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"It's the most sophisticated suspension in the industry," Winkler boasts. "In corners, it does things physics suggest aren't possible." Legendary motorsports champ Derek Bell—a fve-time winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race—agrees. Serving as a consultant, Bell test drives new Bentleys as they're being developed to help refne their driving characteristics. But Bell was so enamored with the Bentayga that he struggled to fnd any faults—especially when it came to the suspension, which he calls "sensational." Two of his suggestions that have been implemented were tweaking the gear ratio for smoother highway accelera- tion and backing of the sensitivity of the lane-keeping system to allow for aggressive maneuvering. Drivers can choose between four standard settings—Sport, Bentley, Comfort and Custom—to match driving conditions and personal preferences, adjusting ride height, throttle mapping and shift points. An optional of-road package adds four more settings to optimize performance over various terrains, ranging from slick snow and ice to loose gravel, muddy trails and sand dunes. Although most Bentayga owners won't stray far from the pavement, Winkler says they still want the rugged, of-road bona fdes—the SUV's name after all is derived from a transcontinental snow forest and a rugged peak in the Canary Islands. Winkler claims the Bentayga's of-road capabilities are second only to Range Rover, thanks to more than a million miles of testing that included stints in the Arctic Circle and on the sand dunes of Dubai as well as track time on Germany's demanding Nurburgring Nordschleife circuit. INSIDE-OUT CUSTOMIZATION The Bentayga's cabin is a veritable palace, fush with high-end appointments and rich materials (intricately stitched leathers and as many as 15 wood veneers) as well as unparalleled craftsman- ship and attention to detail. The 118-inch wheelbase provides ample room to stretch out and enjoy the ride in either the four- or fve-seat confgurations. The seats have a wide-range of settings— including heating, cooling and massaging functions. The driver's seat is positioned slightly higher than the front seat passenger's to enhance visibility. Rear-seat passengers get their own Android tablets. 28 COVER STORY