Latest news with #performanceSUV
ArabGT
4 days ago
- Automotive
- ArabGT
2026 Bentley Bentayga Speed Review
The 2026 Bentley Bentayga Speed marks a new chapter in the evolution of ultra-luxury performance SUVs. More than just a facelift or an engine swap, this is a complete redefinition of what a high-end SUV can be in the era of electrification, efficiency, and next-gen engineering. By retiring the legendary W12 engine and replacing it with a twin-turbo V8, Bentley signals its forward-looking approach—without sacrificing the quintessential British luxury DNA that defines the brand. Exterior Design A quick glance at the new Bentayga Speed reveals a confident, aggressive silhouette that speaks to both refinement and power. The design is marked by blacked-out elements including a dark Bentley winged emblem, smoked headlights and taillights, and distinctive 'Speed' badging along the front doors. The introduction of 23-inch wheels—the largest ever on a Bentley—gives the SUV a bolder stance, while color options like Volcanic Red paired with navy and blue interior themes showcase Bentley's flair for daring, elegant combinations. 2026 Bentley Bentayga Speed Interior Inside, Bentley's renowned craftsmanship takes center stage. From intricately stitched leather bearing the 'Speed' emblem to the precise blend of dark secondary hides and vivid main color accents, every detail is curated. New diamond-quilt patterns adorn the doors and seats, while wood and carbon fiber trim options add a bespoke feel. Rear-seat passengers enjoy a panoramic sunroof, advanced climate control, and USB-C charging—all elevating comfort and tech access to first-class levels. Mechanical Specifications Powering the Bentayga Speed is a 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 producing 650 PS and 850 Nm of torque. Despite having slightly less torque than the outgoing W12, the new powertrain delivers a faster 0–100 km/h time of just 3.4 seconds, placing it firmly among the top-performing luxury SUVs. Enhanced SPORT mode, ESC Dynamic settings, carbon ceramic brakes, and rear-wheel steering transform this large SUV into a dynamic, responsive machine. Perhaps the biggest surprise is the introduction of 'Drift Mode'—a playful yet controlled feature allowing drivers to explore the Bentayga's performance limits. It's an unexpected thrill in a Bentley, but one that reflects the versatility of this model's character. 2026 Bentley Bentayga Speed Price The 2026 Bentayga Speed starts at $280,000, equivalent to roughly SAR 1,050,000 or AED 1,028,000. Positioned at the peak of the luxury SUV segment, its price is justified by the blend of performance engineering, bespoke luxury, and timeless brand prestige. Gallery:
Edmunds
28-07-2025
- Automotive
- Edmunds
Tested: 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 9 Calligraphy Is a Family Hauler That Hauls
We'll start with a shocking revelation: The Hyundai Ioniq 9 is not a performance SUV. We understand that its minivan-like proportions, total lack of extra downforce-generating aero, and range-friendly Hankook eco tires may have you daydreaming about perfectly clipping apexes at your next track day. Still, a thoroughbred racer this electric three-row Hyundai is not. We'll give you a moment to dry your tears. It rides too well over imperfect surfaces, absorbing even the biggest bumps without transmitting excess vibrations throughout its cabin. It's far too quiet, even at highway speeds, allowing its 14-speaker Bose sound system to blare your favorite tunes with perfect clarity. Things only become more dire as you engage the Ioniq's massaging seats, and they force a relaxing and refreshing driving experience upon you. Things didn't look great for Hyundai's latest as it approached our test track's gates, but fortunately, it had at least one big performance ace up its sleeve.
Auto Blog
03-07-2025
- Automotive
- Auto Blog
Range Rover Sport SV Black Is a Luxury SUV With a 180-MPH Dark Side
By signing up I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . You may unsubscribe from email communication at anytime. The Range Rover Sport SV, once a limited-edition headline act, is now sticking around for good. Following the success of the Edition One and Edition Two models, Land Rover has confirmed that the 626-horsepower SV will now be offered as a full production model, slotting in as the flagship performance version of the Range Rover Sport. Prices start at £139,995 (around $182,000), while a new variant — the SV Black — raises the bar further with a stealthy aesthetic and even more performance. That one will set buyers back £154,975 or north of $210,000 at current exchange rates. 0:05 / 0:09 Audi reveals sporty new A5/S5 with an emphasis on design Watch More From Special Edition To Showroom Mainstay Originally revealed as a limited-run performance SUV in 2023, the Range Rover Sport SV immediately made waves for its mix of brutal pace and high-end luxury. It features a BMW-sourced 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8, producing 626 hp and 590 lb-ft of torque on overboost. The result is a 2.5-tonne SUV capable of launching from 0–60 mph in just 3.8 seconds — or 3.6 seconds in SV Black trim. This makes it the fastest and most powerful Range Rover Sport ever built, and a serious rival to the Lamborghini Urus, Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT, and BMW X5 M Competition. Carbon, Ceramics, And 6D Dynamics Beyond the headline figures, the SV boasts serious hardware. 6D Dynamics tech uses cross-linked hydraulic dampers to reduce pitch and dive under braking and acceleration — all without traditional anti-roll bars. In SV mode, the ride height drops by 15mm for a sharper stance and flatter handling. Stopping power comes courtesy of carbon ceramic brakes, while optional 23-inch carbon wheels shave off unsprung weight. Land Rover claims they're 41% lighter than standard alloys, improving both handling and ride comfort. Inside, there's no shortage of Range Rover luxury: Body & Soul seats come with built-in haptic feedback (via SUBPAC tech), high-grade leathers, and a full suite of tech and comfort features. It's just as much a long-distance cruiser as it is a back-road bruiser. SV Black: Murdered Out And Even Faster For those who find the standard SV a bit too subtle, Land Rover now offers the SV Black — finished in Narvik Gloss Black with a carbon hood, black calipers, gloss black quad exhausts, and 23-inch forged wheels. Inside, buyers get Ebony Windsor leather, gloss black trim, and illuminated treadplates. Performance gets a slight bump too: the SV Black hits 180 mph and cuts the 0–60 mph time to 3.6 seconds, thanks in part to reduced weight and aero tweaks. Autoblog Newsletter Autoblog brings you car news; expert reviews and exciting pictures and video. Research and compare vehicles, too. Sign up or sign in with Google Facebook Microsoft Apple By signing up I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . You may unsubscribe from email communication at anytime. Verdict With the SV now part of the full-time lineup, Land Rover is giving more buyers access to one of its most extreme performance models to date. It's no longer an invitation-only special — it's a production halo car aimed at stealing market share from the ultra-premium performance SUV crowd. It's still a 2.5-tonne luxury tank. It's still hilariously quick. And now, if you've got $200,000 burning a hole in your bank account, you can actually go and order one. About the Author Max Taylor View Profile
Top Gear
02-06-2025
- Automotive
- Top Gear
Skoda Kodiaq Review 2025
Page 2 vRS? Sounds tempting... Don't get your hopes up. The new Kodiaq vRS might be the fastest seven-seater around the Nürburgring, but it isn't actually all that different from the standard car. Advertisement - Page continues below Let's start with the engine. Is that different? Yep. It's a 2.0-litre, four-cylinder diesel with twin-turbochargers working sequentially. New to the Kodiaq, but we've seen and tried it before in the Volkswagen Passat and Tiguan. When this car was announced all those months ago, a lot of people (including us) questioned Skoda's decision to use a diesel of any size or type in the 'performance' Kodiaq, given the apparent move towards petrols, and the fact it has access to some quite good ones. Seat went with the 2.0-litre from the Golf R for the Cupra Ateca, and Skoda could easily have done the same. But the majority of Kodiaqs sold still have diesel engines – 57 per cent of them. And as it happens, the engine Skoda's gone with suits the Kodiaq rather well. It's almost as smooth as a six-cylinder diesel, and once you're up and running quieter than a few we've tried recently. Advertisement - Page continues below Smooth and quiet? Isn't this supposed to be a performance car? Kinda. As for speed, 236bhp and 369lb ft is supplied to all four wheels through a seven-speed DSG automatic gearbox, with little plastic paddles on the steering wheel for manual shifting. 0-62mph takes a shade under seven seconds, making the Kodiaq vRS brisk, if not massively fast. It accelerates purposefully, with the same kind of satisfying surge you get from brawny diesel engines. The gearbox is smooth too, whether you leave it to its own devices or take control with the disappointingly plastic paddles. But if you do the latter, it has that annoying habit of changing up for you at the redline. Not that anyone who buys one of these will ever notice. Or care. Ok. What else is new? Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Look out for your regular round-up of news, reviews and offers in your inbox. Get all the latest news, reviews and exclusives, direct to your inbox. Besides the more powerful drivetrain, the vRS is pretty much as per lesser Kodiaq 'Sportline' models. Progressive Steering and Dynamic Chassis Control are standard and get vRS-specific software, but both these systems can be specified on regular Kodiaqs. Meanwhile the 'Dynamic Sound Boost' system that adds synthetic noise – both in and outside the car, it varies in tone and volume depending on what drive mode you're in – is new for the vRS and far from the worst we've heard. And, erm, that's about it. Ah. Yep. This is not a radically transformed Kodiaq, although that's not to say there's no fun to be had here. Body control is good, and though feel-less the steering is accurate and easy to get to grips with. Not like some variable systems, where the amount of lock you get seems to arbitrarily change everytime you turn the wheel. The ride's good too, in even the sportiest of the Kodiaq's six selectable drive modes. There's no firm edge, no harsh thumping beyond what you'd bargain for from a car with 20-inch wheels. The trade-off is bigger brakes, which haul the (optionally) seven-seater to a halt admirably swiftly. You can keep the vRS moving at a reasonable rate of speed using only fourth, fifth and sixth gears and a couple of thousand rpm, and it never really feels out of its depth unless you really start to push it. Till then the Kodiaq vRS does a decent job of hiding its 1,800-off kilogram mass, shuffling power between all four wheels as necessary (up to 85 per cent can be sent to any one corner if needs be – though it always feels distinctly all- or front-wheel driven). This means there's more grip than you'll ever need or indeed be able to exceed. But also, no real interactivity or engagement. Least it looks sporty. It does – exactly like the Sportline, which with the 190bhp diesel engine is several grand cheaper. We're talking a massive £42,870 for the vRS, versus £37,450 for the Sportline. And you can get a good, family-friendly Kodiaq with decent kit for much, much less. This is the first vRS to get the new logo, which eschews the traditional green in favour of red, which Skoda says symbolises 'sportiness and power'. The wheels are 20s, both head and tail-lights are of the LED variety and there's a full complement of gloss black trim around the window frames and radiator grilles. Inside there's a matt-finish (faux) carbon dashboard, digital dials, vRS logos everywhere and a chunky set of sports seats we're pleased to report are a) very comfortable, and b) don't eat in to rear-legroom too much. So what's the verdict? The Kodiaq vRS is a fine thing alright. But is it really worth that much more money than a normal Sportline, which save for the engine is mechanically and visually almost identical? The engine in the vRS is a welcome addition to the Kodiaq range – it's really very good, far as four-cylinder diesels go – but it ought to have been added to the Kodiaq range generally, rather than reserved specially for the vRS. You see that name, and your expectations change. It writes cheques the rest of the car has no hope of cashing, because it's basically just a regular Kodiaq with a few minor changes. This is a good car – it's issue is one of marketing. There isn't enough here to justify the substantial premium. It probably shouldn't have a vRS badge. And for that reason, while this is probably the best Kodiaq in a money-no-object kind of way, it's not the one we would buy. Page 3
The Sun
28-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Sun
Iconic sports car brand reveals its very first SUV with focus on ‘light handling' and ‘daily usability'
ICONIC sports car brand Alpine is set to rival the Porsche Macan with its very first performance SUV - called the A390. The French marque - part of the Renault Group - already has two cars in its line-up, the highly-acclaimed A110 sports car and the stunning A290 hot hatchback that's modelled on the new Renault 5. 3 3 3 Now, they're adding a third; an aggressive-looking, all-electric SUV to pit them against the electric Macan Electric and the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N. Described as a crossover-coupe, the A390 will start at around £60,000 - with UK orders to open in November. Much like the A290, Alpine is seemingly attempting to further broaden its product range with the A390, as SUVs continue to be Europe's most popular type of car. Essentially giving the people what they want - a luxury SUV that combines class, power and everyday usability. Size-wise, the A390 matches the Tesla Model Y and Cupra Tavascan - with dimensions of 4.6m long by 1.5m tall - but boasts a corking 464bhp, making it more geared towards the performance SUV range. What's more, using a bespoke tri-motor powertrain, with two at the rear and one at the front, it will feature rear-biased all-wheel drive and torque vectoring to help with agility and responsiveness. Indeed, the tri-motor powertrain is capable of overspeeding the outside wheels in a bend, rather than simply braking the inside wheels, which Alpine says gives a 'much smoother, delicate feeling of control.' Krief told Autocar: 'You can generate a quite immediate response time. It's like the behaviour of a light car.' Inside, it comes with a portrait-oriented touchscreen angled towards the driver, as well as physical controls on the steering wheel and centre console. Like the A290, it has a race-inspired adjustment dial on the steering wheel for the brake regen and the so-called overtake lever that gives the car full-power for short periods - somewhat giving drivers the gimmick of F1's DRS-tech. Alpine A290 GTS delivers a hot hatch EV that comes with F1-style 'overtake button' And for those not keen on the silence of an electric motor, it comes with the option of a synthetic 'Alpine drive sound' inspired by the A110's four-cylinder petrol engine. The standard GT model produces 395bhp, with the 464bhp coming from the top-of-the-range GTS - which hits 0-62mph in 3.9 seconds. For some context, that matches the ultra-light, stripped-out A110 R. The A390 is the second of seven electric cars that Alpine plans to launch, with an electric successor to the A110 next in the pipeline. Then, there's the A310 coming after, said to be a four-door fastback to rival the Polestar 4.
