I have to wonder if they're considering a 419... wouldn't that compete fairly directly with the 407?
Maybe, but if the 419 is a 429 with one engine, perhaps not. The 429 is considearbly larger inside and out than the 407, so the 419 would be to the 407 as the 206L/407 is to the 206.
I'd guess a price on the 419 at least $1million more than the 407.
I have often wondered why Bell did not do a deal with Agusta to manufacture the 119 under license in the U.S. to fill out their product line. The 419 would likely fill this gap.
In any case Bell needs to get on with some innovative product development before their market share drops to zero.
AFAIK, the 429 is the only Bell commercial product currently in production whose basic design is less than 40 years old. I fly a 407 which I find to be a great acft (except for a cockpit uncomfortable in the extreme for taller pilots), but its a 206 with lots of "stuff" stuck on to it.