The 2025 Goodwood Festival of Speed got up in thrilling fashion, with Bentley making headlines by setting a new record for the fastest internal combustion engine (ICE) SUV to conquer the iconic hill climb.
The new Bentley Bentayga Speed completed the Goodwood Hill run in an astonishing 55.8 seconds, shattering the previous record held by its W12-powered predecessor—and doing so in wet conditions.
This feat cements its place in the festival’s history as the fastest ICE-powered production SUV to take on the course.
Behind the wheel was Bentley’s vehicle dynamics specialist Andy Marson, who pushed the luxury performance SUV to its limits despite the slippery track, following a pre-race shower.
“To achieve this time on a wet surface shows just how far we’ve taken performance and stability in the new Bentayga Speed,” said Marson.
Performance Redefined
The Bentayga Speed is powered by a 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8, producing 650 horsepower and a torque of 850 Nm. It accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.6 seconds, with a top speed of 310 km/h, making it not just a luxury SUV, but a high-performance machine in its own right.
Complementing the raw performance is a host of enhancements aimed at driver engagement and dynamic stability. A reworked Sport chassis mode, newly calibrated ESC Dynamic settings, and a Sports exhaust system help bring a more visceral driving experience. The Sport mode has been further optimized to deliver increased steering response, improved roadholding, and greater driver connection, aided by a 15% stiffer suspension damping setup.
A Statement at Speed
What makes this record even more impressive is the fact that it came under less-than-ideal conditions. Beating a previous dry-run record by nearly a second, the 2025 Bentayga Speed demonstrated that Bentley’s latest evolution of the model isn’t just about opulence—it’s built for precision and pace.
The record run at Goodwood is more than just a headline-grabber for Bentley; it’s a statement of intent from a brand blending tradition with performance innovation as it prepares for a future increasingly dominated by electrification.
While the Bentley brand is expected to go fully electric by 2030, the 2025 Bentayga Speed serves as a defiant and thrilling reminder of what internal combustion can still achieve at its peak.
