The Bentley Bentayga Can Be Teamed With The “World’s Largest Carbon Fibre Rim”

Bentley has unveiled its latest creation: 22-inch carbon fibre rims for the Bentayga. Developed in collaboration with Bucci Composites, this swanky unit is the ‘world’s largest carbon fibre rim’ to date. 

Not only is the rim a looker, but it also offers a host of advantages over an aluminium rim, says Bentley. 

• Carbon fibre is lighter and stronger than metal. Each rim reduces the unsprung mass by six kilos compared to an aluminium rim. 

• Thanks to its weight, a carbon fibre rim is more responsive with braking than a standard wheel, says Bentley. 

The carmaker also claims its carbon fibre rim is the first of its kind to comply with Technischer Überwachungsverei (Technical Inspection Association) standards. The wheels underwent rigorous testing, including creating a real-world scenario with simulated potholes to ensure they met all the required criteria and regulations. 

The extremely thorough and careful impact test confirmed the strength of the carbon fibre rim. Compared to the aluminium rim, which shatters under impact, the carbon fibre’s layering of fibre weaves will ensure gradual air loss, allowing you to halt the vehicle in a controlled fashion. 

The rims went through one last test before entering production -- a few hot laps around the 20km Nurburgring circuit in Germany.  

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The rims also go through an intricate production process to ensure they meet the necessary standards. Bentley says, “The process involves the cutting of carbon fibre cloth into prescribed shapes. The weave segments are then stacked, heated and draped into a mould to create three-dimensional preforms. The preforms are collated and arranged into a larger mould before resin and hardener is injected throughout. After curing time at temperature, the component assembly is removed from the mould, and the final surfaces are machined to the correct finish, before polishing.”

The new carbon fibre rim is all well and good. But we are pretty sure it will burn a hole in your pockets. The carmaker will start accepting orders by the end of this year, and we reckon the new rims will be worth the extra money, considering the premium design and various advantages on offer.