Reality: Super-luxury SUV Arena

It had to happen. People want to splurge on cars, but love SUVs. So, there was only solution: create a super-luxury SUV. And, the days of super-luxury excess have arrived.

Super-luxury SUVs aren’t a new concept, let’s be honest. The Range Rover has been around for a while, and, until recently, was the only real luxury SUV on offer. But, something went and changed. All-wheel drive came to sedans, people wanted SUVs to feel like cars and crossovers were born. Then, they wanted them to look like sports cars, and sports activity coupés arrived. Admittedly very unique, their styling was not to everyone’s taste, but there was a market nonetheless. The global SUV market has grown by as much as 300 per cent over the past decade, and manufacturers were quick to take a note of this trend.

Now, though, the playing field has been elevated. Bentley announced much earlier that super luxury need not be confined to a singular form, and recently showcased the Bentayga. Lamborghini have given the Urus the go-ahead. Rolls-Royce, even, have thrown their hat into the ring. Mercedes-Benz announced their new GLS-Class, which basically combines the GL-Class and S-Class offerings. And, finally, where it all began, Land Rover have (already begun offering) the long-wheelbase Range Rover, taking capable luxury even further.

Now, if you’ve been in the Range Rover, driven it on and off the road, you’d know how incredible a car it really is. Under all that expensive hide and wood, lie technologies so advanced, they’ve somehow managed to restrict them from view by hiding them in micro-chips controlled by a rotor or a knob. That’s what TerrainResponse2 is like. It’s incredible. To be able to change the whole character of the car with the turn of a dial. That’s all fine when you look at the standard car, which, again is still massive and weighs over two tonnes. But, now, they have the Range Rover L, and it’s just as capable. Over 300 mm of ground clearance, off-road ability, grade-scaling like you wouldn’t believe, and, to top it all off, business-class seating in the rear, cosseted away in the epitome of luxury. Well, almost, some would say. We still have to see what the Bentley Bentayga is like.

Bentley have created a monster. That it wears a tie and possesses immaculately-shined shoes notwithstanding, it will still hit the tonne in 4.1 seconds and do 301 km/h – making it the fastest SUV on Earth. How does it do that? The new engine – christened the W12 TSI – is the 6.0-litre unit with 608 PS and 900 Nm of torque. That’s a lot. And the funniest bit, and I’m not laughing, is that the 900 Nm of torque peaks from 1,250 RPM and lasts a whole 3,250 RPM until 4,500 RPM. If that’s not a flat and fat torque ‘curve’ I don’t know what is. The Bentayga will also offer an incredible array of personalisation options, including a Breitling built-in self-winding clock that costs almost as much as the car, as well as an optional premium Naim for Bentley audio system which again doesn’t have to be discussed in terms of price if you’re a potential Bentayga customer. At £160,000 thereabouts in the UK (Rs 1.6 crore before duties and taxes) we’re looking at Rs 3.5 crore plus tax or thereabouts, without options. Factor in those, and you’ll see why it’s being compared to the Rolls-Royce offering as well.

Image Courtesy: Car Magazine UK (http://www.carmagazine.co.uk)

Not much is known about the presently codenamed ‘Cullinan’ SUV except that it will go on sale in 2018 and probably possess an evolved version of the twin-turbo V12 in the Wraith, and soon to be launched Dawn. With 632-PS or thereabouts, it will offer more-than-enough power and torque for its expected size – imagine a Phantom estate on stilts. It will, almost certainly, become the flagship, the most advanced and revered model to bear the Spirit of Ecstasy. Going by the present exchange rate, don’t expect to pay anything less than Rs 6 crore for the Rolls-Royce super-luxury 4×4 when it does arrive.

The latest to join the bandwagon, if I dare call it that, is the GLS-Class. While it has just begun being launched in a phased manner globally, dealer order books opening as you read this. Mercedes-Benz have upgraded the GL-Class to the GLS-Class, making it more evident that it’s an off-road S-Class than before. More butch, yet elegant design touches –the front grille, adaptive LED headlamps ­– and improved seating and interior creature comforts mark this one out as the flagship from the Stuttgart marque. The GLS-Class will commence with the 350 d V6 turbo-diesel and end with the AMG GLS 63 4MATIC biturbo V8 petrol with 585 PS. The sportier of the lot will have its work cut out for it with the advent of Lamborghini’s Urus.

Lamborghini haven’t been saying much, but, unlike Bentley’s Bentayga not taking the form of their hideous concept shown earlier, the EXp-9F, we expect the Urus to stick to the concept design and deliver the ‘oohs’ and ‘aahs’ Lamborghini are known for. A V10 should be under the bonnet, but we’re crossing fingers and hoping for a mad V12 version too, as well as a cleaner, greener hybrid 4×4 model. We should see something along the lines of an Urus LP 600-4 very soon. The LP part might turn into LA (anterior: front), considering the four seats, but we’ll have to wait and see. Of course, don’t be surprised to see a version of Audi’s 4.0-litre TFSI from the S8 plus under the hood, good for 605 PS and 700 Nm, with up to 750 Nm on tap.

Here’s what the comparison looks like with all those massive numbers:

Disclaimer: All figures quoted are confirmed from cars on offer at the time of writing, or estimated figures based on present offerings related directly to the future offerings discussed. Deviation of any figures, including pricing, from figures released or published post the time of writing of this article may occur.

Story: Jim Gorde

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