Rolls Royce may not officially admit it (yet), but Bentley’s upcoming Bentayga surely played a decisive role in their decision-making process to enter the uber-luxury SUV segment.
While archrival Rolls Royce has just begun outlining their 4×4, Bentley is one-step before the official introduction of the Bentayga, which our spies photographed while undergoing cold weather testing in Northern Sweden.
Bentley has already confirmed that the Bentayga will be introduced this year at an, as-of- yet, undisclosed international motor show and go on sale in 2016 with regular engines followed by the brand’s first plug-in hybrid (PHEV) version in 2017.
A quick check on the prototype’s license plates discloses that it’s powered by Bentley’s 6.0-liter twin-turbo W12 engine, which should be the range topper producing more than 600-horses to help make it the “world’s fastest” SUV with a reported top speed of 200mph or 322km/h.
Bentley’s version of the VW Group twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 is expected to appear at the base of the range, while the upcoming PHEV might use the gasoline-electric powertrain on the Mulsanne Hybrid Concept.
The British firm has done a fine job keeping the Bentayga’s styling details a secret with the overly protective camouflage, but Bentley has said it will bear little resemblance to the divisive EXP-95 Concept car from the 2012 Geneva motor show.
Underneath the still mysterious body lies the VW Group’s new, lightweight aluminum architecture bound for the next generations of the Audi Q7, Porsche Cayenne, VW Touareg, and Lamborghini’s SUV.
Photo Credits: CarPix for CarScoops
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