Bentley Bentayga To Run At The 2019 Pikes Peak
A week after unveiling its new V8 petrol Bentayga, Bentley has announced it will bring its SUV to the famous Pikes Peak International Hill Climb in Colorado Springs this June. Bentley鈥檚 objective at this year鈥檚 Pikes Peak is to set a new record for the fastest SUV to complete the 12.42-mile run, which contains 156 corners. The Bentayga that will enter is the range-topping 6.0-litre twin-turbo W12 petrol model, which produces 600bhp and 900Nm of torque. The Bentayga鈥檚 air suspension and 48-volt active anti-roll system will play a key part in its attempts to break the production SUV record currently held by Land Rover. In 2013, the British marque ran a stock Range Rover Sport at Colorado Springs driven by Pikes Peak veteran Paul Dallenbach, who completed the mountain course in 12 minutes 35.61 seconds. Bentley hasn鈥檛 released any pictures of its Pikes Peak Bentayga challenger, but judging by the press release, it will be running a stock Bentayga with minimal changes. This could be due in part to Bentley鈥檚 sister brand Volkswagen announcing last October its intentions to compete in this year鈥檚 hill climb with an electric racing car. It looks similar to most Pikes Peak record-chasing cars with a huge front splitter and rear wing. How do you think the Bentley Bentayga will fare at Pikes Peak? Let us know in the comments section below!
Then, with a heavy right foot, I used the 340bhp and 450Nm of torque from the 3-litre V6 to power our way up the other side kicking up giant icy, sandy rooster tails along the way. This mix of terrain and grip levels all at the same time would have sent many electronic differentials into frenzy and probably seen them default to the easiest setting. But the Discovery had the right amount of grip and power at the right time. Likewise, its 900mm wading depth, 283mm of ground clearance and 500mm wheel articulation were all called into action for some extremely slippery mud trails. Back on the sealed highway, the extra sound insulation over the old model was noticeable, as was the clearly higher-grade interior and comfort that鈥檚 now much closer to Range Rover than it is to Defender. The factory claims that with its eight-speed auto the car will get to 100kmh in less than seven seconds and despite its still hefty 2200kg weight, it feels lighter and easier to manoeuvre around town as well. Visually, while it may have lost the rear bubble in the roofline, make no mistake it鈥檚 a proper seven-seater with more room in the third row for two adults than many MPVs. Overall, the new Discovery strikes a far better balance between school runner and off-roader than the previous version, and I became an unexpected fan by the end of the drive. A capable all-rounder even in the toughest conditions.
If you have a later model Audi, and you鈥檙e closing in on 100,000 miles you might be wondering why that timing belt change you鈥檙e looking at is so expensive, and what it involves. The maintenance schedule simply says 鈥渞eplace timing belt at 105,000 miles鈥?for most models. They don鈥檛 really list any other parts, or talk about what鈥檚 involved. There are two ways you can approach that work. The first method is to slide the front bumper forward for access, take the covers off the front of the motor, and slip a new timing belt into place. You might change a roller or two, and swap the serpentine belts, but the rest of the car remains untouched. That鈥檚 the easiest job to do. A skilled tech can bang the work out in a day. But is that the best job for you as an owner? If you plan to trade the car next month, it may seem like the way to go.
For decades, the Land Rover Defender has battled through the world鈥檚 rocky riverbeds and tackled its steepest terrain, always identifiable by its angular, utilitarian look. The latest edition of the burly off-roader, unveiled this week at the Frankfurt Motor Show, comes with a more sculpted vibe. The Defender has been absent from the Land Rover lineup since 2016, and it returns as the company鈥檚 technology leader. The optional 48-volt power system makes it a mild hybrid, supporting the engine with electric power. It carries an electric supercharger for extra power, an optional self-healing wrap that erases small scratches, and robust connectivity features that the automaker says will swat away hackers as effectively as the 4x4 dispenses with snow, mud, and ice. Get the top new car news in your inbox every Monday. Though infusing such wizardry into a rough-and-tumble brawler might seem a bit contrarian, Land Rover鈥檚 bosses say they鈥檙e being realistic. 鈥淭his car needs to go there because that's the way the world is going,鈥?says Defender technical director Rob Atkin.
