The Bentley EXP 9 F concept was one the most talked about cars of the Geneva Motor Show earlier this month, with Bentley aiming to out-do Porsche and Range Rover in a bid to make the most luxurious SUV in the world. It’s price is expected to be in the region of £140,000 – £150,000, which will make it by far the world’s most expensive 4×4. Bentley presume that all of their current customers have an off-road car from other car manufacturers. It is their intention to make the owners of Range Rovers and the like switch to the Bentley’s answer to the SUV. The concept is currently going through a stage of potential customer feedback and with very mixed reviews so far, it will be a long time before Bentley are able to produce the car for good, with many predicting a 2015 launch if the concept ever comes off.
Keeping up with their usual premium standards,the Bentley EXP 9 F concept includes the ultimate luxury in interior design, with the most modern technology added to produce an incredibly contemporary car that is both elegant and high-tech. With it’s 4 + 1 capacity, passengers are able to work by using the fold-out keyboard and connecting to the internet via a tablet computer. When travelling in the EXP 9 F, passengers can also relax by taking advantage of the drinks table, powered footrest and screen for watching films, which all make the EXP 9 F concept sound like an ideal dream car. The seats are made of super-soft leather and the carpets are pure wool helping to make the interior the EXP 9 F concept’s best asset.
Externally, the EXP 9 F concept is just as you would expect a Bentley 4×4 to look like, with many the traditional features of the brand thrown into the design. The front of the car has to be the more attractive end, as a classic Bentley look has been achieved with a more sporty finish. It really does work well, however as you start to look at the rear of the vehicle, things start to take a rapid downhill turn. The rear end of the car is rather unsightly. It quite simply looks like a box on wheels from the back, and I am not alone in thinking this as many reviews have said precisely the same thing. The new concept is also incredibly big, in fact it is 200mm longer than a Range Rover,which won’t be ideal when it comes to parking. The whole chassis is based on the massive 23 inch wheels, that are inspired by turbine blades. As far as looks go, Bentley’s competitors are in the lead, at least for now.
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