What's this then?
This is the Bentley Bentayga V8 petrol.
Gosh, that's large.
Yes, but the engine is now smaller. Alongside the existing 6.0-litre W12 engine (and the V8 diesel) you can now have this 4.0-litre twin-turbo engine. It's familiar from other VW Group applications, and here develops 550hp and 770Nm of torque, fed by two twin-scroll turbos nestling in the vee of the engine.
Is it quick?
Like a stately home with rocket-assist, sir. Bentley says it will scamper from 0-62mph in 4.5 seconds, and on to a top speed of 180mph.
Thirsty, too, I expect?
Oh yes. Average fuel economy is 24.5mpg, while it has emissions of 260g/km. Not an economy model, but then the W12 manages 21.6mpg and 296g/km in comparison.
Anything else?
Well, alongside the already lengthy Bentayga spec list (48-volt active anti-roll, air suspension, 'predictive' cruise control that uses the sat-nav to pick its speeds, 60GB hard drive, eight-inch touchscreen, 10.2-inch tablet for those in the back... the list goes on and on) you can now have some new items.
On the mechanical front, you can now spec the Bentyaga with enormous, biggest-of-any-production-car 440mm carbon-ceramic brake discs (with 370mm rotors at the back) that feature 10-pot callipers and can exert a braking force of some 6,000Nm. This should feel roughly like running into a granite cliff-face. There are also new 22-inch alloy wheels to wrap around those brakes, and if you don't fancy the ceramic discs, there are now optional bright-red brake calipers for the standard steel discs.
Inside, if you're not keen on tree, you can now replace the interior wood with carbon-fibre. There's also a new wood-and-leather steering wheel (with seven wood options), and a new red leather finish called Cricket Ball.
They hadn't seen The Ashes result before deciding on that, had they?
We suspect not.
Neil Briscoe - 12 Jan 2018