The canvas that is Bentley’s first-ever SUV has been painted over, and the new work is starting to take clearer form. After hitting the reset button on its poorly received EXP 9 F concept, Bentley stormed back with a teaser of the SUV’s newly Continental-ified front end. Rumor also spread that the blokes in Crewe are hoping to kiss 200 mph in their new rig. Now, Bentley has officially started the countdown to the SUV’s 2016 production with a video that offers glimpses of the vehicle’s flanks and tail.
At first blush, the video—embedded below—appears to follow the well-worn “teaser” format, but look closer and you’ll see parts of the SUV you haven’t seen before. Backing up Bentley’s supposed quest for 200 mph is an ultra-fast, BMW X6–like roofline and a seemingly ultra low ride height. Continental design cues abound, from the kicked-up character line over the rear wheels to the simple, rectangular taillights. Of course, that quad-lamp face also draws a clear line to Bentley’s bestseller.
We still expect 12-cylinder power and seven-passenger seating, although that roofline could cut the passenger count to just five, and Bentley says a plug-in hybrid powertrain will also be a part of the mix. Look for more info to trickle out over the coming months—Bentley has set up the creatively named newbentley.com for those folks eager for more details.
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