More Bentley Bentayga variants are on the cards to ensure the car maker keeps an edge on its rivals, according to CEO Wolfgang Durheimer.
A number of options have been tabled including a coupe version or a GT3 R version in a similar vein to the Continental GT3 R. Such a model could arrive with a Bentayga facelift in 2019. However, Durheimer said no decision has been made yet.
“Derivatives are important to us because you have to be the newest kid in town for customers.”
The Bentayga has been a runaway success for Bentley, despite early scepticism, and now a number of rivals are working on luxury SUVs, said Durheimer. “We will see a large number of competitors [in this segment] in the future. They are all working on their luxury SUVs.
“The customers that are buying in this market are keen to have the latest design out there.”
He added that when new rivals do turn up, so long has Bentley has another option – in this case Bentayga variants – it can keep ahead of the curve.
There are a plethora of rivals coming, including the Rolls-Royce Cullinan, the BMW X7, Lamborghini Urus and Audi Q8.
Meanwhile, Bentley is still deciding on another model in its line-up, which could be a two-seat roadster as previewed by the recent EXP12 Speed 6e concept or another SUV.
Durheimer said its its product plan means further Bentayga models won’t arrive before 2022 but, while there is no verdict, he added that his personal preference was a smaller Bentayga.
The Bentayga has also been Bentley’s first application of a diesel engine, which has been incredibly well-received with Autocar awarding it a revered five stars in its review. But Durheimer said he can not see any other use for diesel across the broader line-up for the foreseeable future.
Bentley’s next focus is the new Continental GT, which is due to be revealed this summer.
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Thinking outside the box.
What it needs is fewer variants...
But this won't stop Wolfgang putting out increasingly desperate press releases to try to get free publicity from Autocar. Similarly, this won't prevent Bentley from having a bunch of ungainly, ugly and unsold boils snarling up the Pyms Lane factory. The Germans may have won the war, but they're sure as hell losing the peace...
Maybe they could offer a