Despite the fact that Rolls-Royce CEO Torsten Müller-Ötvös explicitly ruled out the possibility of an SUV back in April, strong demand for luxury SUVs around the globe has managed to sway his decision to the point that he is actually considering launching one.

“We are intensively thinking about entering the SUV segment,” Müller-Ötvös confirmed to Bloomberg.

He also said the company’s designers are working on conceptual sketches that will be used to judge if an SUV fits the brand.

Launching an SUV would provide Rolls-Royce with a rival to a high-riding Bentley due in 2016. It may also pave the way for the development of a large SUV platform that BMW could utilize for its oft-rumored X7. BMW currently has no direct rival for full-size luxury SUVs like the Audi Q7, Mercedes-Benz GL-Class and Land Rover Range Rover.

As previously reported, even if Rolls-Royce does move forward with plans for an ultra-luxurious SUV, it won’t reach the market before 2017.

Stay tuned for an update.

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