Bentley EXP 15 Concept Signals the Brand's Grand Electric Future

Car and Driver

7 hours ago

The Bentley EXP 15 concept hints at the brand's future design direction, with some cues set to appear on its first EV next year.
The front end wears a glowing grille and vertical LED headlights, while the body sports a fastback roofline and a raised stance.
The large glass dashboard serves as a screen but can reveal wood trim behind; intricate gold-knurled controls appear on the center console and steering wheel.
With more than a century under its belt, Bentley is steeped in heritage, and its stately designs carry a noble "old money" aura. But Bentley is looking towards the future with the EXP 15 concept, represented by a full-size exterior model and an interior design created using virtual reality. The electric EXP 15 signals the direction Bentley will take with its forthcoming first EV. It also shows that, although some details may transform as Bentley electrifies, its styling will remain as grand and lavish as ever.
Big and Bold
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Bentley
The EXP 15 has an unusual shape that doesn't really conform to a traditional body style. It has a raised stance that hints at SUV styling but a sloping fastback roofline. That silhouette draws inspiration from the 1930 Bentley Speed Six Gurney Nutting Sportsman coupe. The EXP 15's surfacing is clean, with a sharp crease running from the headlight into the base of the side windows and pronounced rear haunches. Since the EXP 15 is electric, it has a relatively short hood for a distinguished luxury car. From the rear-three-quarter view, the EXP 15 looks like a chunkier take on the Jaguar Type 00 concept from last year.
The front end is appropriately upright for a Bentley and is dominated by an illuminated hexagonal grille. The grille is comprised of an array of triangular elements that mimic the chrome crosshairs of a classic Bentley grille, bisected by a central spine. Bentley's redesigned badge is inset atop the grille, sitting below the classic Flying B hood ornament. Although EVs don't require such large grilles for cooling, Bentley sees it as a chance to "create a piece of digital art."
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Bentley
The grille is framed by vertical LED headlights that give it a somewhat robotic stare, which are echoed by an illuminated vertical trim piece at the leading edge of the doors. This appendage also houses a vent to channel air along the side of the car. The thin taillights wrap around a body-colored panel holding the Bentley badge, and the EXP 15 features two active roof-top spoilers and an active rear diffuser.
A Decadent Cabin
Just like the Hyundai Veloster, the EXP 15 sports an asymmetrical door setup, with one on the driver's side and two on the passenger's side. Inside, there are only three seats, with the driver sitting alone up front and the left-side rear passenger getting plenty of room to stretch their legs. Bentley also envisions that the extra space can be used for pet carriers or hand luggage. The passenger-side rear seat can rotate 45 degrees to aid ingress and egress and can move forward and back.
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Bentley
The EXP 15 features a "wing-shaped" dashboard, with trim pieces that flow upwards from the center console, one enveloping the steering wheel and the other housing a series of gauges in front of the passenger's seat. The glass that composes the rest of the dashboard can display a digital interface or be turned off, uncloaking wood veneer trim behind the glass. There's also a large physical dial of sorts behind the center screen, which Bentley calls the "Mechanical Marvel" and resembles an old radial plane engine. The movable and lit-up glass elements that surround a Bentley emblem can be used to show information such as the direction of travel or state of charge.
The cabin uses a mix of rich-looking materials, with a wool textile paired with 3-D-printed titanium trim. The switchgear on the steering wheel and center console has an exquisite gold-knurled finish, and there are backlit panels on the doors and around the rear seats that repeat the grille motif.
Bentley
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Bentley
The trunk, meanwhile, can double as a fancy picnic setup. Two small cushions form seats, a fridge keeps the champagne chilled, and a glowing glass lamp adds ambiance. Another cool trick on the EXP 15 is its Pallas Gold paint, which uses a new ultra-thin aluminum pigment that allows radar sensors to transmit through it without affecting the signal quality. This lets Bentley hide safety devices that can sometimes be an eyesore, such as on the current Continental GT's grille.
Bentley says the EXP 15 isn't intended for production, but the brand did say that the concept previews its future design direction. Specifically, elements of its exterior styling could be seen on Bentley's first EV, which will likely be unveiled next year, although that model is expected to take a more traditional small-SUV form.
Caleb Miller
Associate News Editor
Caleb Miller began blogging about cars at 13 years old, and he realized his dream of writing for a car magazine after graduating from Carnegie Mellon University and joining the Car and Driver team. He loves quirky and obscure autos, aiming to one day own something bizarre like a Nissan S-Cargo, and is an avid motorsports fan.