Bentley SUV Confirmed For 2016 Launch

By Ganesh

Updated: Friday, January 31, 2014, 11:14 [IST]

The EXP 9 F Concept revealed during last year's Geneva Motor Show attracted a lot of comments, positive and negative in equal amounts. However, it seems Bentley's potential customers are nevertheless, excited about the prospect of a luxury SUV from the British marquee. Hence, the decision making body has taken the call to go ahead with a production model.

The announcement was made yesterday at Bentley's headquarters in Crewe, in an event presided by UK Prime Minister David Cameron. Interestingly, another high profile SUV, Lamborghini Urus will debut the very next year, in 2017.

Jobs for UK

Bentley will begin production in 2016, at its Crewe factory. The new SUV project is expected to create 1,000 new jobs in the UK.

Development cost

Over the next three years Bentley will spend £800 million ($1.2 billion) towards the development of the SUV and other developmental projects.

4th model

The Bentley SUV will be the company's fourth model on offer, after the Continental Flying Spur, Continental GT and Mulsanne.

Common platform

The new SUV will share its platform with other full sized SUVs from the VW family. The next gen platform will be common to Porsche Cayenne and VW Touareg. Possibly, also the Audi Q7 and the Lamborghini Urus.

Powertrain

An updated version of the twin turbocharged, 4.0 liter V8 engine or a larger 6.0 liter unit is expected to power the luxury SUV. It is highly probable that a hybrid version of the SUV will also be developed.

UK Prime Minister David Cameron said:

"One sector that we know is sprinting ahead in the global race is our booming automotive industry. One vehicle rolls off a production line somewhere in the UK every 20 seconds and we have just launched the Government's Automotive Industrial Strategy to help continue this success for years to come.

Dr Winterkorn said:

"The Volkswagen Group believes in the UK as a competitive location for industrial production.Bentley fans all around the world are looking forward to the brand's first SUV. Together we will make this new Bentley another true Bentley - powerful, exclusive and successful."