Jaguar Land Rover hints at Bentayga-fighting Range Rover

Jaguar Land Rover’s sales boss has hinted at the possibility of a more luxurious Range Rover to take on Bentley’s Bentayga.

Speaking to Australian media at the Paris motor show today, Jaguar Land Rover’s Global Sales Operations Director Andy Goss said new rivals such as the Bentley SUV had caught the British brand’s attention and could lead to a response in the form of a new more high-end offering.

“It would be silly of me to say we’re not concerned about the competition because you’ve got to be. You’d be a naive sales guy if you weren’t,” Goss said.

“But at the same time there’s two sides to the coin because they are generating a huge level of interest in the segment and that means people start to make choices and it can bring things forward.

“An SVAutobiography is a hell of a car, though” he added.

When reminded the $372,400 top-of-the-range Land Rover Range Rover V8SC SV Autobiography is almost $70,000 less than the $420,600 starting price of the Bentayga line-up, Goss suggested that gave his SUV room to move up.

“The point is that shows we have headroom. I think Range Rover as a brand has got headroom,” he said.

“There’s not a plan, but if you ask the theoretic question with Bentayga, could Range Rover go further – quite possibly.

They’ve produced a car that’s is highly credible, it not mass volume. They know we’re the king, we’re always going to be the king in that segment. But I think a lot of customers will look at the car and they’ll probably try it.

“Is Bentley more aspirational that a Range Rover? I don’t think so. I mean Bentley is a great car brand and they’ve done a fabulous job, but I don’t’ see many car brands being more aspirational than Range Rover. It’s never out of place in any environment, so why couldn’t we go further?”

Would you go for an even more luxo Range Rover over a Bentayga? Tell us what you think in the comments below.