Bentley planning a sport-utility model

FRANKFURT, GERMANY: Luxury car manufacturer Bentley, a unit of German company Volkswagen, said on Tuesday, 23 July it will go ahead with plans to launch a sport-utility vehicle in 2016.

The Bentley brand has been associated down the years with stately vehicles for heads of state, the rich and show business stars.

"Bentley Motors confirms that it will proceed with the development of the Bentley SUV," which would be made in Crewe in Britain and go on sale in 2016, the company said in a statement.

"It will create over 1,000 jobs" in Britain.

Over the next three years Bentley would invest more than £800m at its headquarters at Crewe to develop the new models.

Bentley's pursuit of an SUV had been up in the air, as the company awaited a green light from Volkswagen and debated where production would be based.

"The Volkswagen group believes in the UK as a competitive location for industrial production. Bentley fans all around the world are looking forward to the marque's first SUV," said VW chief executive Martin Winterkorn.

VW also owns many other brands including Audi, Porsche, Seat and Skoda.

Source: AFP via I-Net Bridge