We Spy Bentley’s First SUV, Internally Known as the Falcon

SUVs are the new frontier for ultra-luxury car brands such as Bentley, which will release its first-ever crossover model onto the market in 2016.

Before it does so, the Crew firm has to complete the development phase, with our spies capturing a prototype undergoing hot weather (…low suspension) testing in Southern Europe.

We’ve heard that the SUV is internally referred to as the Falcon, but there’s still no official word on the final name for the production model.

Bentley has teased the car through shadowy videos and pictures, so we already know that its appearance will differ from the original and quite controversial, EXP 9 F Concept, featuring a less polarizing front end that’s more in line with other current Bentley models.

The interior could be a different story, with Bentley keeping closer to the study, but we’ll know for sure when we obtain scoop shots of the cabin.

While the styling will be very Bentley overall, the luxury off-roader’s hardware, including the new platform, will be a VW Group thing, shared with the next generations of the Audi Q7, Porsche Cayenne and VW Touareg, and Lamborghini’s new SUV.

Powering the Bentley model will be the brand’s 6.0-liter twin-turbo W12 petrol engine producing over 600-horses, with the British firm also confirming the introduction of its very first plug-in petrol-electric hybrid, which is widely believed to use the V8 unit featured on the Mulsanne Concept. The 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 petrol could be offered without electric assistance as well.

Photo Credits: CarPix for CarScoopS