Bentley boss Wolfgang Dürheimer has confirmed that the automaker’s forthcoming SUV will arrive with 12-cylinders. Previous reports suggested the luxury SUV could arrive with a version of the automaker’s new twin-turbocharged V8.
Although most automakers are slicing cylinder counts to comply with more stringent fuel economy regulations, Bentley is sticking with 12-cylinders to ensure its SUV is not confused with lesser offerings.
“We will be first to use a 12-cylinder petrol engine in a luxury SUV. I like this idea; it makes clear whose car is the boss,†Dürheimer said.
That 12-cylinder gas engine will likely be a version of Volkswagen’s next-generation 6.0L W12. Under the hood of the Bentley Continental that mill is good for 567 horsepower, but that figure could increase to truly solidify the Bentley SUV as the “boss†of the segment.
For those looking for a slightly more efficient way to travel in the world’s most luxurious SUV, Bentley will also roll out a V12 diesel model a few years after launch. However, that model will likely be reserved for Europe only.
As far as timing is concerned, Bentley is aiming for a 2015 launch. That date is significant as it coincides with a lull in the automaker’s product cadence.
“The production date will be dictated by the cyclicity of models,†Dürheimer said. “The Mulsanne came in 2010, then the Continental no more than a year later. The lifespan of a model is usually six to eight years, so the new model will be valuable when we are expecting a lull. The downswing is the time to introduce this SUV.â€
When Bentley’s super SUV finally arrives, look for it to carry a sticker price of at least $240,000.
References
1.’Bentley SUV to go…’ view
