Back in 2016, Bentley introduced a new diesel variant of its Bentayga SUV, the first diesel model the brand has ever sold. The 4.0-liter V8 delivered a whopping 429 horsepower and 664 lb-ft of torque but was never sold in the United States where diesel just isn't popular. Now, even Europe is starting to move away from diesel, making a $176,300 SUV like the Bentayga Diesel a tough sell. According to Autocar, Bentley just cannot justify selling the diesel Bentayga anymore and will discontinue it in Europe.

Bentley says "Over recent months, the political legislative conditions have changed in Europe, and a significant shift in attitude towards diesel-powered cars has been widely documented. These factors, alongside the recent introduction of the new Bentayga V8 and our strategic decision to focus on electrification in the future, have led to us taking the decision to offer only petrol Bentayga derivatives in European markets from September 2018."

The diesel model will still be sold in 13 markets such as Australia, Russia, and South Africa. People who want the most efficient Bentayga model will now have to opt for the hybrid model.

Bentley didn't specify what percentage of Bentayga sales were comprised of diesel models, but with W12, V8, and V6 hybrid engines also available, it likely wasn't a significant portion. In the UK, there were 815 W12, 518 diesel, and 115 V8 Bentaygas registered on the road. That is a fairly significant ratio for the diesel, but it's hard to predict whether other European countries were similar.

Interestingly, the Bentayga is likely to be the first and final diesel model sold by the brand. Depending on how many were actually built during its short two-year lifespan, the diesel Bentayga could end up becoming a rare collectible in the future.