GENEVA MOTOR SHOW: Bentley concept SUV EXP 9 F

Bentley seems to have prioritised ugliness to go along with sophisticated power and thumping performance with its new EXP 9 F concept SUV.

First scooped here more than a year ago, the EXP 9 F concept reinterprets traditional Bentley design cues in a heavy, inelegant way but promises to sell in huge numbers regardless.

While Bentley still insists on calling the car a concept, the green light for a production version of the EXP 9 F was given in December last year. The car will share much of its under-skin hardware with Lamborghini’s upcoming SUV concept (which is far better looking).

It will be the third model in the Bentley lineup and Bentley hopes it will attract an entirely new breed of buyer to the German-owned British brand.

Powered by a twin-turbocharged version of the Continental GT’s 6.0-litre W12 engine, it will power its four wheel via an eight-speed automatic transmission and is said to offer genuine all-terrain abilities.

It is also the logical home for a future Bentley diesel engine, with a derivative of the Audi Q7’s thumping V12 TDI said to be a likely starting point.

“We are very excited by the potential of a high performance, ultra-luxury Bentley SUV,” Bentley Chairman and Chief Executive, Wolfgang Durheimer, said.

“We know that many Bentley customers already own SUVs. Almost 100 per cent of them own SUVs and there is no reason they shouldn’t own a Bentley SUV.

“With the EXP 9 F, Bentley is making a clear statement of intent that we have both the expertise and desire to meet and exceed their expectations.”

Hopefully, those expectations aren’t too visual, because Bentley seems to have tripped over itself to squeeze as many known Bentley visual traits as it could into one machine.

It admits as much, too, with design boss, Dirk van Braeckel, saying: “The style had to reflect Bentley’s sporting character despite its radically different package and purpose together with sculptured, flowing surfaces in keeping with Bentley tradition.

“Key Bentley cues, such as the matrix grille, round lamps and the strong powerline and haunch along each flank are reinterpreted for the EXP 9 F.”

Sitting on enormous 23-inch wheels (that will never make it to production), the wheel design is supposed to represent the turbine fan blades from the ancient Blower Bentleys, while the central wheel nut is supposed to represent similar items on both 1920s Le Mans racers and the Speed 8 wheels.

Though it will use the W12 engine in the concept car, the production versions will also use the latest twin-turbo V8 from the Continental GT and a hybrid drivetrain as well as a diesel.

More news from the Geneva Motor Show at motoring.com.au

Read the latest news and reviews on your mobile, iPhone or PDA at carsales' mobile site…