Bentley Will Build The SUV – Don’t Mess With It

The Bentley EXP 9F SUV was first unveiled at the Geneva Auto Show in 2102 and subsequently on display at various other venues.  I got an in depth touchy-feely experience with the super luxury Bentley SUV last summer at the Bentley House during Pebble Beach.  I’ve held off posting about it until hearing first hand from an insider at Bentley, it is a go. According to sources at Bentley Motors the point of this flashy concept was to get people talking, good and bad.  They were open to opinons.  I was told more than once, “go on the website and comment.”

Admittedly I initially wondered who would drive this bold luxury tank other than flash-in-the-pan rap stars and billionaire oil moguls.  With a suggested entry price at around $300K, who else?  Hardly a large enough market to warrant the costs of building a new model.   At first glance the car just didn’t seem like the choice of an aging executive driver.  Unlike other prototypes fitted with lick, stick and duct-tape to stand up for display, this was no slouch.  Always a sucker for a two tone interior, this combination is stellar in person.  The leather is so perfectly smooth one can’t help from caressing it.  Notice the slatted looking (reversible) floor mats in the back seat and rear deck, what you are seeing is leather.  The other side is toe curling sheepskin.

But after my touchy-feely moment, it is too nice of car for a mere wannabe.

Bentley doesn’t miss a detail.The door sill plate is fitted into the door sill not a snap on afterthought attachment. Made to resemble the feel of a gun stock, this beefy wood trim commands the top edge of the door interiors. Of course one must certainly have customized picnic containers!  This is a car meant to roam the countryside. These huge wheels scream, car-detail boy!  Here is how I know I can’t afford it, I look at those wheels and all I see is hours spent cleaning them.

If you follow me on Instagram (TheLisaMSmith) and saw this picture a couple of months ago you might put 2 + 2 together and realize I was at Volkswagen North America, or in this case Bentley Motors’ new North American headquarters in Virginia, getting the scoop on all things Bentley.  (Still waiting to drive the new Flying Spur.)  This is when I got confirmation the SUV is going into production, but will look much different than what I saw last summer.

Wait, the behemoth is growing on me. Bentley, if you are really listening… please continue the exterior along the Mulsanne lines with that boxy front end with dinner plate sized headlights.

 I spotted this on Top Speed, which is hopefully just someone’s photoshop hack of an Audi Q7.  As much as I like the Continental GT, and you know I do, please don’t do this. It looks too much like a Porsche Cayenne or dare I say Volkswagen Touareg.

Gawd no, not a massaged Audi Q7!  Nah, Bentley is too smart to follow Detroit down the rebadging path…  I know it is expensive but don’t dumb it down.  I mean this in the nicest way.

What do you think?