Bentley causes a stir with new SUV concept

BENTLEY, the Crewe-based luxury car brand, has taken the wraps off its concept for a new luxury Sports Utility Vehicle.

The manufacturer, which revealed the EXP 9 F model at the Geneva Motor Show, has not yet made a firm commitment to producing it yet, and says it will analyse customer and public reaction , and then refine the concept further.

It said: “Bentley will be listening carefully to the reaction of customers and potential customers throughout the world, prior to making any definitive commitment to production.”

If it does go ahead though, EXP 9 F would be Bentle’s third model-line alongside the bespoke Mulsanne and the Continental GT, GTC and Flying Spur.

Wolfgang Dürheimer, chairman and chief executive of Bentley said: “
“We are very excited by the potential of a high performance, ultra-luxury Bentley SUV.

“We know that many Bentley customers already own SUVs, admiring their style, luxury, performance and versatility. With 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.”

The unveiling of the new model, which bears the concept designation EXP 9F, with the ‘F’ standing for Falcon as the bird is the fastest animal on earth, caused quite a stir at the Geneva Motor Show today.

The Bentley stand was crowded with journalists for the launch and many remained there for some time to come, shunning other press conferences for a glimpse of the new luxury SUV, which will be unrivalled by anything else on the road should it go into production.

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Mr Dürheimer said the vehicle was targeted at the US, Chinese and Middle Eastern markets, together with the traditional ones in Western Europe.

The W12-powered vehicle would he said, open new markets for Bentley in the same way the Continental GT did when it was launched.