Bentley Considering Compact SUV to Follow Bentayga
The production Bentley Bentayga hasn’t even made its debut and the British automaker is already considering another SUV model.
The British automaker’s engineering head, Rolf Frech, has confirmed that a compact SUV is under consideration, but no decision has been made yet. The idea of a smaller SUV to slot underneath the upcoming Bentayga is attractive to Bentley because the new MSB architecture from the Volkswagen Group, that is underpinning the next Continental GT and new Speed 6, can be easily adapted for a crossover. It’s also no secret that the crossover and SUV segment is growing at a rapid pace and even Bentley CEO Wolfgang Dürheimer acknowledged that it is “expanding three times faster than the market as a whole.”
SEE ALSO: Volkswagen Expanding Plant for Bentley Bentayga Production
There’s also the possibility that Bentley will go the route of the BMW X4/X6 and even the new Mercedes crossovers – that is, a crossover style with a coupe-like design. If the project does get the green light, expect Bentley to use smaller and more fuel-efficient powerplants for the model such as a supercharged or turbocharged V6 and a twin-turbo V8. For now, Bentley is focusing on putting the Bentayga into production so that it can go on sale in 2016.
[Source: Autocar]
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Jason Siu began his career in automotive journalism in 2003 with Modified Magazine, a property previously held by VerticalScope. As the West Coast Editor, he played a pivotal role while also extending his expertise to Modified Luxury & Exotics and Modified Mustangs. Beyond his editorial work, Jason authored two notable Cartech books. His tenure at AutoGuide.com saw him immersed in the daily news cycle, yet his passion for hands-on evaluation led him to focus on testing and product reviews, offering well-rounded recommendations to AutoGuide readers. Currently, as the Content Director for VerticalScope, Jason spearheads the content strategy for an array of online publications, a role that has him at the helm of ensuring quality and consistency across the board.
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They don't even know how well the first one is going to sell and they're already planning on building more!