Bentley SUV has been given the green light

Bentley Motors has confirmed that it will proceed with the development of the Bentley SUV, the company's fourth model line. The SUV will be made in Crewe and will go on sale in 2016. Over the next three years Bentley will invest more than £800 million (S$1.55 billion) in its headquarters at Crewe and the development of new models. U.K. Prime Minister David Cameron, who was present together with Dr Martin Winterkorn, Chairman of the Board of Volkswagen Group, said, "This £800 million investment and a thousand new jobs from Bentley is fantastic news for both Crewe and for the U.K. as a whole. It is another important milestone in strengthening our economy."

Dr Winterkorn commented, "The Volkswagen Group believes in the U.K. as a competitive location for industrial production. Bentley fans all around the world are looking forward to the brand's first SUV. Together we will make this new Bentley another true Bentley - powerful, exclusive and successful."

Bentley's Chairman and Chief Executive, Dr Wolfgang Schreiber, added, "This is excellent news for Bentley and for the U.K. 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."

The SUV will be a thoroughbred Bentley true to the brand hallmarks of luxury, performance, quality and craftsmanship. The styling will set it apart from any other SUV on the road and will be true to the Bentley design DNA. It will be the most luxurious and most powerful SUV in the market. The response from customers to a Bentley SUV has been extremely positive in the last 16 months.