Bentley introduces extra roomy Bentayga EWB in Korea

Bentley Motors introduced the Bentayga EWB, the roomiest option in the British carmaker's current lineup, to the Korean market on Tuesday.

Bentley's Bentayga EWB, the roomiest option in the British carmaker's current lineup. [BENTLEY SEOUL]

Bentley Motors introduced the Bentayga EWB, the roomiest option in the British carmaker's current lineup, to the Korean market on Tuesday.

It is a long-body version of the Bentayga SUV, first introduced in the local market in 2017.

With EWB standing for "Extended Wheelbase," the extra space is all in the rear door for added legroom. The length has been increased by 180 millimeters (7.1 inches) to 5,305 millimeters.

Design changes are minimal, except for the new vertical vane grille that replaces the usual mesh look up front.

An "airline seat" that allows 40-degree reclined seats that react to body temperature by heating and cooling different sections and adjusting pressure points for maximum comfort. [BENTLEY SEOUL]

An optional "airline seat" is the most notable change, which reclines 40 degrees and reacts to body temperature by heating and cooling different sections while adjusting pressure points for maximum comfort. A footrest folds out from the base of the front seat while the rear seatback reclines.

Equipped with a 4-liter and 8-cylinder turbocharged gasoline engine, the massive SUV generates up to 550 horsepower and 78.5 kilograms-meter of torque. It can reach up to 290 kilometers per hour and takes only 4.6 seconds to reach 100 kilometers per hour from zero.

"While the regular Bentayga targets drivers who drive themselves, the EWB version is for being chauffeured," said Christian Schlick, director of Bentley Motors' Korean operation, during a press event in Seoul Tuesday morning. "Demand for personalization is very high in Korean customers, with EWB completely satisfying that taste."

Schlick did not specify its sales target in Korea but added that "EWB takes up to 40 percent of total Bentayga sales."

The sticker price starts from 340 million won ($260,000) in Korea. Deliveries will begin in the first half of next year.

Korea is the No. 5 market for Bentley and the No. 1 in the Asia-Pacific region. Bentley Motors sold 775 cars in Korea last year, about 38 percent of its total sales in the Asia-Pacific region.

BY SARAH CHEA [chea.sarah@joongang.co.kr]