Bentley has confirmed an all-new Bentley SUV will be heading towards showrooms in the foreseeable future. The new SUV will be a super-luxury off-road vehicle that could be built on an existing or upcoming Volkswagen/Porsche-based platform.
In a recent Auto Motor und Sport report in Germany, Bentley CEO Wolfgang Duerheimer confirmed that Bentley is planning a new SUV model to rival the likes of the Range Rover, the BMW X5 and the Mercedes-Benz M-Class. Dürheimer sees potential for high-end SUV’s in the most important markets for the British marque: China, Europe, and the United States, where luxury SUVs are much in demand, according to the CEO. One should also consider the fact that Aston Martin confirmed the revival of the Lagonda brand which will focus on high-end luxury SUVs.
It’s easy to jump to assumptions about possible platforms that could underpin the Bentley SUV. Audi and Porsche both have respective technology in the segment with the Audi Q7 and Porsche Cayenne, all part of the Volkswagen Group, including Bentley. However, reports say the new Bentley SUV – which, apparently, will be ready for the market after 2013 – will be based on the same platform as the future Porsche Cayenne of the same generation.
Even though the Porsche Cayenne would be considered a potential rival to a Bentley SUV, speculators say the Bentley version will most likely target the ultra-luxury market segment rather than the sports SUV segment, like the Porsche. The new SUV will be added to the product lineup alongside introductions of new Mulsanne and Continental models, bolstering Bentley’s market share whilst maintaining the exclusive brand image.
