The Bentley SUV has reportedly been given the green light for production by the supervisory board of parent company Volkswagen, paving the way for the controversial new model to launch by mid-decade.

Industry journal Automotive News Europe quotes German newspaper Handelsblatt, which reports the British luxury car maker has been given the all clear to send a vehicle based on the Bentley EXP 9F concept down the production line.

The newspaper reports the Bentley SUV, codenamed Falcon, is expected to be manufactured at Volkswagen's Bratislava plant in Slovakia, with the finishing touches to be applied at the company's Crewe headquarters in the UK.

Bentley CEO Wolfgang Schreiber revealed last month that the styling of the production SUV – now the domain of new design director Luc Donckerwolke – would resemble the brand's existing models rather than mirror the polarising styling of the Dirk van Braeckel-penned EXP 9F concept that debuted at last year's Geneva motor show.

The Bentley SUV will become one of a growing list of luxury performance SUVs, joining the segment-creating Porsche Cayenne and the upcoming Maserati Levante and Lamborghini Urus.