That one in the house Bentley It goes without saying that a new series is more than carefully calculated due to the relatively small number of pieces. One of the deciding factors in building the study of a luxury SUV in Geneva, which was presented in Geneva, was a small aluminum case with 2012 business cards, neatly arranged by region, country and markets. Motto: Every card is a potential customer. She had collected Bentley boss Wolfgang Dürheimer. At the end of 2.000 he handed over the case to Martin Winterkorn. The VW CEO should have been visibly impressed by this cool action - and gave his word.
For the 27. November, Bentley has now set up the so-called SOP (start of production). The Bentayga, the name of the SUV, is based on the PL73 platform and is initially supplied exclusively with the well-known W12 engine (via 600 PS). This makes it the most powerful SUV currently available.
The body shell of the Bentayga is made at VW's Brastislava plant (the VW Touareg and the Porsche Cayenne are also welded together) and is completed in Crewe, England. In the interior of the SUV to reach the level of a Mulsanne, with the highest quality materials and workmanship. Bentley plans to sell 2016 around 3.600 Bentayga. "In the US alone, we have 17.000 registered Bentley owners, and most of them have another SUV in their garage today," says Bentley boss Dürheimer. The Bentayga will be available as four- and five-seater. The following year, a seven-seat variant is said to follow. Crewe has not confirmed that yet. In addition to the twelve-cylinder, Bentley will probably use a V8 petrol engine developed by Porsche and an eight-cylinder diesel (group engine) a little later. The Bentayga would be the first diesel vehicle from Bentley. A plug-in hybrid version is also being considered, depending on legal requirements.
With the EXP 10 Speed 6 study, a two-seater coupé, Bentley made the hearts of classic GT fans beat faster in Geneva in March. Even if there is currently no official confirmation, there is much to suggest that this model will go into series production as the fifth series from 2018. It can be heard from the development department that the study even wants to incorporate their diamond-shaped cherry wood panels in the doors into the series. Something is so far unique in the automotive industry. The extent to which the Speed 6 uses the modular MSB modular system from Porsche depends on whether and how much carbon is used.
Dürheimer favors its own lightweight architecture. The V8 heart of Porsche should also beat under the hood. The close integration into the Zuffenhausen-based company has a reason. Wolfgang Dürheimer and his 2012 development chief Rolf Frech were formerly working for Porsche.
As set is the MSB chassis for the next Flying Spur. Bentley is thus changing from a longitudinal to a standard modular system. The MSB has a better axle load distribution and low weight, offers high driving dynamics and modern electronics. There is still time left in the house with the renewal of the flagship Mulsanne. It is the only model in the portfolio that still has its own platform and an original British engine, the 6 ¾ V8. Chances are that the next generation (from 2020) will continue to do so. In addition, there will again be a Cabriolet and - new - a longer version in the wheelbase within the Mulsanne series. It is aimed directly at customers who normally flirt with the Rolls-Royce phantom. However, there will not be an often-quoted coupé version of the Mulsanne.
Author: Michael Specht / SP-X