Bentley Explains the Design of its New EXP 9 F SUV Concept

Contrary to popular belief, the design inspiration for Bentley's EXP 9 F SUV concept that is currently enjoying its world premiere at the ongoing Geneva Motor Show did not come from the London Taxi, or so the British firm's people tell us.

If you'd like to hear Bentley's designers explain themselves, you can do so by the following the break to watch the video.

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First-Ever Bentley SUV Rolls into the 2012 Geneva Motor Show

W.O. Bentley insisted that any car made by the company that bore his name should be “a good car, a fast car, and the best in its class”. This led to the creation, in 1919, of the first EXP (short for Experimental) concept that “embody the spirit of innovation that has guided the company ever since”.

Though we doubt that Bentley's founder had an SUV in mind, the British luxury carmaker, which now belongs to the VW Group's empire, has revealed exactly that in the form of the EXP 9 F that made its debut at the Geneva Motor Show today.

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Boo! It's the New Bentley EXP 9 F Super Luxurious SUV Concept

No one was expecting a styling miracle from Bentley when the company revealed its intentions to build an over-the-top SUV, but the awkwardly named EXP 9 F study that will be displayed at the Geneva Motor Show might be seen as some as having an even more awkward looking appearance.

The full-size luxury SUV concept, which looks very close to production in these images, infuses Bentley's traditional styling cues such as the Mulsanne's bold fascia and the heavily arched rear fenders to a shape that closely resembles the Range Rover. Of course, this isn't something you'll hear from Bentley's design team.

"The EXP 9 F had to represent the absolute pinnacle of the sport utility sector, setting a new benchmark for this type of vehicle," says Dirk van Braeckel, Director of Design at Bentley. "The style had to reflect Bentley’s sporting character despite its radically different package and purpose together with sculptured, flowing surfaces in keeping with the Bentley tradition.”

As you would expect, the prototype's interior, which features a 4+1 seating layout with a rear armrest lifting to reveal a cooled compartment for champagne and glasses, is sumptuous, to say the least.

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