Bentley is still working on a sport utility vehicle, according to a report published yesterday by Automedia. Apparently, test mules based on the Porsche Cayenne have been spotted at a Volkswagen facility in Germany. Volkswagen shares a platform with the Cayenne for its Touareg SUV, and could conceivably use the same architecture for a truck from its Bentley subsidiary. The possibility of a Bentley SUV was first reported in mid-2005 by the U.K.’s Autocar magazine. This January, Motor Trend said plans for the vehicle had been scrapped. Since Volkswagen’s other premium subsidiary — Lamborghini — has seemingly scrapped plans for an SUV, it’s possible a Bentley model is back on the table. The Leftlane Perspective: In the eyes of today’s consumers, an SUV from Bentley makes more sense than one from Lamborghini. If VW needs to make an über-SUV, we’d rather see on from the Brtis than the Italians. [photo source]
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06/27, 9:53 AM
posted by:
Jordan
I dont know, still seems like a bad idea.
Anyone remember the LaForza?
Exactly.
06/27, 10:06 AM
posted by:
Wickedated
Uber-SUV? GHEY!!!!!!!!
What has this world come to….
Go Lambo for keepin it real.
06/27, 10:13 AM
posted by:
Jei
The Rambo-Lambo was a design disaster in the 80s. But it foretold what is actually happening in the market today. The uber-luxury companies are having such success with their mainstay vehicles that it would make sense to offer roomier products that and increase the amount of luxury content per unit.
Lambo has definitely made a comeback with parent VW. Didn’t GM own them at one point? And it would be interesting to see their interpretation of the SUV for the new generation.
A Bentley SUV will be rather stately and SOLID, of course. But like most X5 & Cayanne fans, we want to see the “sport” in Sports Utility Vehicle.
06/27, 10:21 AM
posted by:
Jordan
The Chrysler Corp. owned Lamborghini back around the time of the Diablo’s debut. I dont remember the exact years, but I want to say that they had a hand it the design of the Diablo.
At any rate, I still see the SUV bubble collapsing soon.
A Bentley shooting brake? I’d rob a bank to own one.
06/27, 11:15 AM
posted by:
Ed
Bentley has already built its shares of SUVs for the Sultan of Brunai and his son, so it’s not that new a concept for them.
06/27, 11:18 AM
posted by:
Atomicbri
No no and NO…. VW and Porsche already have cars in this field with the Cayenne….why another one? They may wanna wait this one out and maybe design like an exotic Bentley racer (2 seater of some sort) or maybe even the Shooting Brake as Jordan (#4) suggested. SUVs are TIRED now…. their sales are falling ang gas prices will not fall….
06/27, 12:08 PM
posted by:
Jordan
Ed, no doubt, but he has also had Ferarri build 465 Shooting Brakes, too.
That’s one guy I wouldn’t mind being…
06/27, 12:47 PM
posted by:
jimothy
#6: I don’t think that somebody in the market for a Bentley is overly concerned about gas prices. Though they may need to sell a few more rap albums to cover the bill.
06/27, 2:01 PM
posted by:
2006300C
People who buy Bentleys do not care about fuel prices…….people who buy $30,000 cars do not care about fuel prices. Everyone COMPLAINS but no one CARES.
06/27, 2:49 PM
posted by:
Donfuy
WHY NOT?
06/27, 3:31 PM
posted by:
MM
That rendering up there is sweet, and a Continental based SUV, if it looked like that, would be on my list.
06/30, 8:38 AM
posted by:
Rudy
You import-loving snobs can say what you want. Even though it’s not American made it still looks like a bastardized Chrysler 300.