Whispers about a Bentley SUV - some of them coming directly from Bentley chief Wolfgang Duerheimer - have been floating around for ages. At this week's Geneva Motor Show, Bentley finally puts a face to the rumors. Its EXP 9 F may or may not lead to an eventual production SUV, but it gives the world a look at what a utilitarian Bentley could look like.

 

There are plenty of luxury SUVs on the market. Every likely suspect (Land Rover, Audi, BMW, etc.) and some not so likely suspects (Porsche) offers one. But a Bentley SUV would be the first ultra-premium SUV. Such a model would be the "Bentley of SUVs," both literally and figuratively.

 

Bentley envisions the EXP 9 F as a new take on a Bentley grand tourer, a vehicle that is comfortable transitioning from an opera gala to an expedition over sand dunes to the fast lane on the highway. The concept gets customary Bentley power in the form of the Continental's 600-bhp 6.0-liter twin-turbo W-12 engine, but the automaker leaves open the possibility of offering its new 4.0-liter V-8 option or a hybrid system.