Mulliner Craft and Contemporary Styling
When Bentley introduced the Bentayga V8 Design Series in the spring of 2019, the British marque set out to give its luxury SUV a sharper, more contemporary visual presence without disturbing the fundamental touring qualities of its twin-turbocharged eight-cylinder platform. Handcrafted at Bentley’s headquarters in Crewe, England, the special edition took the mechanical baseline of the Bentayga V8 and paired it with tailored enhancements curated by Mulliner, Bentley’s bespoke coachbuilding division. The result sat neatly alongside the flagship W12-powered Bentayga Speed and the plug-in Bentayga Hybrid, targeting drivers who wanted assertive exterior detailing and a distinctively curated cockpit without having to navigate the boundless options of a fully bespoke order sheet.
The foundation of the Design Series is the standard-wheelbase Bentayga V8, a model engineered to balance effortless long-distance road refinement with immediate throttle response. By drawing together darkened exterior trim elements from the Blackline specification, model-exclusive rolling stock, and a fresh duotone interior treatment incorporating specialized composite weaves, Bentley created a package that leans into the sporting side of the vehicle’s personality while maintaining the craftsmanship expected of Crewe.
Mulliner Exterior Detailing and Blackline Accents
Rather than relying on dramatic bodywork revisions, Mulliner’s approach to the Bentayga V8 Design Series centers on targeted tonal contrast and focused hardware additions. Central to this aesthetic shift is the inclusion of the Bentayga Blackline specification as standard equipment. Where the standard model carries bright chrome framing around the matrix grille, side window surrounds, lower door moldings, and front wing vents, the Blackline package substitutes deep gloss black brightware. This treatment transforms the character of the front clip, emphasizing the broad, upright matrix grille and the sculpted air intakes of the lower apron.
To ground the visual stance further, the lower front bumper apron is finished in body color, giving the SUV an integrated, lower-slung profile against the asphalt. At the rear, the Blackline theme continues with gloss black twin exhaust outlets featuring Bentley’s signature figure-eight shape. These gloss black tailpipes not only complement the darkened trim above but also hint at the deeper acoustic burble tuned specifically for the 4.0-liter twin-scroll turbocharged V8.
Discreet exterior badging provides another understated identifier. Enamel ‘Design Series’ badges are positioned neatly on the lower front doors, signaling the edition’s limited-run status without disrupting the muscular haunch lines that stretch from the front fenders back across the rear quarters. The stance is anchored by model-exclusive 22-inch Mulliner Paragon alloy wheels. Featuring an intricate seven-spoke arrangement, these wheels are treated with a dark metallic Palladium Grey finish combined with diamond-turned polished accents across the outer face of each spoke.
Within the center hub of each Paragon wheel sits one of Mulliner’s signature engineering touches: the self-levelling wheel badge. Utilizing an intricately counterweighted mechanical spindle assembly, the iconic winged ‘B’ logo remains continuously upright and plumb even as the wheels spin at highway speeds. It is a subtle flourish that demonstrates the obsessive attention to detail Bentley invests into its Mulliner-curated limited models.
A Curated Duotone Interior and Diamond Carbon Weave
Step across the illuminated ‘Bentley’ treadplates, and the cabin of the Bentayga V8 Design Series reveals a striking departure from traditional polished wood veneers. Mulliner envisioned an environment that feels modern, technical, and vibrant. At the heart of this concept is an expressive Duotone color palette built around a deep Beluga black leather base hide. Buyers can pair this pitch-black foundation with four high-energy accent themes: vibrant Pillar Box Red, warm Orange, crisp Mulliner White, or vivid Klein Blue.
The chosen contrast tone is executed through an accent design line introduced to the Bentayga range for the first time. This accent color split forms a visual sweep across the dashboard lower wing sections and wraps into the center console, framing the control layout in rich color. The contrast continues directly into the seating upholstery. The leather seat centers, across both front and rear rows, feature precision Duotone perforations where the accent color glows subtly through the perforated Beluga hide beneath. Minimalist ‘Design Series’ embroidery decorates the seat backrests, executed in fine tonal stitchwork that mirrors the exterior door badging.
Complementing the bespoke leatherwork is an all-new carbon fiber weave developed exclusively for the Design Series. Applied across the broad dashboard fascias and door waistrails, this composite surface departs from conventional twill patterns by utilizing an intricate diamond-quilted geometric weave. Finished in a mirror-like high gloss lacquer, the weave catches cabin light from different angles, creating genuine visual depth across the instrument panel. To balance these carbon surfaces, the center console, transmission surround, and center fascia switchgear pods receive a rich, hand-polished Piano Black lacquer.
Standard Cabin Amenities and Bespoke Touchpoints
Every Bentayga V8 Design Series leaves the Crewe workshop fitted with Bentley’s Front Seat Comfort specification as standard equipment. This package outfits the 22-way power-adjustable front chairs with heating, multi-mode ventilation, adjustable cushion squabs, and six-program massage functions to alleviate fatigue over cross-continental journeys. The tactile experience for the driver is rounded out by drilled alloy sports pedals and a matching ribbed aluminum footrest, reinforcing the model’s driver-focused demeanor.
Anchoring the center of the dashboard between the traditional organ-stop air vent plungers is an exquisite timepiece developed in collaboration with Swiss watchmaker Breitling. The Design Series features a Breitling clock housing an iridescent light mother-of-pearl face, ringed by miniature diamond indices at each hour mark. Underfoot, deep-pile floor mats made from heavy-weight woven wool are tailored with contrast edge binding matched directly to the cabin’s accent color theme, tying together the upper fascia and floor areas into a coherent aesthetic whole.
Twin-Turbocharged 4.0-Liter V8 Powertrain and Dynamics
Under the sculpted aluminum hood sits Bentley’s modern 4.0-liter 32-valve V8 engine. Built with direct fuel injection and twin twin-scroll turbochargers arranged inside the inner ‘hot-V’ angle between the cylinder banks, the packaging achieves exceptionally short exhaust runner lengths. This layout dramatically minimizes turbo lag, granting near-instantaneous boost pressure when the throttle pedal is pressed. The engine produces 542 brake horsepower (550 metric PS) at 6,000 rpm and an immense 568 lb-ft (770 Nm) of pulling torque spread over a remarkably flat and accessible plateau from 1,960 rpm all the way through 4,500 rpm.
Power feeds into a smooth eight-speed ZF automatic transmission linked to a permanent all-wheel-drive system. The center differential distributes torque with a rear-biased 40:60 front-to-rear ratio under normal driving conditions, giving the Bentayga agile chassis dynamics and intuitive steering feel through corner entries. When traction demands shift, the center differential and Electronic Differential Lock (EDL) can redirect drive seamlessly to the axle and wheels with the highest grip. Despite a substantial curb weight exceeding 5,200 pounds, the V8 Design Series accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in just 4.4 seconds (0 to 100 km/h in 4.5 seconds) and charges onward to an unrestrained top speed of 180 mph (290 km/h).
Chassis Hardware, Drive Dynamics, and All-Terrain Capability
The Bentayga chassis blends multi-chamber adaptive air suspension with continuous damping control (CDC) to isolate occupants from coarse road surfaces while keeping lateral body movements strictly checked. Drivers can tailor the SUV’s behavioral envelope using Bentley’s console-mounted Drive Dynamics rotary selector. Four standard drive modes calibrate throttle sensitivity, gear change schedules, steering weight, and damper firmness: Comfort provides velvety, detached cruising; Custom allows individual component preferences; Bentley mode delivers the factory balance recommended by Crewe’s development engineers; and Sport sharpens engine response, quickens transmission downshifts, stiffens the air springs, and opens active acoustic exhaust valves for a more assertive, throaty V8 song.
Off the pavement, the Bentayga V8 Design Series retains authentic all-terrain capability. The air suspension system features multiple height presets, enabling the chassis to elevate for extra rock and rut clearance or lower automatically at high motorway speeds to reduce aerodynamic drag. Combined with hill descent control, specialized traction logic, and underbody protection, the vehicle can wade through deep water crossings, scramble over loose gravel inclines, and tackle rugged forest trails without disturbing the quiet composure inside the leather-lined cabin.
Centenary Milestone and Market Significance
The introduction of the Bentayga V8 Design Series in the spring of 2019 held added historical resonance for Bentley Motors. That year marked the company’s centenary, celebrating 100 years since Walter Owen Bentley founded the marque in July 1919 with the simple yet exacting goal of building “a fast car, a good car, the best in its class.” While W.O. made his name constructing lightweight sports racers that conquered the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the modern Bentayga represents how that performance ethos has transitioned into the ultra-luxury sport utility market.
Positioned alongside the flagship 6.0-liter twin-turbo W12 Bentayga Speed and the electrified Bentayga Hybrid, the V8 Design Series occupied an attractive sweet spot within the brand’s catalogue. It offered discerning buyers an impeccably curated, visually athletic package straight from the Mulliner atelier, avoiding the lengthy bespoke consultation process while still providing the exclusivity of limited production, tailor-made materials, and handcrafted British luxury.
Vehicle data
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Make | Bentley |
| Model | Bentayga V8 Design Series |
| Generation / chassis code | First Generation (pre-facelift, 4V) |
| Model year(s) covered | 2019–2020 |
| Body style | 5-door luxury SUV |
| Powertrain / engine | 4.0-liter (3,996 cc) 32-valve twin-turbocharged V8 (hot-V configuration) |
| Power / torque | 542 bhp (550 PS / 404 kW) @ 6,000 rpm / 568 lb-ft (770 Nm) @ 1,960–4,500 rpm |
| Transmission | 8-speed automatic (ZF) |
| Drivetrain | Permanent all-wheel drive with Torsen center differential (40:60 split) and Electronic Differential Lock (EDL) |
| Key performance figures | 0–60 mph in 4.4 sec (0–100 km/h in 4.5 sec); Top speed 180 mph (290 km/h) |
| Price (as stated) | Not stated in sources |
| On-sale / announcement period | Announced April 2019 |
| Market | Global (including North America, Europe, UK) |