Bentley BentaygaBentley's first SUV is diving head first into a pool of competition from the likes of Audi, BMW, Rolls-Royce and Aston Martin
As our first ride in the new Bentley Bentayga has shown, the British marque is more than ready to
on the competitive luxury SUV market.
Due to launch in 2016, the Bentayga should command a price tag of around £130,000. It will be vailable with both V8, W12 and hybrid powertrains and pitched into a profitable market sector, albeit one that will quickly become crowded as rival models are launched over the next few years. Here are the cars the Bentayga is going to have to beat.
The DBX was pitched as a luxury crossover rather than a full-blown and first revealed in concept form at the Geneva motor show in March. It has since received the production go-ahead thanks to an extra £200 million worth of investment in Aston Martin.
Powering the DBX concept is a series of electric motors mounted inboard of the wheels, while other features include electric drive-by-wire steering and auto-dimming toughened glass.
Audi boss Rupert Stadler confirmed that a range-topping Audi SUV was coming back in May. Set to launch in 2019, the Q8 will be priced between £50,000 and £90,000 and powered by a range of V6 and V8 petrol and diesel engines, as well as plug-in hybrid powertrains. An all-electric Q8 e-tron version is also under consideration.
The Q8 will be styled under the leadership of Audi design boss Marc Lichte, and is expected to receive a sportier look than the smaller Q7.
Confirmed for production in 2014, BMW's range-topping SUV has already been spotted testing, with early mules based on the new 7 Series. Underpinned by a long-wheelbase version of the same platform that the next X5 is set to use, BMW is aiming the X7 at profitable makets such as China and Asia.
The production X7 is likely to feature a selection of six-cylinder and V8 engines, including the same 3.0-litre diesel currently found in the X6. The X7 is not due to come to market unti 2017 at the earliest.
Sharing its platform with the Bentley Bentayga, Lamborghini's Urus SUV finally received its green light for production earlier this month. Due to arrive in 2018, the Urus will be the production version of the concept car first shown in 2012.
Little is known about the car's performance targets, but officials have confirmed it will come with "around 600bhp". Autocar understands the Urus will be offered with a plug-in hybrid powertrain featuring a modified version of the twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V8 already used by the S6, S7 and S8, in combination with an electric motor.
Lamborghini bosses are said to be targeting a starting price of around £150,000.
Although due to be launced at the end of this year, right-hand-drive versions of Maserati's Levante SUV aren't due to appear until 2016. Taking styling cues from the firm's Kubang concept of 2012, the Levante will adopt a more rugged, aggressive appearance than the smaller Ghibli saloon on which it is based.
The Levante will be offered with the same four-wheel drive system already used in the Ghibli and Quattroporte, while its underpinnings are similar to those used on the Jeep Grand Cherokee.
Engines will include Maserati's 410bhp twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre petrol V6 and a 520bhp twin-turbocharged 3.8-litre V8. A 271bhp 3.0-litre V6 turbodiesel will also be offered. Maserati has also confirmed that a plug-in hybrid version will be offered.
Following the successful relaunch of the Maybach name earlier this year, the new sub-brand is already known to be considering an SUV model. Based on the GLS, the new model would sit at the very top of the Maybach range alonside the recently launched S600 and S600 Pullman models.
Although a final decision on production has yet to be taken, Daimler boss Dieter Zetsche has hinted that an SUV would be a practical next step for the brand.
Even a short time ago, Land Rover likely wouldn't have pitched itself as a super-luxury manufacturer, but the launch of its Special Vehicle Operations division has already proved that it can create the kind of bespoke machinery to entice high-end buyers.
The SVAutobiography is priced from £148,900 and can be powered by the same 542bhp 5.0-litre supercharged V8 engine as the Range Rover Sport SVR - although regular SDV8 and SDV6 Hybrid options are also available. Luxury touches include new paintwork, powered tables, a chilled drinks compartment and two extra rear seats which slot into place on the car's tailgate.
Early engineering mules for the Rolls-Royce SUV - which currently goes by the code-name Cullinan - have already been spotted testing ahead of the car's planned launch in 2017.
The British marque only confirmed it would be producing a "high-sided, all-terrain vehicle" earlier this year, with early mules based on shortened versions of the current Phantom.
Despite its historical name - Cullinan refers to the largest gem-quality diamond ever found - the SUV is not expected to take the Cullinan badge to production.
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2016 Bentley Bentayga - passenger ride
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