Bentley Flagship SUV Hinted At By CEO, Could Replace The Mulsanne

Five years ago, Bentley steered into the premium mid-size SUV segment with the Bentayga, which entered production at the end of 2015.

Now, they’re apparently planning to expand their high-riding vehicle portfolio with a brand new model that could grab the flagship reins from the Mulsanne sedan, which will soon be discontinued.

Read More: Bentley’s Best-Selling Model In 2019 Was NOT The Bentayga

Autocar had the chance to speak to CEO Adrian Hallmark about their future plans, and it was the company’s head honcho who hinted at a possible new flagship SUV that will sit above the Bentayga, as well as other possible derivatives of the latter that could lure in more buyers.

“Our ambition is to fill the Mulsanne price space. It will not be a sports car, because we will not build sports cars. The clear indication is that luxury car buyers see SUVs as being far more attractive, and that is where we see the potential”, said Hallmark. “I can definitely see gaps for more derivatives of the Bentayga and other opportunities within the SUV space.”

Based on the highly versatile MLB platform, developed by the Volkswagen Group and shared with the entire modern range of big SUVs, including the Touareg, Audi Q7, Porsche Cayenne and Lamborghini Urus, the Bentayga is already one of the most expensive high-riding vehicles in the world. A more exclusive version, or perhaps a new model, would better compete against the likes of the Rolls-Royce Cullinan, which is 200 mm (7.9 in) longer and offers 303 mm (11.9 in) more space between the two axles.

However, in light of the global recession that’s knocking on our doors, Bentley could postpone or phase off its plans of launching a new SUV. Nonetheless, they will hold on to the Bentayga for a few more years until replacing it with a new-gen, because make no mistake, it’s a genuine cash cow for the Crewe firm.