RAYS VOLK RACING G025GC

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BENTLEY BENTAYGA

Concept is racing

This Bentayga is fitted with Blast Black 2, which features a deep black color. There is also Shining Light Metal, which is a lustrous silver color. Only 22-inch size is available. — Using Rays’ patented AMT (Advanced Machining Technology), the brand logo and other details are engraved into the center part and rim. The center cap also has a textured mating area to emphasize the three-dimensional effect. The 2 x 5 spokes gradually become thinner as they reach the very end of the rim. The areas between the spokes are hollowed out to remove excess material, further reducing weight. The “MADE IN JAPAN” engraving on the back of the wheel shows the spirit of Rays.

As symbolized by the achievements of the Bentley Boys, who won the 24 Hours of Le Mans five times, including four consecutive years, within 10 years of the company’s founding, Bentley, with its history spanning more than a century, was particularly known for its “racing” early days. When you stand in front of a Bentayga fitted with Volk Racing G025GC, it is strange to feel the excitement of the early days of motorization as it raced.

This luxury SUV behaves elegantly, seemingly setting it apart from racing cars, but simply changing the wheels reveals the racing DNA hidden within. The G025GC itself was born from the “Concept is Racing” philosophy that permeates not only Volk Racing but Rays as a whole. The company has accumulated countless technologies over the years, centered on the TE37. This technology, which was refined by first pursuing lightweight performance and then focusing on ensuring optimal rigidity, is by no means limited to sports cars. The G025GC is aimed at the premium SUVs and large minivans that are proliferating on the market. It is part of the G Series, a series of products that was born as “Volk Racing for adults,” and is a derivative version that continues to evolve with the G25 and G025.

The 2×5 spokes that give the wheel its name are characterized by their light feel and sharp design, but the G025GC emphasizes its boldness in both appearance and weight, anticipating its installation on voluminous cars. It is an exquisite design that exudes strength despite its delicate nature.

Of course, it has the load-bearing capacity to easily support a package that pulls a vehicle weighing over 2.5 tons with over 500 PS. The best proof of this is that it easily meets Rays’ own wheel strength standard, “JWL+R Spec 2,” which meets performance requirements that are roughly twice those of the JWL and VIA standards. Furthermore, the attention paid to areas such as quietness and ride comfort not only shows the evolution of sports wheels, but also enhances the performance of the Bentayga in all directions.

A sense of rigidity that can be felt in the hand

Using Rays’ patented AMT (Advanced Machining Technology), the brand logo and other details are engraved into the center part and rim. The center cap also has a textured mating area to emphasize the three-dimensional effect. The 2 x 5 spokes gradually become thinner as they reach the very end of the rim. The areas between the spokes are hollowed out to remove excess material, further reducing weight. The “MADE IN JAPAN” engraving on the back of the wheel shows the spirit of Rays.

The wheels are 10.0×22 inches both front and rear. The J-number and tire size (285/40R22) are the same size as the factory wheels, with only the offset slightly modified. While larger wheels (23 or 24 inches) are common, the decision to stick to the factory size gives the wheels a sophisticated, sporty feel. The Bentayga’s PCD is 5×130, a value commonly used by Porsches and the G-Class. Since the G025GC was designed to match the G-Class early on, it was possible to adapt it to the Bentayga. The full range of sizes is 9.0J to 10.0J x 22 inches, covering everything from the Land Cruiser and Alphard to Lexus SUVs and the Defender. While each wheel has its own unique style, the G025GC enhances them all with a sporty feel, which is perhaps what makes its design so appealing.

The concept of the Bentayga, Bentley’s first SUV, launched in 2013, was “an SUV that combines luxury and performance, redefining the high-end of the SUV world.” It embodies this concept by offering high comfort and high-quality driving performance in all conditions, regardless of road surface or environment, from city streets to highways, and even from racetracks to rough roads. This is further refined by the Volk Racing G025GC. The light steering feel is outstanding, the ride is excellent, and above all, the sense of rigidity is conveyed as if it were tangible. If the Bentley boys of the time had been shown a Bentayga like this, they would undoubtedly be eager to get behind the wheel.

REPORT / Daichi NAKAMIGAWA

PHOTO / RAYS

MAGAZINE / GENROQ November 2024 issue