Bentley’s bespoke magicians, the Mulliner group, have the expertise to design, engineer and built a ute.
That’s the word from Bentley’s sales and marketing exec and board member, Christophe Georges.
We imagine it would be the kind of pick-up that could tow a horse float in the morning and then valet park itself outside The Ritz by lunchtime – preferably without leaving straw on the red carpet.
But if Bentley built a ute, would its destiny be as ill-fated as the Mercedes-Benz X-Class luxury pick-up truck?
So, will Bentley build a pick-up truck?
“It is not in the plan because nobody requested it,” Georges told carsales, attempting to stifle laughter.
But he confirmed such a creation was technically feasible via Bentley’s custom shop, Mulliner, if a customer wished it.
“Fundamentally, there is no real limitation,” explained the executive.
“You could always have a design expression which could make it cool, nice or interesting. But we have not worked on it because there is no real demand,” he said.
Back in 2023, a custom Bentley pick-up truck based on a Flying Spur sedan was for sale in the UK for around $A300,000 – so at least one well-heeled individual thought it was a good idea, chopping up a perfectly good Bentley land yacht to prove the point.
Asked if such a vehicle could be called the world’s most luxurious pick-up truck, Georges was unequivocal: “In the unlikely event we would do it, I would never call it this way.”
He said a new classification would be needed.
Something closer, perhaps, to utilitarian luxury or grand touring utility – a vehicle that could redefine ruggedness through a prestige lens.
The Bentley ContiHaul, perhaps?
Such a vehicle would need to feel just as comfortable hauling hay bales down a muddy country lane as it would pulling up outside Big Ben for afternoon tea.
The chances of such a vehicle reaching production are highly unlikely but not impossible. There was a time not so long ago when SUVs were a dirty word for luxury brands.
“I cannot contradict myself when I say that everybody believed that an SUV wouldn’t be right for Bentley, it’s like a Bentley truck,” said the Bentley exec, explaining that SUVs are often called trucks in America.
“We did the Bentayga because there was a demand and we had the conviction that it will support the brand and answer to customer needs.
“But I have not heard any kind of request for any other product style so far,” he said, referring to a lavish half-million-dollar ute.
The British luxury brand’s next all-new vehicle will be the first ever Bentley EV, a vehicle that Georges claims will be an ‘extraordinary’ vehicle.
* Flying Spur ute images generated by AI