Tuesday 5th April 2005

Bentley goes off-road

Luxury marque to extend into 4x4 market

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From this...

...to this?

Bentley plans to make an off-roader, according to this week's Autocar. The report reckons that the secret project will be powered by a 450bhp, 6.0-litre W12 engine.

It's all part of a dastardly plan by Bentley's parent company, VW, to expand the marque into new areas, following a surge in sales of the GT Continental. As brand extensions go, this is a doozy.

Sales volume is the commercial driver for the move. If Bentley can get to 10,000 units annually, it can be self-sustaining, is the thinking at VW's HQ.

Audi's upcoming off-roader, Q7 and VW's luxury brand's answer to BMW's X5 and the Merc M-class, provides the basis for the new Bentley, codenamed BY616. The platform is a joint development between VW and Porsche -- one of a long line of such projects stretching back to their common, pre-WWII parentage. The project will get a five-seat interior, unlike the Audi's seven seat arrangement.

The 4x4 will be revealed at the Frankfurt motor show in September.

[Bill Carr]

As if Bentley's weren't brash and offensive enough already

[niva441]

It's something else for VW to do with parts for unsold Tourags

[FourWheelDrift]

Why, completely pointless and not Bentley. Will VW please stop f**king with our cars.

[gofasterrosssco]

O no, another car for the (private) school run..... why are these things so bloody popular!!! Why would you want or need a 4x4 Bentley, its already 4 wheel drive! All goes back to the old 4x4 debate again. I cant be bothered.
Moan over.

[B10]

If we held onto our companies with good management, government and R&D, we would then have control over the destiny of such great marques. However if you sell the family silver and allow the press (what the BBC and Independant are doing to MG Rover is scandalous) to take glee in this, then we cannot grumble but be thankful that the enlightend but misguided owners of Bentley are investing in a pointless battleship.

>> Edited by B10 on Tuesday 5th April 15:17

[cdp]

Yuck. It will be a pickup truck next.

Then again Ettore Bugatti did describe Bentleys as the "fastest lorries in the world".

But then look at how VW group have trampled all over the name of Bugatti - his cars (especially the type 35) were simply art. Beautiful, elegant and a complete contrast to the heavyweight VW are building, which is just an example of playing the numbers game.


>> Edited by cdp on Tuesday 5th April 15:05

[ian d]

WO will be turning in his grave.

what used to be an exclusive marque, bought by the gentry, company directors and playboys is now aimed at the masses and bling brigade, a stampede to the mediore, oh the mighty have fallen.
is there no style left?

[FourWheelDrift]

Expected options list for the new Bentley off...on roader.

Wheel spinners (chromed)
28 inch alloy wheels (chromed)
Football boot rack (chromed)

Do I hear the scratching of pen to paper and the words D..a....v....i.....d........B....e...c...k....."er???....oh yeah, thanks princess"....h....a.....m.... being written.

[SuckMyChrsitmas]

"Bentley goes off-road"

OH-MY-GOD!!!!!?????!!!!!

[cdp]

Germans. Buy everything, understand nothing.

They will be buying Ferrari to produce motorhomes next.

[4WD]

"Bentley goes up the kerb"

[Plotloss]

There was a Bentley Dominator thats owned by the Sultan of Brunei's family.

Range Rover running gear with a Bentley face and trimming. A one off by all accounts.

Theres 4x4 space above the upcoming V12 Range Rover so why not really?

[Dr Strangelove]

FourWheelDrift said:

Why, completely pointless and not Bentley. Will VW please stop f**king with our cars.

This is what happens when we fritter away a national identity. Like most things we could have been proud about, our motor industry was sacrificed at the alter of 'high politics and Low accountability'.

it won't be long before any of us are 'Made in Britain'...

[granville]

I saw this in the latest Autocar and presumed it to be a belated April's Fool...

This must be blocked by the High Court.

[4WD]

How long before Aston & Bentey are built in India? It's only a matter of time. There's nothing purely British left in this country anyway.

[Graham lunn]

A very sad day when a Great British tradition falls at the feet of fashion

[cy88]

Plotloss said:

There was a Bentley Dominator thats owned by the Sultan of Brunei's family. Range Rover running gear with a Bentley face and trimming. A one off by all accounts. Theres 4x4 space above the upcoming V12 Range Rover so why not really?

Yup, its not a new idea, and the Dominator wasn't a one off either....






and all this happened in 1994!

>> Edited by cy88 on Tuesday 5th April 15:53

[Fire99]

flipping heck..!!

First the Jaguar SUV and now Bentley....

I have a funny feeling the Americans and Germans dont have the same feelings as us towards our motoring heritage!!

Anyone got enough cash to buy these brands back??

[randlemarcus]

Fire99 said:

Anyone got enough cash to buy these brands back??

Yeah....
The Russians

[klassiekerrally]

I think I'm going to be sick!


Emotions can't be put into numbers, but nowadays numbers are the only thing (german) car manufacturers seem to understand.