Bentley SUV decision due soon
27 September 2012
- SUV decision by the end of the year
- Design changes due on concept car
- Rival for new Range Rover
Bentley's new boss, Wolfgang Schreiber, is 'still fighting' for the company to produce a Range Rover-rivalling super-luxury SUV.
The company showed the EXP 9 F concept car at the Geneva motor show in March, but the car has yet to be given the green light for production.
Schreiber revealed to What Car? that such a decision is likely by the end of the year, which means it could still go on sale by 2015, as originally planned.
Schreiber did, however, admit that the design of the Bentley SUV could be changed radically, following widespread criticisms of its looks. He said the real car needs to be 'more stylish and more graceful – like a real Bentley'.
'I understood the approach of the EXP 9 F, but this is just one approach. Another is to look at the styling features of the Continental and the Mulsanne.'
Bentley's boss did hint that the final SUV would feature weight-saving technologies including aluminium panels.
It's also thought that it will be the company's first diesel powered model, using an engine from within the VW Group. A hybrid version will also go on sale, although the first models to go on sale will be eight and 12 cylinder petrol-engined cars.
By Chas Hallett
What Car?
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