SUVs will drive massive expansion for Bentley

BENTLEY is reportedly set to embark on a huge expansion with two new models as it bids to more than double its sales to more than 25,000 cars a year.

The vehicles, priced around £120,000 include a sports car and a more compact SUV than the new Bentayga and, according to Autocar, based on production versions of its recently shown EXP10 Speed Six “Aston chaser” concept, are tipped to include a 200mph, four-wheel-drive battery electric model.

Bentley’s chairman and chief executive Wolfgang Durheimer revealed the plan at an early driving event for the full-size Bentayga SUV.

Production of the group’s first SUV Bentayga begins in two weeks’ time with first deliveries expected early in the new year.

It is understood the new cars will bring unprecedented expansion to the Crewe manufacturing plant.

Already, 1,000 jobs have been created at Bentley and at surrounding suppliers, as part of a three-year £840m investment.

Its new small SUV will be the first of the new models to come off the production line.

Scheduled to arrive in showrooms in about three years, it will use a high proportion of Bentayga chassis and running gear, which means a high performance model could conceivably be powered by the Bentayga’s new 6.0-litre, 600bhp W12, as well as the V8, diesel and hybrid powertrains Bentley also has up its sleeve.

“It’ll be a matter of plug and play,” said Durheimer.

The model, for which a name has not yet been found, will introduce an even more modern styling direction for Bentley, while keeping an easy-to-see relationship with the existing cars.

It has yet to receive the go-ahead from VW’s top management, though engineering director Rolf Frech says the project has already reached the design and initial engineering stage.

The new SUV, which Bentley believes will attract a type of younger buyers have never seen before, will take precedence over the new sports car, which had been thought to be the next in line.

The new, small soft-roader is likely to be shown at least in concept form late in 2017, and should send Bentley’s total annual volume beyond 18,000 when it hits the market about a year later.