Bentley is not yet selling its first-ever SUV, the Bentayga, but it is already considering adding more of similar vehicles into its lineup, according to Auto Express. Kevin Rose, head of Bentley sales and marketing, told Auto Express in an interview that the carmaker is “keeping a close eye” on what Land Rover has done with the Range Rover, Range Rover Sport and the Evoque.
The carmaker has been for a decade on and off in deciding whether to pursue an SUV since it was acquired by Volkswagen. The vehicle did push through and its production version will be unveiled this year, most likely at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September.
Bentley chief executive Wolfgang Durheimer also told Auto Express that as soon as they start deliveries of the Bentayga, the carmaker will keep the momentum going by “adding more and more models that stay true to the brand."
Any decision on additional models will not be made until mid-next year when Bentley has already unveiled the Bentayga. Bentley is expected to commence sales of the MY2016 Bentayga large SUV – which may arrive in W12 gasoline, V8 diesel, and plug-in hybrid variants -- at the end of this year, although it has yet to disclose its pricing.
While the carmaker has already received 4,000 "expressions of interest" for the Bentayga, those who may want smaller SUVs may have to wait a couple of years for Bentley to build and sell them. Should Bentley decide to push through with smaller SUVs, it could just use the platforms underpinning those of Volkswagen and Audi brand.
