Posted on: Apr 23, 2012 | 5,529 reads

Bentley Barges into Beijing with EXP 9 F SUV Powertrain Details

A powerful W12 and V6 Plug-in Hybrid will both be available options for the new Bentley SUV.

Bentley's huge snafu at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show came in the form of an SUV concept. The EXP 9 F concept, as it was called, arrived to the Swiss Show and was met with the same remark that I generally encounter at the bar from most women: "Ewww, disgusting." The fail of a design showed just how far the British design team had fallen, and so much so to the extent that Bentley has unsurprisingly announced that they are, in fact, redesigning the entire SUV.

Bentley Barges into Beijing with EXP 9 F SUV Powertrain Details

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Bentley, however, doesn't want to fall too far behind its competition in terms of production and launch date, so they have arrived at the 2012 Beijing Motor Show on schedule and presented the details of the engine lineup that will motivate the hopefully more aesthetically-pleasing British SUV. The EXP 9 F Concept that is currently on display in Beijing features a 6.0-liter twin-turbocharged W12 gasoline plant mated to an 8-speed close-ratio tranny, good for 600hp and 590 lb-ft of torque. Also available are a 500hp 4.0-liter V8 gasoline engine and a Bentley-first, new V6 Plug-in Hybrid.

The latter and more eco-friendly option returns 130g/km CO2, can travel a range of 19 miles in pure EV mode and launch from 0-62mph in under 5 seconds. Set to compete against the recently-revealed Lamborghini Urus, Range Rover and Porsche Cayenne, the Bentley EXP 9 F needs a redesign and fast. A powerful W12 plant and efficient, performance-minded V6 Plug-in Hybrid are tasty engine offerings, however to compete with the major automakers already in the segment, they will need something with a bit more style and substance.