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Bentley Bentayga will be the world's fastest SUV

Bentley is getting close to unveiling the Bentayga crossover. And this latest preview clip packs a punch. The Bentayga is depicted in the video above and the images below undergoing high-speed testing on an oval test track (albeit still under camouflage). And with it comes some interesting figures. First, Bentley confirms the Bentayga will adopt a new 6.0-liter W12 TSI engine. Revealed this past May in Vienna, the engine still features the same unique layout and twin-turbo setup, but features a new injection system and other advancements to deliver 600 horsepower and 664 pound-feet of torque. That will make the Bentayga, in Bentley's own words, "the fastest, most powerful SUV in the world." To back up the claim, it's showing the ultra-luxe sport-ute reaching a top speed of 301 kilometers per hour. That's 187 miles per hour to us, or a good 11 mph faster than the Porsche Cayenne Turbo S and 25 mph clear of the Range Rover Sport SVR. In other words, as far as top speed in SUVs is concerned, the Bentayga will be the new king of the hill... for now, at least. BENTAYGA: EXPLORING THE LIMITS OF PERFORMANCE Bentayga reaches 301 km/h, making it the fastest SUV in the world (Crewe, 04 September 2015) The all-new W12 TSI engine is the most technically advanced 12-cylinder in the world, delivering the best combination of power, torque and efficiency of any car in its class. With a top speed of 301km/h, the Bentayga will be the fastest, most powerful SUV in the world. This film provides a glimpse of what is to come: a unique combination of performance and luxury. Performance of this nature is rare in any car. It was unheard of in an SUV – until now.

Bentley Bentayga plug-in hybrid spied using V6 power

Bentley confirmed plans for a plug-in hybrid version of the Bentayga in early 2015 and said the electric SUV would be ready for 2017. It seems that the luxury automaker will keep its word, because one of our spy photographers spotted this nearly undisguised model out testing. It looks identical to the normal Bentayga, with the exception of an additional little flap on the left side for a plug. Although Bentley confirmed the hybrid's development way back in 2015, it left out a few details about what the powertrain would be, only saying it would either be a V8 or a V6. Our spy photographer was able to shed some light on this by looking up the prototype's registration. Apparently it has a 3.0-liter engine under its proud hood, so it's a reasonable bet the Bentayga has a V6. Since Bentley promised the hybrid would be ready for 2017, and because this car is hiding almost nothing, we would expect to see the car make a full debut by the end of the year. It should have an electric range of just over 30 miles. Related Video: Featured Gallery Bentley Bentayga plug-in hybrid spy shots View 12 Photos Image Credit: CarPix Green Spy Photos Bentley Crossover SUV Hybrid Luxury bentley bentayga

If VW defaults on loans it may sell Bentley or Lamborghini

If something goes catastrophically wrong with Volkswagen Group's recent $21 billion loan, brands like Bentley or Lamborghini could hit the auction block. According to two insiders to Reuters, the beleaguered German automaker agrees with its creditors to sell assets if the company somehow can't pay back the debt in a year. One of these anonymous people claimed the company hasn't yet deliberated over what to sell. However, the sources were willing to speculate that the power engineering portion of Man could be among the first to go. "Volkswagen may also consider divesting luxury car brands Bentley and Lamborghini or motor bike brand Ducati, although these units don't really move the needle," an insider said to Reuters. VW Group negotiated with the banks earlier this week to get the massive loan. The cash is necessary as a buffer in case the automaker doesn't have enough money on hand to repair vehicles or settle upcoming fines. VW would reportedly issue bonds in the spring to begin paying the debt. The company's bills will start racking up quickly in the new year. German authorities mandate a recall there in early 2016, and repair campaigns in the US for the 2.0- and 3.0-liter diesel engines are inevitable. There are also hundreds of class-action lawsuits to settle. The company needs to resolve its CO2 emissions scandal in Europe, too. In response to these financial threats, VW management created a cost-cutting plan to slash the research and development budget by $1.1 billion next year.