Bentley’s Wild Bentayga X Concept Is Proof That Even Ultra-Luxury Wants to Get Dirty

January 30, 2026 Francis Mitterrand

Bentley has spent more than a century perfecting the art of wafting, not wading. Yet here we are: the Bentayga X Concept, a jacked-up, light-bar-wearing, off-road-ready monster that looks like it just escaped from a Dakar bivouac after stealing a private jet on the way out. And somehow, it makes perfect sense.

Officially, Bentley calls the X Concept a “stimulator”—a rolling focus group meant to gauge customer interest in a more hardcore Bentayga. Unofficially, it’s Bentley kicking down the door of the luxury-off-road trend and shouting, “We’re here too.”

Underneath the mud-splattered attitude is the familiar Bentayga Speed, meaning the twin-turbo 4.0-liter V-8 still sends 641 horsepower to all four wheels. That’s more than enough muscle to shove this 2.5-ton SUV through sand, snow, or whatever expensive terrain Bentley owners feel like conquering next.

But this isn’t just a Bentayga with knobby tires. The X Concept rides 55 mm higher and is 40 mm wider, with a track stretched by a massive 120 mm. Ground clearance climbs to nearly 310 mm, and Bentley says it can wade through 550 mm of water—roughly bathtub depth for a vehicle that still has quilted leather seats inside.

The suspension hardware is serious too. The Bentayga’s air suspension and active anti-roll bars remain, meaning it should still cruise with Bentley smoothness on the highway while offering genuine articulation off the pavement. The 22-inch Brixton wheels are wrapped in tall all-terrain rubber, finally giving a Bentayga tires that look like they belong on a trail instead of a red carpet.

Then there’s the vibe. The X Concept wears a roof rack holding four spotlights and—because this is Bentley—an electric go-kart. It’s ridiculous, unnecessary, and completely on-brand. If you’re going to overland in a Bentley, you might as well bring toys.

Bentley plans to show off the X Concept at the FAT Ice Race in Salzburg, where it will be driven by Chris Harris, former Autocar journalist and now one of the world’s most famous automotive broadcasters. Even better, it will be towing Norwegian Olympic skier Hedvig Wessel, because nothing says “brand image” like pulling a world-class athlete across an icy track with a 641-horsepower luxury SUV.

This Bentley isn’t an outlier—it’s part of a growing movement. The first-generation Porsche Cayenne has become a cult hero among off-road modifiers, and manufacturers themselves are joining in. Porsche built the 911 Dakar, Lamborghini unleashed the Huracán Sterrato, and Morgan turned its Plus Four into a rally-ready CX-T. High-end performance cars are no longer afraid of dirt, gravel, or snow.

Bentley’s X Concept fits squarely into that trend, but with its own ultra-luxury twist. Instead of stripping things out for ruggedness, Bentley adds capability without removing the indulgence. It’s not about survival—it’s about conquering the wilderness while still arriving in heated, diamond-stitched comfort.

Whether or not Bentley green-lights a production version, the message is clear: the era of soft-road luxury SUVs is over. The new goal is real off-road credibility, even at six-figure price tags.

And if Bentley does build it? The Bentayga X might become the ultimate status symbol—not for the valet line, but for the trailhead.

Source: Autocar

News

New BMW Logo Arrives in February Across the Entire Lineup

January 30, 2026 Francis Mitterrand

BMW just did what every brand swears it won’t do: it quietly changed one of the most recognizable logos in the car world and barely told anyone. No big reveal. No marketing blitz. No dramatic “new era” campaign. Instead, the revised BMW roundel slipped into the wild last September on the 2026 iX3, and most people walked right past it without realizing anything was different.

But starting this February, you’ll be seeing it everywhere.

The new badge will roll out across every BMW model—gas, hybrid, electric, M cars, everything. If it has a blue-and-white roundel on the hood, it’s getting the new one.

What Changed (and Why You Didn’t Notice)

At first glance, the new BMW logo looks… exactly like the old BMW logo. That’s intentional. The updates are microscopic, but they reflect a bigger shift in how BMW wants to present itself in the Neue Klasse era.

Here’s what’s different:

The inner chrome ring—the one that used to separate the black outer band from the blue-and-white Bavarian flag—is gone.
The chrome outline around the flag itself is also gone.
The black outer ring is now satin matte instead of glossy.
The blue and white colors are more vibrant and richer than before.

In other words, BMW flattened and cleaned up the logo without going fully digital or cartoonish. It’s still a physical badge, still premium, just more modern and more precise.

And if you’re wondering about those light-blue rings that used to mark BMW plug-in hybrids and EVs? Those are history. BMW has officially ditched the visual distinction between combustion and electrified models. The new badge is universal, no matter what’s powering the car.

BMW Says It’s Still Premium—Just Sharper

BMW design boss Oliver Heilmer—who oversees everything from the 3 Series and X3 to M cars—says the goal wasn’t to erase BMW’s heritage, but to sharpen it.

“We wanted to keep the heritage, but bring more precision to the logo,” Heilmer explains. “The chrome is still there, the letters have been refined with a shiny pattern you often find in watches, and the white surfaces now sit closer to the outer ring. It’s flat, but when you touch it you can still feel the ridges.”

That detail is key. Unlike the completely flat, screen-ready logos adopted by brands like VW and Nissan, BMW is keeping a three-dimensional, tactile badge on the hood. It’s minimalist, but not cheap-looking.

This is BMW saying, Yes, we’re modernizing—but we’re still a luxury brand.

Yes, You Can Already Buy One

Because this is the internet, the new badge is already out in the wild. The part number for the 2026 iX3 roundel is 51145A7A678, and it’s already appearing at some European retailers. BMW warns, however, that it may not fit perfectly on current models.

For now, BMW has only confirmed that the new emblem will appear on the hood. Whether it will also show up on the trunk, wheel center caps, or steering wheel remains unclear.

Even the M Logo Is Getting a Makeover

Perhaps the most intriguing detail is that BMW has also confirmed a new M logo is coming next month. The brand hasn’t shown it yet, but given the direction of the standard roundel, don’t be surprised if the “world’s most powerful letter” gets a flatter, more contemporary look.

If that happens, it will mark one of the biggest visual shifts in BMW M history—right up there with the first tri-color stripes.

A Tiny Change That Signals a Big One

BMW’s new logo isn’t designed to shock you. It’s designed to age well. It’s cleaner, more modern, and better suited for a future where BMWs will be as likely to run on electrons as on premium fuel.

You might not notice it at first.

But that’s the point.

Source: BMW

News

A Century of Alfa Romeo Passion on Display

January 29, 2026 Francis Mitterrand

If you want to understand why Alfa Romeo is more than just another badge, walk into Hall 7.2 at Retromobile and follow the red. The Italian marque’s stand at the 50th anniversary edition of the Paris classic-car show isn’t just a display—it’s a rolling autobiography, told in aluminum, leather, and gasoline fumes.

This year’s Retromobile is the biggest yet, but Alfa Romeo has built something closer to a shrine. Called “Roads of Emotion,” the exhibit links some of the company’s most evocative machines—from a 1950s racing prototype to a brand-new Tonale crossover—into one continuous narrative: the joy of driving, no matter the decade.

For a brand that built its reputation on steering feel and mechanical poetry, it’s a message that still rings loudly.

From Movie Star to Motorsport Royalty

At the center of the display sits the 1600 Spider “Duetto” (1966), the curvaceous roadster that made Alfa Romeo a pop-culture icon long before influencers existed. Designed by Pininfarina as a clean break from the Giulietta Spider, the Duetto’s smooth, boat-tailed shape looked like nothing else on the road when it arrived. Its reputation was sealed when a young Dustin Hoffman drove one through California in The Graduate, with “Mrs. Robinson” playing in the background. Few cars have ever been so effortlessly cool.

Sixty years later, the Duetto still radiates the same romantic appeal: small, light, and built around a rev-happy four-cylinder that turns driving into an event rather than a commute.

Then there’s the opposite end of Alfa’s personality spectrum: the 33/2 Periscopica (1967). This was the opening chapter in Alfa Romeo’s most successful sports-racing dynasty, a car that helped launch a decade of victories at Le Mans, the Targa Florio, and beyond. The Periscopica gets its nickname from the giant roof-mounted air intake that feeds its 2.0-liter V-8, and it looks every bit as wild as it sounds. It debuted by winning its very first hill climb, which is about as Alfa Romeo as it gets.

If that car represents Alfa’s racing glory, the 750 Competizione (1955) shows its experimental side. Built as a potential 1500-cc sports racer, it used a heavily modified Giulietta engine and an Abarth-built chassis wrapped in Boano bodywork. Only two were ever made. It’s weird, rare, and deeply fascinating—the kind of machine that could only come from a company willing to take big technical risks in the name of speed.

Old Souls, New Skin

Next to all this history sits something unexpected: the new Alfa Romeo Tonale. In most classic-car halls, a modern SUV would feel out of place. Here, it feels deliberate.

The Tonale, especially in its Sport Speciale trim with Rosso Brera paint and 20-inch wheels, is Alfa Romeo’s attempt to translate its DNA into a form today’s buyers actually want. It has Brembo brakes, one of the quickest steering racks in the segment, and a chassis tuned to feel alive instead of numb. Whether powered by a diesel, a mild hybrid, or a 270-horsepower plug-in hybrid with all-wheel drive, it’s meant to drive like an Alfa, not just look like one.

And that’s the point of the whole exhibit: Alfa Romeo isn’t pretending its past was better. It’s saying its future still matters.

Preserving the Soul

Behind the scenes, Alfa Romeo Classiche and Stellantis Heritage are doing the hard work of keeping that soul intact. Their programs certify, restore, and authenticate vintage Alfas, from issuing original build sheets to performing full factory-level restorations. Through the Reloaded by Creators initiative, Alfa even sells factory-restored collector cars, including a limited run of 4C coupes honoring DTM champion Nicola Larini.

It’s a reminder that heritage, when done right, isn’t nostalgia—it’s stewardship.

What makes Alfa Romeo’s Retromobile stand special isn’t just the cars. It’s how clearly they connect. From the Duetto’s wind-in-your-hair freedom, to the 33/2’s racing ferocity, to the Tonale’s modern tech-infused sportiness, everything points back to the same idea: driving should stir something inside you.

In an era when many cars feel like appliances, Alfa Romeo is still betting on emotion. At Retromobile 2026, surrounded by some of the greatest machines it has ever built, that bet feels like a sure thing.

Source: Alfa Romeo

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