping, record-breaking Bentayga Speed. 

Fear not. Top Gear understands the tweaked Bentayga Speed, seen here testing near the factory, will indeed retain its mighty W12 engine. We’re not expecting a power increase, because the existing 626bhp and 664lb ft was already enough to make the Bentayga the fastest stately home in the universe. 

It appears the Bentayga Speed will retain its aerodynamic addenda – the diffuser, the functional rear wing, and the front splitter – and we can expect a splash of suede with a dash of carbon trim inside. 

Stay tuned to TopGear.com next week, then, if the facelifted V8 ‘regular’ Bentayga wasn’t quite as powerful, fast, or expensive as you’d hoped. You utter crazy person.