The all new Bentley Bentayga SUV has a starting price of around £160,000 and customers are ordering their Bentayga’s with so many options that the average price is nearer to £250,000. Clearly, Bentley have spotted a niche and at this stage have it largely to themselves. Range Rover who have been the leader in this segment is now not happy with losing this chunk of customers and so they have a solution hatching.
Bosses at Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) are discussing making a short-run, partially hand-built Range Rover model sitting above the current flagship Vogue. Such a vehicle would command a price around £200,000.
The Director of Special Vehicle Operations, a JLR division, is Paul Newsome. He admits they are considering a Range Rover which ‘would be hand-finished and hand-matched. Something that potential buyers could watch being made.’
To Newsome the key would not be simply throwing more technology into the mix, but making a Range Rover that had unique styling and looks, and which would demonstrate the highest levels of craftsmanship.
No timeline has been announced, but the SVO division has just launched the SVAutobiography, a new limited-run flagship costing £165,000.
