Bentley's new V8 Bentayga is probably the one you want

Bentley has introduced its third version of the Bentayga, and we suspect it’s probably the one you want. Joining the big-spuds W12 and the sensible diesel is a new V8 petrol. If its anything like its Continental GT stablemate, it’s the version you’ll want.

The Bentayga uses Bentley’s latest generation twin-turbo V8. It's four litres in size and produces 542bhp and 568lb ft, enough to hustle the slightly ginormous Bentayga to 62mph in 4.5secs, neatly dissecting the quicker W12 and slower diesel.

For a 2.4-tonne vehicle, it’s certainly swift enough. To ensure the heft can all be slowed back down again, you can spec optional carbon ceramic brakes. Bentley proudly boasts it's the “world’s largest front brake system”.

A claimed 24.8mpg and 260g/km sit much closer to the W12, but offer around five per cent improvements over the larger petrol engine, while a range figure of 464 miles is promised.

Otherwise, it’s as you were with the rest of the Bentayga range; loads of posh trim, plush air suspension and some genuinely capable off-road modes. Whatever you think of the way it looks (or what it stands for), it’s an outrageously talented car.

At £136,200, the petrol V8 Bentayga costs about the same as a diesel V8. Which also means it undercuts the W12 by over £25,000. The race to see how quickly you can add that back on via the options list is on…

Top Gear's big diesel Bentayga road trip is here