The most talked about concept model at this year’s edition of the Geneva Motor Show was without any doubt, the Bentley EXP 9 F SUV, but not for the reasons the British automaker’s top brass would have hoped for.
You see, the firm’s first attempt at designing an SUV model was received with harsh criticism about its styling even before the general public had the chance to see the concept in real life.
In fact, the disapproval rate was so widespread that during the press days, an unnamed Bentley source told British publication “What Car” that Exp 9 F’s styling is “a little heavy handed” and that “an alternative design is in progress”.
The Bentley source added that the firm’s second take on the SUV theme will have “more traditional SUV proportions and less retro surfacing” while retaining the EXP 9 F’s round headlights (albeit slightly smaller) and fog lights.
We’re just thinking out loud here, but being that it’s fairly uncommon for a company source to admit all these things to a magazine during the first appearance of a concept model on stage could mean that Bentley itself wasn’t entirely convinced about the EXP 9 F’s looks from the beginning of the project and already had a backup plan in place.
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