Though you wouldn’t normally associate ultra-luxury carmakers, like Bentley, with rough-and-tumble off-roading — a space dominated by Land Rover; it hasn’t stopped plush brands (Rolls-Royce included) from developing their own version of the SUV.

Bentley has officially launched the massive Bentayga. Pitched as both powerful and exquisite, this SUV might be more than capable of covering unpaved, stony terrain without a hitch, but would probably also be the last car you’d climb into with mud-soaked boots after countryside exploration.

The Bentayga has been tested in mixed environments around the world — from typical everyday city driving to more challenging conditions like the icy Arctic Circle; comfortably ascending and descending up to 35-degree inclination (a Land Rover can ascend and descend a 45-degree incline) and wading through a maximum depth of 500mm.

Its W12 engine, first created in 2002, has been redesigned — a joint development with Volkswagen to create the new six-litre, twin-turbocharged W12 TSI. The Bentayga can go from 0-100km/h in 4.1 seconds — extremely fast considering its size — and hits a top speed of 301km/h.

In the cabin, its specially designed leather seats with diamond-quilted stitching were inspired by the tailored hunter’s jacket. The four-seater has rear massage functionality, while the five-seater rear seats can be folded down to extend the boot space.

Several Driver Assistance Systems make the Bentayga a breeze to take out for long drives, such as High Beam assist, which automatically dips the headlights when oncoming cars appear and Blind Spot Warning, detecting approaching vehicles from speeds of 10km/h to 250km/h. When you’re out touring at night, the car has its own version of night-vision goggles — an infra-red camera displays the road ahead beyond the range of the headlights, especially useful to spot and avoid crossing wildlife.

Is this Bentley’s first SUV? No, but it is the first to go into production. In 1994, it created the Bentley Dominator, a cross-country concept built on a Range Rover chassis. Back then, six Dominators were commissioned by the Brunei royal family. Another is the 2012 Bentley EXP 9F SUV concept, which drew criticism for its less-than-elegant looks.

Bentley at Wearnes Automotive, 45 Leng Kee Road, 6378 2628, bentley.sales@wearnes.com