The new Bentley Mulsanne and upcoming new Continental range could be joined by two smaller and more economical models as Bentley keep sales up in what is now a very difficult market for the luxury brand. Bentley could be going downmarket with almost a sub-brand called New Compact Bentley (NCB), to sit somewhere below the Continental offering in the Bentley line-up.

It will focus on keeping weight and price down on Bentley vehicles, as well as providing smaller, more economical engine options. To achieve this, we could see a new Bentley four-seat shooting brake model, and a crossover which would be like a kind of Bentley SUV. While the new Continental range will still have the Bentley W12 engine, the NCB range would have a V8, 4.5-litre option, with about 550 hp.

There’s some conjecture, but overall the so-called “NCB” project makes a lot of sense, with Bentley exploring diesel and hybrid technology. It will have plenty of competition from Rolls Royce, who has announced the Ghost hybrid, electric Phantom, and its own smaller crossover project called the “Short High Rugged International Metropolitan Project” (SHRIMP). So far Bentley is ahead in the stakes in how to choose names, at least.

Source | AutomobileMag via Autoblog

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