What is it?
Well for all intents and purposes it's a Range Rover with a Bentley grille. There's no trace of Land Rover's finest underneath of course this being a VW Group product, but there's no doubt that's the market the firm is aiming for. Under the bonnet of this thinly veiled concept (we'd put money on it reaching production very soon) there's a 6.0-litre turbocharged W12 engine, but the new 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 would also fit - just don't expect a diesel. Curiously, the press release makes no mention of a four-wheel drive transmission, but then a rear-wheel drive SUV would be stupid wouldn't it? Wouldn't it?!
Why's it here?
Well everyone's got to make money, and as Porsche's Cayenne has consistently been one of the firm's best sellers it would be financial hari-kari for Crewe's finest not to add one to its line-up. The firm readily admits many customers already own another SUV, so this really is filling an EXP 9 F-shaped gap just waiting to be exploited. Regardless of the market though, we're not sure it'll go down well with all of the brand's many admirers. Still, wads of cash can't buy you taste, so expect to see this 'concept' jostling for position on the new-money school run very soon.
Show stopper or floor filler?
It's a show-stopper alright, but not in the way that Bentley may have hoped. Just like when Porsche unveiled the original Cayenne the purists revolted at the 911-alike front end - it's the same with the Continental-aping face on the EXP 9 F. It's definitely best enjoyed from the inside, where the cabin is typically opulent, mixing wood, leather and metal to the usual effect. It's just not the sort of machine you'd glance back at in a car park, or try and catch your reflection in, or proudly point at...