In recent decades, virtually all manufacturers have jumped on the “First Edition” trend and Bentley is no different. First editions usually have more optional equipment as standard, a limited production run, and some bespoke details to set them apart from the standard model. And such is the story with the 2017 Bentayga First Edition. The Bentayga gets some interesting exterior details that make it instantly recognizable and the interior is as luxurious as it gets with again, some details exclusive to the First Edition. The First Edition went on sale pretty much at the same time as other Bentaygas in 2015 and even the production numbers were limited, the general demand was so high that the last ones were delivered in 2017. Naturally, the First Edition cost significantly more than the starting price of a standard Bentayga, but customers did get their money's worth. That said, the drivetrain remained unchanged which isn't necessarily a bad thing as we will explain later. For now, you can head over to our Exotic Car Trader search engine if you are in the market for a 2017 Bentayga as we always have a few examples for sale.
The 2017 Bentayga falls in the first generation of the model. And the First Edition was offered pretty much right from the start and interestingly, all were sold out before the model even entered production. That’s not too surprising considering that the Bentayga is the first ever Bentley SUV and one of the fastest SUVs money can buy even today. Moreover, Bentley limited the production of the First Edition models to only 608 which makes up about 6% of the total Bentley sales until 2018. Because of the high demand and long waiting lists, the last First Edition Bentaygas were sold in 2017. But the 2017 Bentayga First Edition is the same as those sold in 2016 as the model didn’t receive a facelift until 2020 and new engines until 2018. All of this means that finding a used 2017 First Edition is no easy task, but the older models are much the same although they will likely have higher mileage. Bentley also released a First Edition of the latest Bentayga in 2020 thanks to the popularity of the first model, and those were also offered with the smaller V8 engine.
Considering that the Bentayga was only offered with the big W12 until 2018, that means each individual Bentayga is significantly different inside than the next one. That’s thanks to a ton of factory customization options and since the W12 model is so expensive, owners didn’t shy away from making their Bentayga stand out from the crowd. And while that should make it somewhat difficult to distinguish a First Edition Bentayga from the standard model, in reality, it’s not. First and foremost, the First Edition has those words embroidered on all seats and everyone who climbs into one will be able to read them. Next, First Editions get bespoke leather quilting, and interior lighting. The First Edition also gets a ton of optional equipment as standard such as different driver aids, higher end interior trim options, illuminated tread plates and more. Essentially, the First Edition is much like a promotional car for journalists which always have all the boxes ticked off to promote all the optional features the model has. Lastly, all first buyers of the 2017 Bentayga First Edition got a bespoke Breitling watch. Three different designs were offered for customers to choose from, including downsized models for ladies.
The exterior of the first Bentayga was always a bit controversial. The bulky SUV was always a little too flashy for everyone’s liking, and the design adopted from the Continental GT coupe inherently looked off once it’s stretched over such a big chassis. Even so, nobody can say that the Bentayga is a bad looking vehicle. The giant front grille immediately gives it away as being both British and expensive. And in the back, the two giant exhaust tips tell everyone that this luxury SUV is also supercar quick. And one of the things that sets the 2017 Bentayga First Edition from the rest of the lineup are the giant 22 inch wheels which were exclusive to the First Edition. The five spoke concave wheels looked sportier than any wheel option on the Bentayga. The customers could have them in black, silver or in the most popular finish with a polished face and black barrel. Also, all First Editions got a proud Union Flag badge behind the front wheels which stands out regardless of which of the ten bespoke First Edition colors the customer chose. Other than that, the exterior trim options remained the same and that was chrome or black.
The 2017 Bentayga First Edition uses the same engine and transmission as the standard Bentayga. That’s the only engine on offer at the time, a 6 liter, twin turbocharged W12 with 608 horsepower. The power goes through an 8 speed dual clutch transmission and powers all four wheels. That also means the drivetrain is virtually unchanged between the 2017 First Edition and the latest W12 Bentayga. The W12 also makes 664 lb-ft of torque which helps move this 5,400 pound mountain to 60 in just 3.9 seconds. That’s impressively fast for an SUV of this size even with all the power it has. Even more impressively, the Bentayga has a top speed of 187 mph which at the time made it the fastest production SUV in the world. Of course, stopping such a massive vehicle just as difficult as getting it to move. That’s why Bentley fitted it with 440 mm front brake rotors which were the biggest rotors ever fitted to a production car when it first came out. And squeezing the rotors are an equally impressive ten piston calipers. As for handling, the Bentayga carries its own weight in a well behaved and safe manner.
When the Bentayga came out in 2016 it had a starting price of around $230,000. The 2017 Bentayga First Edition on the other hand started at $290,000. However, that $60,000 price difference has since faded away. Today, you can pick up a standard Bentayga for an average price of around $140,000 while a 2017 Bentayga First Edition goes for an average of $150,000. Of course, the prices vary widely depending on the mileage and the condition of the example but the price difference is still minimal. That said, a 2017 Bentayga First Edition doesn’t come up for sale that often and when it does, it’s among the first ones to sell thanks to all the optional equipment and exclusivity it has.
Although the standard Bentayga will draw in as much attention as a vehicle with four wheels can, the First Edition definitely takes it up a notch. Not only does it get you all the optional bells and whistles available at the time, plus some bespoke details, it’s also a good conversation piece, plus it’s easier to sell once the time comes. And whether you are selling or looking to buy a Bentayga, Exotic Car Trader is here to help. When selling a luxury car through Exotic Car Trader you get escrow protection, vehicle inspection, delivery and we handle all the important paperwork. The same goes when you are selling a car through Exotic Car Trader or are looking to trade your car with one of our current sellers.
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