Bentley Bentayga Atelier Edition

FIRST DRIVE Modern SUV fashion and luxury tradition are perfectly balanced in British brand's designer-led Bentayga

- Alex Ingram

THIS is the Bentley Bentayga Atelier Edition - a £197,700 version of the brand's sole SUV which dips into Bentley's most luxurious and exclusive Mulliner line. The result, in Bentley's words, is a "clean, contemporary luxury aesthetic".

Despite the contemporary claim, the Atelier seems to take a more traditional set of colours and designs than the more sporting S models in the line-up - and after our encounter with the car in these pictures, we think that's a very good thing.

Setting an Atelier Edition apart from the outside is a series of small but subtle upgrades to the standard Bentayga package.

At the front, there's a dual-layer grille; the front vertical vanes are coated in chrome, while a more intricate panel behind gets a softer satin-silver effect. Both of these finishes are found elsewhere, the latter highlighting sections of the front and rear bumpers, plus the backing of the unique Atelier Edition badges. The 22-inch 10-spoke alloy wheels also get a satin finish.

The deep green paint is named 'Light Emerald' and it looks glorious. It's one of six colour combinations from the Mulliner range that Bentley has curated for the Atelier Edition, although customers are free to specify their own car however they like.

Inside, the Atelier Edition takes a much more traditional approach to luxury.