Asked by reporters whether an open-top variant of the Bentley Bentayga was in the works, Mulliner CEO Tim Hannig avoided a direct answer, but said the idea was entirely realistic.
For the topless SUV to become reality, several conditions have to be met. First, Mulliner has to know that there is sufficient market demand for it, even if the planned production run is small. Second, the design of the car has to be in line with the Bentley’s currently adopted design philosophy.
The Bentley Bacalar roadster shown here debuted a few days ago and will emerge in 12 units priced at 1.5 million GBP each. The Bentayga Convertible – if it ever makes it into production – is also going to be a niche model for a chosen few.
Other automakers have already released topless SUVs and crossovers, but those never stayed in production for too long. For one, the Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet had a four-year life cycle, while the Land Rover Evoque only mace out for two years. On the other hand, SUVs with a fully removable top – such as the Jeep Wrangler – are quite popular.