Thread: Bentley promises off-road ability for its new SUV

Bentley's engineering chief promises off-road ability and suggests diesel could also be possible. Bentley's forthcoming SUV will feature some level of off-road ability, according to the firms engineering chief Rolf Frech. We have to show that it [off-roading] is possible, he said. Its like a Porsche 911 and the racetrack. How many customers are really going on the racetrack? The key is that they know that if they want to, they can.
A low-range transfer case is under consideration for the platform, which will also underpin other luxury SUVs in the Volkswagen Group. The current platform uses an eight-speed transmission with hill descent control to compensate, to a degree, for the lack of low-range gearing.
Frech also discussed the future of diesel. Bentleys two largest markets ― China and America ― are not keen on diesels. However, Frech said: I think it [diesel] makes sense on the SUV. On the Mulsanne and the Continental, it depends on the business case. We are looking at diesel and a plug-in hybrid [for the SUV].
Bentley plans to stick with the eight-speed torque-converter automatic transmission across the range, instead of a dual-clutch automatic gearbox. It also sees all-wheel drive as the clear direction for Bentley, but is prepared to offer more rear-wheel drive models for their weight saving and emissions benefits.
A production decision on the Bentley SUV is expected to be made imminently, with an announcement possible at the Geneva motor show next month.