SINGAPORE - Rolls-Royce Motor Cars has confirmed that it will make a sports-utility vehicle (SUV).

In a letter hand-delivered to the press, chief executive Torsten Mueller-Oetvoes said the BMW-owned British marque will build "a high-bodied car with an all-new aluminium architecture".

The announcement put to rest months of speculation of whether Rolls-Royce will or won't make an SUV model.

Ever since Porsche launched its Cayenne SUV 13 years ago and made a roaring success of it, other luxury manufacturers have been eyeing the lucrative SUV pie. Jaguar, Lamborghini, Maserati and Bentley are among those with upcoming SUV models.

In the letter, Mr Mueller-Oetvoes said Rolls-Royces had in the past "conveyed pioneers and adventurers like Lawrence of Arabia across the vastness of unexplored deserts and over mountain ranges".

"In other parts of the world including Australia, India and the Americas, Rolls-Royces carried their owners over challenging terrain with absolute reliability and comfort," he added.

"History sets our precedent and our future calls us to action."