Range Rover 'not worried' about Bentley SUV
Premium British 4WD brand says Bentley and Rolls-Royce SUVs have to prove their worthThe global rise of the SUV is creating genres within segments and with a predicted 22 million SUV sales per annum by 2020, car-makers are rushing to get in on the act.
Unconscionable just 10 years ago, Bentley and Rolls-Royce have confirmed their intention to develop high-end all-terrain vehicles. In fact, the Bentley Bentayga SUV (teaser photos in gallery) will be on sale in Australia in less than a year, while the Rolls-Royce Cullinan, will follow within a year or two.
Bentley says its new super-SUV will be the world's most luxurious – and expensive – SUV, which is a mantle currently held by Land Rover's premium brand, Range Rover.
So is Range Rover worried? Not a chance, says the company's outspoken design director, Gerry McGovern.
"No I'm not worried. Some people might see them as rivals, but I get back to this thing about authenticity. The word icon... 'iconic' is used generously. You don't just arrive at that status.
"This is the real deal," says McGovern, pointing at an image of the upcoming Range Rover SVAutobiography (pictured), currently the company's most luxurious product.
The top-shelf Rangie could fetch up to $400,000 when it arrives here in last quarter of 2015, but the new Bentley Bentayga could go higher than that, and Rolls-Royce's Cullinan may even reach close to the million mark.
"I'm not really worried by them. I know that does sounds arrogant and we do need to be cognisant of them, but I'm not going give them any publicity by talking about them," said McGovern.
Doing just that, Land Rover's outspoken design chief went on to say the arrival of these seriously lavish UK-built SUVs will only improve Range Rover's resolve, and that its rivals will have a tough time demonstrating their worth, particularly in the aesthetics department.
"I think it's great these other brands are doing this stuff because it will keep our focus razor-like.
"At the same time they have got to prove themselves. We've got no doubt they can build very high-quality luxurious vehicles.
"They've got the design equity – but I haven't seen a good design yet, to be honest. That's my view.
"They're gonna have that supremacy of off-road capability? I haven't seen that either," chided McGovern.
"In this part of the market, you have to have authenticity."
It's clear that McGovern thinks the Bentley and Rolls-Royce SUVs will have a lot to live up to if they want to match the Range Rover's off-road abilities, but in terms of luxury, refinement and outlandish opulence, he's not quite so confident.
Asked if he thinks the new limited-edition Range Rover SVAutobiography is the world's most luxurious SUV, he replied: "It depends how you define it."
"We don't say it's the most luxurious SUV in the world, we say it's the most luxurious Range Rover SUV we've ever built so far.
"I think it's the most peerless SUV in the world," he clarified. "I don't think there's anything else like the Range Rover."
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