Bentley has confirmed their SUV to challenge the Range Rover – the Bentley Falcon – will be built in Crewe and arrive in 2016.
The Bentley SUV (pictured) will be built in Crewe
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The Bentley SUV – which could very well be called the Bentley Falcon – has finally, and officially, been signed off for production, with the first SUVs arriving in 2016.
That production decision – another big vote for the UK motor industry – will see Bentley invest £800 million over the next three years to prepare Crewe for its challenge to the new Range Rover, creating a further 1,000 jobs in the process.
Bentley has been convinced their SUV plans are a winner – despite less than stellar praise for the looks of the SUV Concept – and have received more than 2,000 pre-orders despite buyers not really knowing what will be on offer.
We know Bentley are going back to the drawing board with the Falcon to make it more visually appealing, but we don’t yet know exactly where Bentley will position their SUV. Will it be just above the top-end Range Rovers – around £150k – or will it be pitched way beyond that – something Bentley dealers we have spoken to want to see – at over £200k?
Bentley’s Chairman, Dr Wolfgang Schreiber, said:
This is excellent news for Bentley and for the UK. Bentley is increasingly successful and this new fourth model line will leverage the success of the global SUV market. The support of everyone involved with the Company has been fundamental to this decision, which will ensure sustainable growth for the company.
It’s a bold plan to increase Bentley sales with the SUV in the way Porsche did with the Cayenne, but it’s a huge task for Bentley to come up with an SUV that can not only match the new Range Rover, but persuade buyers it’s a better car that justifies a higher price.
Should be interesting to watch.
Chris says
The business model would say to build it in Bratislava alongside the VW Touareg, Audi Q7 and Porsche Cayenne.
The issue is whether Bentley buyers would want to have one built in Bratislava and have the handmade parts shipped from England?
My view is that they would not like that. Customers visit the factory to discuss customisation of their car. Can’t see that happening in Slovakia: Here’s your Bentley Mr. Janus, it’s behind the Touareg coming down the production line.
It’s great news for Crewe but Range Rover are not standing still. Test mules are on the road of a long wheel based version and plans to go further upmarket.
All good for the British economy.
Cars UK says
Well, the plan did seem to be to build it Bratislava and then ship it to Crewe to be ‘Bentleyfied’. But this is a much better plan.