Bentley SUV coming late 2015

Bentley has confirmed it will build its first ever SUV in the UK, pumping £800million ($1.3billion) worth of investment into the British automotive industry. Touted as the world's most luxurious SUV, it will arrive in late 2015 as plans to built the car had been well underway before today's confirmation.

Previewed in the EXP 9 F concept first seen at the 2012 Geneva motor show, Bentley's luxury SUV "would be live with customers at the end of 2015, early 2016," Bentley's Asia Pacific Head of Marketing and Communications Robin Peel told motoring.com.au.

"So we're already a long way down the road which I think shows the level of confidence we have," Peel told motoring.com.au on a recent trip to Sydney.

The Bentley EXP 9 F concept was also trotted out at the 2012 Beijing motor show,
allowing the British marque to confirm it was considering three engine
types, a 373kW twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8, a 6.0-litre W12 and a V6 plug-in
hybrid.

To be built at Bentley's manufacturing centre in Crewe, United Kingdom, the confirmation of the new vehicle was attended by UK Prime Minister David Cameron and Chairman of the Board of Volkswagen Group, Dr Martin Winterkorn.

The Bentley EXP 9 F concept drew criticisms from many quarters due to its inelegant styling, something Peel says hasn't dampened interest from customers. Furthermore, deposits for the car are one of the key reasons the business case was approved by the VW Group supremos.

"Expressions of interest, deposits -- call it what you like -- in the Middle East, in China, in America, it forms just a huge part of our business plan. We know there's a solid appetite for this car," said Robin Peel.

The ultra-luxury SUV would likely become Bentley's best-selling and Peel argues the vehicle would become the pinnacle of the luxury SUV market, the most luxurious off-roader in the world, dethroning the Land Rover Range Rover in one fell swoop.

But would the new model dilute Bentley brand values?

"The car in terms of its interiors, its finish, where you build it, has to be true to Bentley, so there'll be no dilution around that. It will have to have all the assets and essence of a Mulsanne or a GT has, that says it's absolutely a Bentley.

"Is it going to dilute the brand? Absolutely not."

Peel claims the new vehicle be completely bespoke and won't be a derivative of any other VW Group vehicles, either.

"It's not something else that's been rebadged. We'll be very protective of that," he explains, adding that the vehicle's mud-slinging qualities will be significant.

"Equally it has to be a capable off-roader. We've had four-wheel drive technology in Bentleys since 2003 so were au fait with that."

Clearly taken with the Australian outback, Peel also hinted the regional Asia-Pacific launch of the car could take place in Australia in late 2015 or early 2016.

"What a great place to launch the car, in Australia -- if and when it happens from a regional point of view," he concluded.

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