Bentley teases its first SUV

Bentley sent shockwaves across the automotive establishment when it openly courted the idea of producing an SUV more than two years ago and then left onlookers at the 2012 Geneva motor show slack-jawed when it revealed the ungainly EXP 9 F SUV concept, which promptly attracted widespread ridicule.

Undeterred and spurred on by a positive reaction to the wide-eyed ultra-crossover at that year’s Beijing show in China, where Bentley said an SUV was “a natural fit” for the British super-luxury marquee, Bentley confirmed last July it would in fact join the global SUV bandwagon by 2016.

Two months later Bentley attempted to quell environmental concerns about yet another two-tonne-plus luxury SUV that would likely never venture off-road by announcing its first ‘off-roader’ will also be its first plug-in in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV).

Now the British brand has provided the first look at the production version, which it says “will be the most luxurious and powerful SUV on the market, setting it apart from any other SUV, true to the brand hallmarks of luxury, performance, quality and craftsmanship”.

“It will create a completely new segment in the SUV market,” said Bentley Motors Chairman and Chief Executive Dr Wolfgang Schreiber, Chairman and Chief Executive at a press conference in London overnight.

At the same event Bentley also announced it will become the 'centre of excellence' for the Volkswagen group for all 12-cylinder W12 engines from the end of this year, when it will  export engines for the first time in its history. Bentley says the decision will create a further 100 jobs and reinforce its position as the world’s largest producer of 12-cylinder engines.

As previously confirmed, the big Bentley SUV will initially be powered by Volkswagen group’s new twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8 and the 6.0-litre W12 engine that so effectively attempts to shed the historic brand’s pipe-and-slippers image in the Flying Spur sedan and Continental coupe and convertible.

However, for an even bigger price, the as-yet-unnamed Bentley SUV will also become available with the same V6 petrol-electric PHEV system as Porsche’s new Panamera S E-Hybrid, which combines an Audi-sourced supercharged 3.0-litre petrol V6 with a 70kW electric motor and 9.4kWh lithium-ion battery pack to deliver a combined power output is 306kW.

In the 2095kg Panamera PHEV, which consumes a Toyota Prius-beating 3.1L/100km and can run on electrical power for up to 36km at speeds of up to 135kn/h, that’s enough to hit 100km/h in 5.5 seconds on its way to a 270km/h top speed.

True to the promise of Dr Schreiber, the production model, which Bentley says will create 1000 new jobs at Crewe, looks different to the polarising EXP 9 F concept.

Although it’s hard to tell from the flying sand that obscures the single frontal teaser image released overnight, the production version features two large circular LED-ringed headlights rather than the concept’s single round beams.

In order to recoup the Volkswagen-owned company’s £800 million ($1.46 billion) investment in it and other new models over the next three years, Bentley hopes to sell at least 3000 examples of what will be the world’s most excessive SUV annually from 2016.

Given Bentley sold just over 10,000 vehicles per annum for the first time in 2013, that would make its fourth model line one of its most popular. By accounting for about a quarter of all Bentleys sold, the SUV could eclipse the Continental GT Coupe as its most popular model.

Russia and the Middle East are expected to be its biggest markets, although Bentley has also forecast strong interest in SUV-mad Australia, which could even host the Asia-Pacific regional launch in late 2015.