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I still cannot get over the silly name they chose... "Bent ayga"
What were theose chaps thinking?
What happened to Torque is cheap5 torquiest SUVs you can buy new in South Africa
Many of us are guilty of it. You know, fixating on a vehicle’s peak power output without even a cursory glance in the general direction of the torque column.
But, when it comes to often-hefty SUVs, maximum twisting force is essential to overall performance, both off the beaten track and on tarmac.
So, we’ve decided to take a look at exactly which SUVs currently on South Africa’s new vehicle market (we’ve had to exclude the Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk since that monster is due to arrive only in 2018) produce the most torque. And, no, all are not diesel-powered…
1. Bentley Bentayga (W12 and Diesel): 900 N.m
Bentley Bentayga South Africa’s torque king in the SUV segment is the Bentayga. Interestingly, both the 447 kW 6,0-litre, W12-powered petrol flagship and the 320 kW 4,0-litre V8 oil-burner make 900 N.m, although the former’s is on tap across a slightly wider rev-range, from 1 250 r/min all the way through to 4 500 r/min. The W12 sprints to three figures in a claimed 4,1 seconds and starts at R3 987 000, while the Diesel is about seven-tenths slower and a little easier on the wallet at R2 950 000…
2. Porsche Cayenne S diesel: 850 N.m
Porsche Cayenne The third-generation Cayenne may have been revealed (although no word yet on a diesel derivative), but the outgoing model is still on sale in South Africa (deliveries of the new model start in June 2018). And specifying an oil-burning engine (from R1 347 000) will buy you a positively stonking 850 N.m. Thanks to the 283 kW 4,1-litre V8, you can expect a 0-100 km/h time of around 5,4 seconds. Of course, the petrol versions aren’t far behind in the torque stakes, with the Turbo variant offering 750 N.m and the Turbo S derivative raising that figure to 800 N.m.
3. Volkswagen Touareg V8 TDI Executive R-Line: 800 N.m
Volkswagen Touareg Although an all-new Touareg is very much on the way, the second-generation model (which is related to the Cayenne above) soldiers on in the meantime, with the diesel derivative churning out 250 kW and a considerable 800 N.m courtesy of a 4,1-litre V8 oil-burner, mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. VW claims that this R1 232 500, all-wheel-drive SUV will hit three figures from standstill in 5,8 seconds, before topping out at 242 km/h.
4. Mercedes-AMG G63, GLS63 and GLE63 S: 760 N.m
Mercedes-AMG GLS63 Affalterbach’s 5,5-litre turbocharged V8 petrol engine finds itself under the bonnet of the G63 (R2 399 028), GLS63 (R2 378 352) and GLE63 S (R2 083 884), with the latter also available in pseudo-coupé form. In the GLS (0-100 km/h in 4,6 seconds) and GLE S (0-100 km/h in 4,2 seconds) derivatives, the eight-pot makes 430 kW, while the G63 (0-100 km/h in 5,4 seconds) makes do with a 10 kW deficit.
5. BMW X5 M and X6 M: 750 N.m
BMW X5 M and X6 M The X5 M and X6 M twins take the fifth and final place on the list. Each of the two BMWs – priced at R1 938 932 and R1 978 232 respectively – is powered by a 4,4-litre turbocharged V8 petrol engine worth 423 kW and 750 N.m. An eight-speed auto links this eight-cylinder unit to all four wheels, allowing a claimed 0-100 km/h time of 4,2 seconds (and an electronically limited top speed of 250 km/h).
http://www.carmag.co.za/news_post/5-torquiest-suvs-you-can-buy-new-in-south-africa/





















Bentley is today announcing full details of the world’s first luxury hybrid model. The Bentayga Hybrid represents Bentley’s first step towards full electrification, combining the serenity of silent motoring with exquisite comfort and effortless performance.
Offering the best of both worlds, the new plug-in hybrid model combines an advanced electric motor with a powerful and efficient new-generation V6 petrol engine. The hybrid version of the world’s most luxurious SUV will be the company’s most efficient model ever with CO2 emissions of 75 g/km (NEDC).
The Bentayga Hybrid feels and rides like a true Bentley, providing the refinement, effortless performance and exquisitely tranquil cabin environment for which the luxury British brand is famed. It represents the future of luxury mobility; an oasis of calm and tranquillity in the city and beyond.
Adrian Hallmark, new Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Bentley Motors, said: “The Bentayga Hybrid is our first step on the road to electrification, combining traditional Bentley values with the very latest technologies. It gives customers the best of both worlds – engaging, effortless performance on the open road and silent, emission-free driving in the city, which will become increasingly important with the ever-changing regulations around the world.
“Following Bentley tradition, the Bentayga Hybrid pioneers a new automotive sector – the luxury hybrid – and sets Bentley on the path towards a sustainable electrified future.”
Bentayga Hybrid is not yet available to order. It will become available to order in selected markets from the second half of 2018.
Intelligent, Experience-Enhancing Technology
At the heart of the Bentayga Hybrid are two power sources – a highly efficient electric motor and a new turbocharged 3.0-litre V6 petrol engine. The E Motor acts as both an electric motor and a generator to offer a seamless driving experience and guaranteeing maximum electric-only range.
The Hybrid adds a new dimension to the existing range of luxury Bentayga models. It features all the flexibility associated with the W12, V8 Diesel and V8 derivatives, with the same sure-footed permanent four-wheel drive and four on-road modes – Sport, Bentley, Comfort and Custom.
The Automatic Start-Stop switch is replaced with a control for the three E Modes – EV Drive, Hybrid Mode and Hold Mode. These will enable the driver to manage battery usage during a journey.
The Bentayga Hybrid requires new and different information to be relayed to the driver. As a result, a revised infotainment screen and Driver’s Information Panel with E Motion information have been designed to provide details on performance, consumption and energy source.
The traditional tachometer that displays engine speed is replaced with a dial showing when the car is operating in pure EV Drive, or engine speed if the combustion engine is operating. A battery status dial replaces the coolant temperature gauge.
The infotainment screen can display energy flow in each of the three E Modes, showing whether the vehicle is being powered by energy supplied by the battery, or the combustion engine – or whether energy is flowing back to the battery in order to charge it.
To maximise efficiency, the vehicle uses satellite navigation information to calculate the best usage of electric motor and engine for every journey. Inputting a destination into the navigation system will command the car to automatically engage the correct E Mode for each part of the journey, constantly calculating the most efficient use of battery charge and storing electrical energy for sections of the journey where it is most useful – such as when arriving in the city. The system will reduce on-board charge to zero just as the vehicle reaches its destination, maximising overall efficiency.
A number of Hybrid-specific functions will also be introduced to the latest Connected Car ‘MyBentley3’ services, including My Battery Charge, My Cabin Comfort, and My Car Status, operated via a smartphone app.
Bentley has prioritised the charging experience to ensure that owning a Bentayga Hybrid is as easy as owning a conventional car. Controllable remotely from a Smartphone, or in-person via the on-board charging point, the charging status and programming will be visible on the MMI drivers’ screen and on the user’s smartphone via an app.
Other unique features include E-Charging, where the app will list nearby or relevant charging stations (based on your search criteria), and give you the option to set them as destinations on the car navigation system; and My Cabin Comfort which allows you to set the car to heat (or cool) itself so that the cabin is at the optimum temperature when the door is opened.
The Bentayga Hybrid’s Vehicle Charge Point is located on the opposite side to the normal fuel filler. From here, the car can be connected to either a domestic power supply, or a public charger point. The rear luggage compartment will hold two bespoke bags containing the necessary cables to connect the car to either.
With an impressive electric range of over 31 miles (50 km) in the NEDC cycle, a full charge of the battery from a domestic household socket will take 7.5 hours. However, customers with an industrial connection installed at home can reduce the charge time to just 2.5 hours.