Bentley confirms SUV development.

Production to take place at the Home of Bentley in Crewe.

Bentley Motors confirmed today that it will proceed with the development of an entirely new car line: an SUV.

Representing the company’s fourth model, the SUV will join the Mulsanne, the Flying Spur and the Continental GT in the Bentley line-up. It will go into production in 2015/16 at the company’s historic factory in Crewe. Over the next three years Bentley will invest more than £800 million in its headquarters at Crewe and the development of new models.

UK Prime Minister David Cameron, who was present together with Dr Martin Winterkorn, Chairman of the Board of Volkswagen Group for the announcement at Bentley headquarters in Crewe, said: “This £800 million of investment and a thousand new jobs from Bentley is fantastic news for both Crewe and for the UK as a whole. It is another important milestone in strengthening our economy.

“One sector that we know is sprinting ahead in the global race is our booming automotive industry. The UK became a net exporter of cars for the first time this year and we launched the Government’s Automotive Strategy to help continue this success for years to come.

“I am delighted that Bentley will be building their new vehicle here, not only creating a thousand jobs, but safeguarding many more, as well as increasing training opportunities for highly skilled apprentices.”
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”.

Bentley’s Chairman and Chief Executive, Dr Wolfgang Schreiber, added: “This is fantastic news for Bentley and for the UK. Bentley is increasingly successful and this new fourth model line will leverage the success of the global SUV market. The support of everyone involved with the Company has been fundamental to this decision, which will ensure sustainable growth for the company.”

True to the Bentley design DNA and the brand’s hallmarks of performance, quality and craftsmanship, the Bentley SUV will be the most powerful and luxurious SUV on the road. According to research conducted over the last 15 months, customers already feel extremely positive about the concept of a Bentley SUV. On this basis, the launch aims to prompt a complete reappraisal of the luxury SUV market.

Like all Bentley cars, the SUV will be built at the factory in Crewe, resulting in the creation of over 1000 jobs in the UK.

Click here to register your interest in the Bentley SUV.

 

I am sure it will be a nice ride.

 

Interesting thanks for posting. What market are they aiming towards? I can't see the average Bentley driver wanting a SUV.

 

Ryan, not sure what the final product will be precisely. Perhaps they are taking preliminary 'orders' and then going to send out a questionnaire or ??? i'm guessing we're still a year or two out until final product per the press release.

 

It's a wifey car.

 

Haha, true that

 

I will buy one

 

Then take no offense to my post. If you want a SUV then the Bentley would be a lovely choice but my wife is the SUV driver of the family. Personally I would like a larger SUV like the GMC Denali XL that I had years ago, wonderful people carrier.

Would you really off road that thing?

 

I didn't take any offense to it. I figure that the added ride height will be the main selling feature along with perhaps a new interior setup/style. I definitely doubt I'd take it off road. I wonder if they will even address any off road features/functionality.

 

thats what people said about porsche and now cayennes are almost 50% of porsche's sales.

 

Bentley is expecting this vehicle to be a cash cow and it might well be.

Ride height is very comforting and I know people that prefer a pickup truck for that reason alone. My wife had quite an adjustment to make when we bought the Audi A7 for her as she felt like she was riding on the ground. I like the idea of the wife in a large SUV for safety reasons and being able to get out AND BACK with confidence.

Off roading would would kill the paint. I could imagine even tall grass would affecting the clear coat. Oh yeh and you could have a great big winch up front.

 

Ugh, if they are going to wait that long for it Ill end up with the lambo urus by then

 

Being British and having to at least equal the actual abilities of Range Rover's top model, yet in true luxury.... i expect something special.

 

but ugly in the pictures!

 

They are redesigning it... or so I heard.