Bentley EXP 15 concept previews new design direction
In a press release, Bentley emphasized that the EXP 15 is not a direct preview of that SUV (or any other production vehicle, as it's a static model that isn't drivable). But "subtle design cues" from that model have been incorporated into the EXP 15's exterior, and the interior's tech features could be incorporated into future Bentley models as well.
The EXP 15's namesake received its Blue Train nickname when Bentley chairman Woolf Barnato used it to race a train of that name from Cannes in the south of France to Calais in the north. Barnato made it across the English Channel to London before the train reached Calais, creating a foundational piece of Bentley lore. Ninety-five years later, the distinctive shape of the Bentley Blue Train's coachbuilt Gurney Nutting bodywork is making a comeback.
Like the Blue Train, the EXP 15 isn't an SUV. But its tall body sides and upright front end work well in the current era, where SUVs continue push aside traditional cars. They combine with an elongated hood and steeply-raked back window-also prominent features of the Blue Train-to create a look intended to test customer tastes.
"It's clear that SUVs are a growing segment and we understand the GT market-through four generations of the Continental GT-but the trickiest segment is the sedan because it's changing." Bentley design boss Robin Page said in a statement. "Some customers want a classic 'three-box' sedan shape, others a 'one-box' design, and others again something more elevated. So this was a chance for us to talk to people and get a feeling."
Whether a vehicle with this shape will ever roll off the production line at Bentley's United Kingdom factory is unclear, but the automaker claims some of the concept's details will. The exterior surfacing, meant to give the EXP 15 a muscular appearance, will be applied to future models, according to Bentley. The concept's exterior lighting, including headlights formed from four thin strips and LEDs arranged to suggest Bentley's current diamond-patterned grilles, hint at what's possible as well.
The need to maximize range means EVs can't afford to ignore aerodynamics, so it wouldn't be surprising to see the EXP 15's front-fender vents and pair of deployable rear spoilers on a production car. The protruding taillights also help channel air around the car, Bentley claims.
Less likely to reach production is the EXP 15's three-door, three-seat layout. Like an upscale Hyundai Veloster, the concept has one driver's side door and two passenger's side doors. In this case, though they're coach doors that open along with a section of the roof to make ingress and egress easier. A seat that swivels 45 degrees aids in that as well. That seat can also switch from fully upright "Co-Pilot" mode, to slid-back "Standard" mode, to reclined "Relax" mode.
The EXP 15 also features an update of Bentley's current rotating central touchscreen, which can be hidden away when not in use, that now encompasses the entire dashboard. The dash can now switch from a pillar-to-pillar screen to a wood veneer without a pixel in sight. It also incorporates a physical dial that designer call the "Mechanical Marvel," which can be reconfigured to show the state of charge, direction of travel, and other information.
High-end materials are expected in a Bentley, and the EXP 15 features a mix of old (silk jacquard textile woven at one of the U.K.'s oldest mills) and new (3D-printed titanium trim that reduces weight and waste compared to conventional processes). The concept's Pallas Gold paint also has an aluminum pigment that allows it to be used on bodywork that covers sensors, which would otherwise be unable to transmit through paint.
Bentley didn't provide much detail on the engineering side of the EXP 15, only saying that it was designed around an all-wheel drive electric powertrain. That will soon become the norm at Bentley which, after roughly a decade of fits and starts, plans to go all-electric by 2035. That shift, heralded by a redesign of Bentley's iconic logo, will start with the aforementioned smaller SUV, but could encompass more stately models closer to the EXP 15 as Bentley builds out the lineup.
Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
20 hours ago
- Yahoo
Germany's biggest carmaker suffers £1.1bn hit from Trump tariffs
Donald Trump's tariffs have dealt a €1.3bn (£1.1bn) blow to Volkswagen after the German car giant's portfolio of luxury brands suffered a drop in sales. Marques such as Porsche and Bentley have been hit by the US president's sanctions on foreign vehicles, which impose a 27.5pc tax on cars imported from Europe. Britain has struck a deal with Mr Trump to reduce the tariff to 10pc, but the larger penalty remains in place for the European Union, which is still locked in talks with the White House. On Friday, VW said the tariffs added €1.3bn to its costs in the first half of 2025 and that it could add billions more still, because there was no guarantee of a deal between Washington and Brussels. Oliver Blume, the carmaker's chief executive, said: 'We cannot assume that the tariff situation is only temporary. 'We are counting on the European Commission and the US government to reach a balanced outcome on the tariff issue.' VW's luxury brands have been hit the hardest by the levies, results published on Friday showed. Profits in the company's 'progressive' stable of marques, which includes Audi, Lamborghini and Bentley, halved in the first six months of the year, while the 'sports luxury' segment – which mainly consists of Porsche – tumbled by more than two thirds. That was after Porsche sales fell by 11pc to around 135,000 cars. 'High uncertainty' VW warned: 'There is high uncertainty about further developments with regard to the tariffs, their impact and any reciprocal effects.' This gloomy outlook has led to the company slashing its prediction for 2025 sales. It now expects no change from last year, compared to an earlier forecast of 5pc growth. The blow from tariffs comes at a difficult time for VW, which is already carrying out a major restructuring to cope with the transition to electric cars. It is cutting tens of thousands of jobs across the group and even contemplated shutting factories in Germany as part of the shake-up. At the same time, VW and other Western carmakers are haemorrhaging market share in China, where domestically made electric vehicles and hybrid manufacturers such as BYD are becoming increasingly dominant. These Chinese rivals are also embroiled in a cut-throat price war at home. The turmoil has been particularly painful for VW, which previously relied on China for one third of its sales and a substantial portion of its profits. As recently as 2019, the German giant controlled 20pc of the country's car market, but that has since fallen to 15pc. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Forbes
5 days ago
- Forbes
Don't Let The Bentley Flying Spur Fool You. It's As Fun As It Is Fancy
The new Bentley Flying Spur The Bentley Flying Spur might be the most fun car I've ever driven and I almost missed the chance. With a name and a reputation steeped in legacy, one that seems quaint and stuffy for its continued embrace of the past, the four-door five passenger ultra-luxury sedan seemed to me better suited for the chauffeured elite than the daily driver; I expected it would be fun to look at but less so to drive. However, with a 771 hp electric-boosted powertrain (and a slightly less powerful hybrid option) I had to take a spin. I expected it would be powerful and quiet in a large, lumbering sort of way. I was completely, and delightfully, wrong. Despite A Design Palette I Wouldn't Choose, I Was Smitten Design in a car like the Bentley Flying Spur is everything: It can comprise a significant portion of the cost; it is highly customizable and very personal. Once you plop down several hundred thousand and endure a months-long wait for a car, it better be to your liking. So when I took a look at the gray Flying Spur with an orange-accented gray interior, I thought, well, this isn't for me. But soon the details seeped in and I began to see the brilliance. The exterior Blackline Specification accents that surround the cut crystal headlights, split the hood and grille and span its lower quarters create a yacht-like feel as if it's slicing through the water, or in this case, air. Inside, Mandarin leather and stitching add an architectural feel to the tone-on-tone gray, chrome and gloss black, highlighting the the seats, the dash surround and 3D diamond leather door panels. It seems stark in photos, and that was my first reaction. But it's quite elegant once you put yourself at the center of the cabin and feel how the gray leather soothes and the orange excites; it's subdued and effervescent at the same time. And it was unexpected and appreciated. I never got tired of it. The drivers seat in our Bentley Flying Spur Speed test model Power Underfoot Lets You Fly Away From It All With two updated powertrains to choose from, the Bentley Flying Spur lineup, with four models, is now complete. Buyers can choose from the base model Flying Spur, which starts at about $250,000 or upgrade to the comfort-focused Azure model, both of which carry the brand's new twin turbo V8 hybrid engine that generates 671 hp and 686 pound-feet of torque. Or, buyers can opt for the faster and more powerful Flying Spur Speed with a starting price of about $272,000, or the ultimate in design, the Mulliner model, which starts at just under $300,000. These two are powered by the same plug-in hybrid electric-boosted twin turbo V8 engine found in the Bentley Continental Speed; it generates 771 hp and 738 pound-feet of torque. Both engines out-produce the power of the former W12 engine, a 12-cylinder powerhouse that had legions of fans. However, Bentley happily reports, the new hybrid V8s are winning over fans and outselling the former models. Buyers of the Speed and Mulliner models get another benefit: To be able to drive about 37 miles on all electric power, a bonus for those who don't love stops at the gas station. Even with all the hybrid power under the hood, the twin turbo V8 engine is still a thirsty beast; average fuel economy is estimated at about 20 MPG. The rear end of our Bentley Flying Spur Speed Driving The Bentley Flying Spur Is Incredibly Fun After driving both the Azure and the Speed (our Speed test model was priced at about $366,000 with options) I found that both deliver a quiet start, a throaty throttle response in sport mode and complete confidence on the highway. The only real question is, which Bentley Flying Spur to choose? This is really about personal preference more than powertrain; they are both incredibly capable. The throaty engine sound wasn't too much of a surprise; V8 engines are known for that. What was a surprise was the agile, easy and when asked, responsive drive experience that this sedan delivers. Even though the cabin is roomy and sublimely outfitted for luxury with options like reclining massaging front and rear seats and personal electronics for all passengers, Bentley's designers managed to keep the overall dimensions of the Flying Spur on the smaller side; its 209' length feels sleek thanks to wide-set wheels, a sloped roofline and rounded corners. Around town and on the highway, the Flying Spur was effortless to drive. But when I needed to pass slower traffic I seemed to only need ask and the Flying Spur obliged, zipping past other cars without hesitation. It never felt like an overwhelming amount of power but plenty to accomplish the task. And this is what made it so fun. Once you discover how easily the Flying Spur throws you back in your seat, you'll want to do it over and over. Being tossed back into the bolstered, channel-stitched leather seats is an incredible feeling and part of what makes this car so special. Even your rear seat passengers will feel thrill rather than annoyance, as I found out when ferrying my family around New Jersey, New York and Connecticut during my test drive. The Bentley Flying Spur Speed hood sculpture This Luxury Sedan Has An Actual Flying Spur On the multimedia screen you'll find an option to 'reveal or conceal' the Bentley Flying B, the only hood sculpture in the Bentley family. Press 'reveal' and a panel over the compartment moves over to allow the crystal and metal ornament to extend, its inner light shimmering over the grille. Press 'conceal' and it retracts into the hood. The Flying Spur, both the model's name and the icon, are an homage to the lineage of Arthur Johnstone, an original managing director of H.J. Mulliner coachbuilders. His family's crest is a flying spur, which signifies readiness and speed, and is derived from a spur that was delivered to Robert the Bruce to warn him to prepare for battle for the borders of Scotland; the crest was later awarded to the Johnstone family when Bruce became King of Scotland. Speed and readiness certainly define the modern Bentley Flying Spur. But so do quiet, comfort and luxury. What doesn't define it is lumbering stuffiness. Not just its ability to create an exciting interior and exterior, but by its sculpted nature that makes it more agile, sleek and drivable. Now in its fourth generation and celebrating 20 years since its modern re-introduction in 2005, don't dismiss the Bentley Flying Spur as your grandma's luxury car. I almost did and I would have missed out on one of the most fun cars on the road.
Miami Herald
5 days ago
- Miami Herald
Bentley's Slightly More Affordable SUV Is Impersonating A Porsche
Like it or not, the social experiment that is the ultra-luxury super SUV has been successful for automakers, and now that the Bentayga is one of those success stories, Bentley is searching for more ways of satisfying its customers. They love their Bentaygas, but in dense European city centers, the SUV is just too long to legally park on the street. To satisfy those Madrid, London, and Rome-based customers and attract a few more, the as-yet-unnamed "urban SUV" will measure less than 16.4 feet (5 meters) in length. And according to the Autoblog spies who snapped these images, we're looking at the forthcoming newbie, albeit obviously in a Porsche frock. In February of this year, the patent and trademark sleuths at CarMoses discovered two new Bentley filings that could be earmarked for the incoming SUV: Mayon and Barnato. The former likely references the active Mayon Volcano in the Philippines, since the Bentayga was named after Roque Bentayga, a rock formation on the Canary Islands within the volcanic caldera of Tejeda. The latter has been trademarked by Crewe before and references Woolf Barnato, a Le Mans-winning Bentley Boy and chairman who helped keep the company alive in the mid-1920s. When Bentley first announced this new electric SUV, it said that it would arrive in 2026, saying that it expected the market's appetite for EVs to grow to a sustainable level by then. It has since delayed that introductory date by a single year, but it ought to be worth the wait, with Bentley promising the EV will be "much more agile" than a Bentayga. Crewe did not confirm what would underpin the new SUV, but at the time of the announcement, the PPE architecture beneath the Audi Q6 e-tron and the Porsche Macan Electric seemed the most sensible. Now that our spies tell us the Porsche mule in these images is a Bentley, those suspicions are all but confirmed. Bentley says that some elements of its extraordinary EXP 15 concept will inform the styling, though exactly how can't be gleaned from the proportions of this prototype. Expect around 350-400 miles of range, fast-charging, and something new. Bentley's head of R&D, Dr. Matthias Rabe, spoke during the EV's announcement, saying that the sound would not be purely synthetic, nor a copy of what other automakers have been doing. Details would not be divulged, but he hinted that Bentley is "developing something no one else is doing right now." Stay tuned. Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
