The upcoming Bentley SUV, slated for a 2016 launch, is taking shape. In an interview with Automotive News, the brand’s marketing chief Kevin Rose confirmed it would be powered by a 12-cylinder engine that makes between 575- and 650 horsepower, and he also hinted at a possible seven-seater configuration. Bentley has confirmed to Car and Driver that the powerplant will be the Volkswagen Group’s 6.0-liter twin-turbo W-12, but we were also told that a seven-passenger seating configuration is only under consideration.
A seven-seat option does seem likely, however, as we’re told that while speaking with prospective customers, Bentley is finding considerable interest in three-row seating. Whether a third row would ever be used by potential owners is another matter.
In addition to the W-12, we understand that the SUV will offer a plug-in hybrid powertrain—the first such offering from the Crewe, England–based manufacturer. We believe that this system will make use of the VW Group’s 4.0-liter twin-turbo V-8 that resides in the British marque’s Continental GT range.
A diesel option for the SUV could be in the cards, too, although our sources tell us that this hasn’t been confirmed internally as yet. If a compression-ignition Bentley SUV were to materialize, we’d expect it to target the European market and use either V-8 TDI or V-10 TDI—which seems to be resurrected within the VW Group—powerplants.
- Comparison Test: Public Transit vs. Driving vs. Walking Across NYC
- First Drive: 2014 Bentley Flying Spur
- First Drive: 2013 Bentley Continental GT Speed
Finally, our sources tell us that the design of the model has very recently been finalized after chief design Luc Donckerwolke scrapped the initial concept earlier this year. We expect the well-heeled masses to rejoice, as it won’t share any similarities with the EXP 9 F concept the brand debuted at the 2012 Geneva auto show.
Source: CarAndDriver
No comments:
Post a Comment