Latest news with #FlyingSpur
Forbes
a day ago
- Automotive
- 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.
Motor 1
14-07-2025
- Automotive
- Motor 1
Low, Long, and Languid Make For Bentley at Its Best
Sure, Bentley flew me to Montana to see its headlining act, the new Bentayga Speed. But before an afternoon return flight on day two, there were some other Bentleys to consider, lined up in the horseshoe driveway of our Big Sky hotel. The big(ish) news here among the assembled non-Bentaygas is that hybrid V-8s now power the entirety of the Continental GT and Flying Spur ranges, tuned to varying horsepower and torque figures based on trim, but always with at least 670 horsepower and 685 pound-feet. Bentley insists this streamlining is a benefit, that its customers don't miss the hallowed W-12 engine which used to power the big bruisers in its portfolio. Proof is in the sales, they contend. W-12 purchases tailed off toward the end of the engine's production run, while these subsequent V-8 Hybrids have proven massively popular, contributing massively to Bentley's position as Volkswagen Group's cash cow. Photo by: Kyle Kinard / Motor1 More importantly, the cars prove the point about hybrid V-8s themselves: This powertrain sounds great and drives beautifully. I'll call it perhaps the most-refined hybrid powertrain on earth. As an engineering curiosity and connection to Bentley history, the W-12 can't be replaced. From the driver's perspective, the V-8 hybrid ensures the outgoing W-12 won't be missed. In slow-moving residential areas surrounding the resort, the kick of hybrid torque eases each Bentley effortlessly up short, punchy climbs without a single extra iota of strain from the drivetrain. No kicking down two or three gears when you squeeze the gas pedal, interrupting the sensation you're rolling along on a breeze. Instead, there's simply silent, effortless, assured propulsion from the hybrid motor. So often, hybrids are masterful partners for economy cars but rarely improve sports or luxury cars. These Bentleys provide an exception to the rule. A hybrid lineup isn't much to write home (or to readers) about, but I was overcome by the overwhelming Bentley-ness of both cars I tested. After a 45-minute rip in the Continental GTC, I simply scribbled superlatives in my notebook. Photo by: Kyle Kinard / Motor1 "This is a ****** Bentley, baby," I wrote. "Like putting on a diamond necklace." Now, I don't actually know what it feels like to don a diamond necklace, probably because I'm bound by the stolid shackles of masculinity. (Also I can't afford to browse at Tiffany, so let's go with the shackles). But if you're spending the cost of a nice Midwestern home on a form of transportation, maybe a diamond necklace on wheels is the sort of hyperbolic emotion worth wheeling out of your driveway. That's all to say: I can get my stealth wealth hit from the back seat of a Genesis G90 or an S-Class on 19s; We look to Crewe to deliver something of such sublime quality and style that it stirs us emotionally. So, first up, the Flying Spur Touring. Nice name to say. Green roof over striking silver body, the paint blends so seamlessly that your fingernail can't tell where one layer begins and another ends. Photo by: Bentley This is classic Bentley, long and low and made of boxy shapes that seem to be sanded down so perfectly at the edges, you imagine water dripping off the thing even when it's sat under Montana's cobalt sky. However you look at it, the Flying Spur is breathtaking. As much as I enjoyed the Bentayga Speed and its vast capabilities, the Flying Spur is simply the Bentley closest to my heart. I suppose it's impossible to explain—though I'll try—but with the Bentleys that ride closer to the ground instead of parading around like The Mayor of Monaco on 23-inch wheels—well, there's just something a bit more… Bentley about a Flying Spur. Some restraint. "A whiff of Gentry about this one," I scribbled into my notebook following that wafty little stint in the Flying Spur. Photo by: Bentley What does that actually mean? Well, the Flying Spur's drivetrain doesn't punch theatrically at your backside when its transmission shifts during a flat-foot quarter-mile blast, unlike the Bentayga's mill. The Spur's hybrid system simply smears the gear shifts together like a swipe of warm honey down your back while the engine note boils over gruffly on a swell of syrupy, easy mega-torque. And perhaps it's just how this Flying Spur was spec'd by Bentley, but there's a stateliness to the Flying Spur's interior that fits better with my own preconceptions of the Bentley namesake. The 'Cumbrian Green' leather is laid across the Spur's interior by the yard, swathing the interior in a shade of avocado-skin that feels at once rich, luxuriant, and assured in its stateliness. You imagine a new life from behind the wheel of a Flying Spur. This one is full of tartan-lined waxed cotton jackets and maybe a Labrador riding shotgun. The vast leather surfaces are broken only by white contrast stitching and a walnut veneer stretching across the lower dash and center console. This dash layout looks slightly outdated compared to the Bentayga, but it just fits the Flying Spur. Photo by: Kyle Kinard / Motor1 Also of note: Bentley's new "Azure" trim. Azure is a styling package, essentially, sat above the base model in terms of cost and prestige. It's meant to evoke a more easygoing yet overtly luxurious tone compared to the 'Speed' trim we sampled in the Bentayga on day one. 'Azure' arrives with a not-insignificant bump in bling, converting the exterior trim to mirror-polish brightwork and slapping a pair of silver wheels on the whole thing. Bentley's GT/C Azure convertible cranks the luxury up another notch, but in a sort of fresh, new-age way. If the Spur is a musty sort of throwback to British coachmaking's golden age, the Azure is new luxury; It attends kombucha-ayahuasca wellness retreats in Sonoma with the other girlbosses and gets there by private chopper. Photo by: Kyle Kinard / Motor1 You see that attitude throughout the interior of this blue-on-silver beauty. The leather quality and quantity match the Flying Spur's, but the Azure renders its interior in cooler shades, evoking a yacht's sleek ease. But then there's the diamond-pattern stitching holding each leather panel together, the visual depth of the beautifully painted trim pieces running along the dash, and in general, the way this interior looks like it's sitting inside a jeweler's glass display case. This is a beautiful interior, and I can't honestly say that about almost any modern car. Photo by: Kyle Kinard / Motor1 While more and more customers go to Bentley for their SUVs, I find that Bentley's cars offer a purer expression of the brand's traditional ideals. Even if you ultimately walk out of the showroom with a Bentayga's keys in your pocket, you owe it to yourself to consider the alternatives. Share this Story Facebook X LinkedIn Flipboard Reddit WhatsApp E-Mail Got a tip for us? Email: tips@ Join the conversation ( )
The Advertiser
09-07-2025
- Automotive
- The Advertiser
Bentley previews its future with high-riding electric fastback
Bentley has shown off its first electric vehicle (EV) concept with the wild and adventurous EXP 15 'elevated sporting sedan', a preview of the look of upcoming showroom EVs from the automaker. The company revealed the 5.4m-long behemoth as a full-size 'model' of its EV design direction, with the brand poised to introduce its first production EV to showrooms in 2026 after several delays. There was no news on the electric powertrain underneath the EXP 15's skin, but the company said the concept was "conceived as having a fully electric, all-wheel drive powertrain with a long range and recharging speeds". Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Despite its description as a sedan, the EXP 15 has only three doors – and three seats – with a body blending the elements of a traditional sedan, GT coupe and blocky, upright styling with the ride height of an SUV. It's a radical departure from the design of the V8 plug-in hybrid powered Flying Spur sedan in the current Bentley lineup. It follows a similarly bold design preview from Jaguar last year in the shape of the Type 00 concept, with the Indian-owned British brand looking to push upmarket onto Bentley's turf. "The beauty of a concept car is not just to position our new design language, but to test where the market's going," said Bentley design director Robin Page. "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. "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." Despite being future facing, Bentley says the shape of the EXP 15 includes nods to classic models from its 106-year history. The imposing upright front grille, long 'endless' bonnet and rearward positioned cabin were inspired by the 'Blue Train' – the nickname for the 1930 Bentley Speed Six Gurney Nutting Sportsman Coupe. The headlights are positioned inside the concept's wheel arches to define the car's edges, with four ultra-slim strips framing the front grille which is split by an illuminated Bentley emblem. The automaker said the front grille – while not necessary in an EV – will remain as an important brand signifier for Bentley. "Grilles used to be all about getting air to the combustion engine through the front of the car. But now with light technology changing we have an opportunity to create a piece of digital art. So the grille stays as our iconic front," said Mr Page. With no internal combustion engine below it, the space under the long 'endless' bonnet has been repurposed for storage, accessed by traditional piano-hinged 'engine covers'. The 'endless bonnet line' is carried along the side of the vehicle all the way to the rear, with the overall design cut into two-thirds body, one-third cabin for muscular proportions and 'monolithic presence'. At the rear, the large, clean surfaces follow Bentley tradition and help create the 'resting beast' stance – which the automaker describes as 'resting cat hind legs' – with a large Bentley logo. The integrated rear luggage compartment opens to offer two small seats, an 'atmospheric' lamp and cold drinks fridge which can slide back from the rear seats. The classic exterior elements are combined with 'tensioned' bodywork and 'carved precision' with its Pallas Gold exterior paint including a new aluminium pigment with white-gold highlights. The decision to offer only three seats – despite room for four or five occupants – was made "to afford greater luxury in transit for the special few and includes innovative in-cabin storage for treasured pets and/or hand luggage as well" according to a statement from Bentley. "We were influenced by the idea of a three-seat car with a unique window line and super slick proportions used for grand tours," said Darren Day, Bentley head of interior design. With a single door on the driver's side, twin-coach doors on the passenger side allow access for both passengers, with the layout essentially two rear seats – and no front passenger seat. The passenger-side seat is designed to swivel 45-degrees for easy access to the rear to allow the other passenger to sit in the chair behind the driver. "The seat can rotate, and you step out, totally unflustered, not trying to clamber out of the car like you see with some supercars … You just get out with dignity and the Instagram shot is perfect," said Mr Day. Dubbed 'cocooning haven', the passenger-side seat can be set in a 'Standard' position, more forward 'Co-Pilot' alongside the driver like a traditional front seat, or further back in the 'Relax' position. Bentley also says the cabin – which has a mix of natural woods, silk jacquard and woven metal finishes – boasts a mix of physical and digital features and "in some instances merge the two". "We think people are going to get fed up with a fully digital experience and are pining for physical mechanical elements too," said Mr Page. Like Bentley's existing 'rotating dash', the EXP 15's full-width digital dash can be turned off and rotated for a wood veneer surface, while there are movable 'fingers' showing the state of electric charge and other critical info. Bentley originally planned to introduce its first EV in 2025 and follow with a new electric model annually until 2030 but – like numerous automakers – has delayed plans based upon market conditions and constantly changing regulations. In late 2024 it announced its first electric model would be an "urban SUV" to be revealed in 2026, with first customer deliveries in 2027. Part of the Volkswagen Group, Bentley's first production model is expected to share much of its electric components with the recently teased electric Porsche Cayenne, due in Australian showrooms in 2026. MORE: Everything Bentley Content originally sourced from: Bentley has shown off its first electric vehicle (EV) concept with the wild and adventurous EXP 15 'elevated sporting sedan', a preview of the look of upcoming showroom EVs from the automaker. The company revealed the 5.4m-long behemoth as a full-size 'model' of its EV design direction, with the brand poised to introduce its first production EV to showrooms in 2026 after several delays. There was no news on the electric powertrain underneath the EXP 15's skin, but the company said the concept was "conceived as having a fully electric, all-wheel drive powertrain with a long range and recharging speeds". Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Despite its description as a sedan, the EXP 15 has only three doors – and three seats – with a body blending the elements of a traditional sedan, GT coupe and blocky, upright styling with the ride height of an SUV. It's a radical departure from the design of the V8 plug-in hybrid powered Flying Spur sedan in the current Bentley lineup. It follows a similarly bold design preview from Jaguar last year in the shape of the Type 00 concept, with the Indian-owned British brand looking to push upmarket onto Bentley's turf. "The beauty of a concept car is not just to position our new design language, but to test where the market's going," said Bentley design director Robin Page. "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. "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." Despite being future facing, Bentley says the shape of the EXP 15 includes nods to classic models from its 106-year history. The imposing upright front grille, long 'endless' bonnet and rearward positioned cabin were inspired by the 'Blue Train' – the nickname for the 1930 Bentley Speed Six Gurney Nutting Sportsman Coupe. The headlights are positioned inside the concept's wheel arches to define the car's edges, with four ultra-slim strips framing the front grille which is split by an illuminated Bentley emblem. The automaker said the front grille – while not necessary in an EV – will remain as an important brand signifier for Bentley. "Grilles used to be all about getting air to the combustion engine through the front of the car. But now with light technology changing we have an opportunity to create a piece of digital art. So the grille stays as our iconic front," said Mr Page. With no internal combustion engine below it, the space under the long 'endless' bonnet has been repurposed for storage, accessed by traditional piano-hinged 'engine covers'. The 'endless bonnet line' is carried along the side of the vehicle all the way to the rear, with the overall design cut into two-thirds body, one-third cabin for muscular proportions and 'monolithic presence'. At the rear, the large, clean surfaces follow Bentley tradition and help create the 'resting beast' stance – which the automaker describes as 'resting cat hind legs' – with a large Bentley logo. The integrated rear luggage compartment opens to offer two small seats, an 'atmospheric' lamp and cold drinks fridge which can slide back from the rear seats. The classic exterior elements are combined with 'tensioned' bodywork and 'carved precision' with its Pallas Gold exterior paint including a new aluminium pigment with white-gold highlights. The decision to offer only three seats – despite room for four or five occupants – was made "to afford greater luxury in transit for the special few and includes innovative in-cabin storage for treasured pets and/or hand luggage as well" according to a statement from Bentley. "We were influenced by the idea of a three-seat car with a unique window line and super slick proportions used for grand tours," said Darren Day, Bentley head of interior design. With a single door on the driver's side, twin-coach doors on the passenger side allow access for both passengers, with the layout essentially two rear seats – and no front passenger seat. The passenger-side seat is designed to swivel 45-degrees for easy access to the rear to allow the other passenger to sit in the chair behind the driver. "The seat can rotate, and you step out, totally unflustered, not trying to clamber out of the car like you see with some supercars … You just get out with dignity and the Instagram shot is perfect," said Mr Day. Dubbed 'cocooning haven', the passenger-side seat can be set in a 'Standard' position, more forward 'Co-Pilot' alongside the driver like a traditional front seat, or further back in the 'Relax' position. Bentley also says the cabin – which has a mix of natural woods, silk jacquard and woven metal finishes – boasts a mix of physical and digital features and "in some instances merge the two". "We think people are going to get fed up with a fully digital experience and are pining for physical mechanical elements too," said Mr Page. Like Bentley's existing 'rotating dash', the EXP 15's full-width digital dash can be turned off and rotated for a wood veneer surface, while there are movable 'fingers' showing the state of electric charge and other critical info. Bentley originally planned to introduce its first EV in 2025 and follow with a new electric model annually until 2030 but – like numerous automakers – has delayed plans based upon market conditions and constantly changing regulations. In late 2024 it announced its first electric model would be an "urban SUV" to be revealed in 2026, with first customer deliveries in 2027. Part of the Volkswagen Group, Bentley's first production model is expected to share much of its electric components with the recently teased electric Porsche Cayenne, due in Australian showrooms in 2026. MORE: Everything Bentley Content originally sourced from: Bentley has shown off its first electric vehicle (EV) concept with the wild and adventurous EXP 15 'elevated sporting sedan', a preview of the look of upcoming showroom EVs from the automaker. The company revealed the 5.4m-long behemoth as a full-size 'model' of its EV design direction, with the brand poised to introduce its first production EV to showrooms in 2026 after several delays. There was no news on the electric powertrain underneath the EXP 15's skin, but the company said the concept was "conceived as having a fully electric, all-wheel drive powertrain with a long range and recharging speeds". Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Despite its description as a sedan, the EXP 15 has only three doors – and three seats – with a body blending the elements of a traditional sedan, GT coupe and blocky, upright styling with the ride height of an SUV. It's a radical departure from the design of the V8 plug-in hybrid powered Flying Spur sedan in the current Bentley lineup. It follows a similarly bold design preview from Jaguar last year in the shape of the Type 00 concept, with the Indian-owned British brand looking to push upmarket onto Bentley's turf. "The beauty of a concept car is not just to position our new design language, but to test where the market's going," said Bentley design director Robin Page. "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. "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." Despite being future facing, Bentley says the shape of the EXP 15 includes nods to classic models from its 106-year history. The imposing upright front grille, long 'endless' bonnet and rearward positioned cabin were inspired by the 'Blue Train' – the nickname for the 1930 Bentley Speed Six Gurney Nutting Sportsman Coupe. The headlights are positioned inside the concept's wheel arches to define the car's edges, with four ultra-slim strips framing the front grille which is split by an illuminated Bentley emblem. The automaker said the front grille – while not necessary in an EV – will remain as an important brand signifier for Bentley. "Grilles used to be all about getting air to the combustion engine through the front of the car. But now with light technology changing we have an opportunity to create a piece of digital art. So the grille stays as our iconic front," said Mr Page. With no internal combustion engine below it, the space under the long 'endless' bonnet has been repurposed for storage, accessed by traditional piano-hinged 'engine covers'. The 'endless bonnet line' is carried along the side of the vehicle all the way to the rear, with the overall design cut into two-thirds body, one-third cabin for muscular proportions and 'monolithic presence'. At the rear, the large, clean surfaces follow Bentley tradition and help create the 'resting beast' stance – which the automaker describes as 'resting cat hind legs' – with a large Bentley logo. The integrated rear luggage compartment opens to offer two small seats, an 'atmospheric' lamp and cold drinks fridge which can slide back from the rear seats. The classic exterior elements are combined with 'tensioned' bodywork and 'carved precision' with its Pallas Gold exterior paint including a new aluminium pigment with white-gold highlights. The decision to offer only three seats – despite room for four or five occupants – was made "to afford greater luxury in transit for the special few and includes innovative in-cabin storage for treasured pets and/or hand luggage as well" according to a statement from Bentley. "We were influenced by the idea of a three-seat car with a unique window line and super slick proportions used for grand tours," said Darren Day, Bentley head of interior design. With a single door on the driver's side, twin-coach doors on the passenger side allow access for both passengers, with the layout essentially two rear seats – and no front passenger seat. The passenger-side seat is designed to swivel 45-degrees for easy access to the rear to allow the other passenger to sit in the chair behind the driver. "The seat can rotate, and you step out, totally unflustered, not trying to clamber out of the car like you see with some supercars … You just get out with dignity and the Instagram shot is perfect," said Mr Day. Dubbed 'cocooning haven', the passenger-side seat can be set in a 'Standard' position, more forward 'Co-Pilot' alongside the driver like a traditional front seat, or further back in the 'Relax' position. Bentley also says the cabin – which has a mix of natural woods, silk jacquard and woven metal finishes – boasts a mix of physical and digital features and "in some instances merge the two". "We think people are going to get fed up with a fully digital experience and are pining for physical mechanical elements too," said Mr Page. Like Bentley's existing 'rotating dash', the EXP 15's full-width digital dash can be turned off and rotated for a wood veneer surface, while there are movable 'fingers' showing the state of electric charge and other critical info. Bentley originally planned to introduce its first EV in 2025 and follow with a new electric model annually until 2030 but – like numerous automakers – has delayed plans based upon market conditions and constantly changing regulations. In late 2024 it announced its first electric model would be an "urban SUV" to be revealed in 2026, with first customer deliveries in 2027. Part of the Volkswagen Group, Bentley's first production model is expected to share much of its electric components with the recently teased electric Porsche Cayenne, due in Australian showrooms in 2026. MORE: Everything Bentley Content originally sourced from: Bentley has shown off its first electric vehicle (EV) concept with the wild and adventurous EXP 15 'elevated sporting sedan', a preview of the look of upcoming showroom EVs from the automaker. The company revealed the 5.4m-long behemoth as a full-size 'model' of its EV design direction, with the brand poised to introduce its first production EV to showrooms in 2026 after several delays. There was no news on the electric powertrain underneath the EXP 15's skin, but the company said the concept was "conceived as having a fully electric, all-wheel drive powertrain with a long range and recharging speeds". Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Despite its description as a sedan, the EXP 15 has only three doors – and three seats – with a body blending the elements of a traditional sedan, GT coupe and blocky, upright styling with the ride height of an SUV. It's a radical departure from the design of the V8 plug-in hybrid powered Flying Spur sedan in the current Bentley lineup. It follows a similarly bold design preview from Jaguar last year in the shape of the Type 00 concept, with the Indian-owned British brand looking to push upmarket onto Bentley's turf. "The beauty of a concept car is not just to position our new design language, but to test where the market's going," said Bentley design director Robin Page. "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. "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." Despite being future facing, Bentley says the shape of the EXP 15 includes nods to classic models from its 106-year history. The imposing upright front grille, long 'endless' bonnet and rearward positioned cabin were inspired by the 'Blue Train' – the nickname for the 1930 Bentley Speed Six Gurney Nutting Sportsman Coupe. The headlights are positioned inside the concept's wheel arches to define the car's edges, with four ultra-slim strips framing the front grille which is split by an illuminated Bentley emblem. The automaker said the front grille – while not necessary in an EV – will remain as an important brand signifier for Bentley. "Grilles used to be all about getting air to the combustion engine through the front of the car. But now with light technology changing we have an opportunity to create a piece of digital art. So the grille stays as our iconic front," said Mr Page. With no internal combustion engine below it, the space under the long 'endless' bonnet has been repurposed for storage, accessed by traditional piano-hinged 'engine covers'. The 'endless bonnet line' is carried along the side of the vehicle all the way to the rear, with the overall design cut into two-thirds body, one-third cabin for muscular proportions and 'monolithic presence'. At the rear, the large, clean surfaces follow Bentley tradition and help create the 'resting beast' stance – which the automaker describes as 'resting cat hind legs' – with a large Bentley logo. The integrated rear luggage compartment opens to offer two small seats, an 'atmospheric' lamp and cold drinks fridge which can slide back from the rear seats. The classic exterior elements are combined with 'tensioned' bodywork and 'carved precision' with its Pallas Gold exterior paint including a new aluminium pigment with white-gold highlights. The decision to offer only three seats – despite room for four or five occupants – was made "to afford greater luxury in transit for the special few and includes innovative in-cabin storage for treasured pets and/or hand luggage as well" according to a statement from Bentley. "We were influenced by the idea of a three-seat car with a unique window line and super slick proportions used for grand tours," said Darren Day, Bentley head of interior design. With a single door on the driver's side, twin-coach doors on the passenger side allow access for both passengers, with the layout essentially two rear seats – and no front passenger seat. The passenger-side seat is designed to swivel 45-degrees for easy access to the rear to allow the other passenger to sit in the chair behind the driver. "The seat can rotate, and you step out, totally unflustered, not trying to clamber out of the car like you see with some supercars … You just get out with dignity and the Instagram shot is perfect," said Mr Day. Dubbed 'cocooning haven', the passenger-side seat can be set in a 'Standard' position, more forward 'Co-Pilot' alongside the driver like a traditional front seat, or further back in the 'Relax' position. Bentley also says the cabin – which has a mix of natural woods, silk jacquard and woven metal finishes – boasts a mix of physical and digital features and "in some instances merge the two". "We think people are going to get fed up with a fully digital experience and are pining for physical mechanical elements too," said Mr Page. Like Bentley's existing 'rotating dash', the EXP 15's full-width digital dash can be turned off and rotated for a wood veneer surface, while there are movable 'fingers' showing the state of electric charge and other critical info. Bentley originally planned to introduce its first EV in 2025 and follow with a new electric model annually until 2030 but – like numerous automakers – has delayed plans based upon market conditions and constantly changing regulations. In late 2024 it announced its first electric model would be an "urban SUV" to be revealed in 2026, with first customer deliveries in 2027. Part of the Volkswagen Group, Bentley's first production model is expected to share much of its electric components with the recently teased electric Porsche Cayenne, due in Australian showrooms in 2026. MORE: Everything Bentley Content originally sourced from:
Top Gear
09-07-2025
- Automotive
- Top Gear
This electric three-door EXP 15 with a dog bed is the future of Bentley – unless you hate it
First Look Three doors, three seats, a clockwork charging gauge and LED strip lights: is this Bentley's 'BMW beavertooth' design moment? Skip 17 photos in the image carousel and continue reading Welcome to Bentley's experimental phase. This isn't going to please the traditional purists one bit. But it's steaming towards some very tricky questions. Bentley is the master of continent-gobbling coupes and has successfully ridden the uberluxe SUV wave, but what happens next to the traditional saloon (or sedan)? How to replace the Flying Spur, which succeeded the Mulsanne, and Arnage? Advertisement - Page continues below Should it be… taller? Offer lopsided doors? Change shape altogether? And how does Bentley stay, well, 'Bentleyish', when it begins building EVs? Those ideas and more all collide in this new concept car dubbed EXP 15. Yowser. First, let's address the shape. The ride height is much loftier than a regular saloon but the cabin is swept back like an Audi A7's. Are we to understand that tomorrow's Flying Spur will become some sort of coupefied crossover? Bentley's design director Robin Page explains the logic behind the unorthodox silhouette thusly: 'The beauty of a concept car is not just to position our new design language, but to test where the market's going. You might like "It's clear that SUVs are a growing segment and we understand the GT market but the trickiest segment is the sedan because it's changing. 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.' Obviously aero has a lot to do with this. That matters when you're going electric. Bentley's designers have gilded the car with twin active roof spoilers and a diffuser to aid range. The wheels are shrouded in flush covers. You need a slippery shape when batteries are the new W12s. Advertisement - Page continues below The EXP 15 is imagined as an AWD electric automobile, though no estimated battery size, range or performance is quoted. But you can bet Bentley boffins are sweating exactly that right now, ahead of the company's commitment to launch its first pure EV at the close of next year (a 'luxury urban SUV' is promised – oh goodie) and be an entirely engine-free marque by 2035. Bentley, like Rolls-Royce, Audi and Mercedes, is in the awkward position of having built up decades of design DNA that doesn't translate especially well into EVs. Sit-up-and-beg visages wreck the drag coefficient. Why carry around a massive grille when there's no engine to cool, at the end of a massive bonnet which houses fresh air? So they've rebranded the family silver: the grille becomes an illuminated art installation in the only slightly tapered nose. The vast bonnet houses piano-cover hinged compartments for stowing one's fitted luggage. A smart idea, but most front-motored EVs barely offer a froot that could carry a bunch of grapes. Will Bentley be able to innovate around that? Front and centre, the winged B logo has had its feathers sharpened up – it's only the fourth time in Bentley's 106 years they've dared to dabble with the badge. Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Look out for your regular round-up of news, reviews and offers in your inbox. Get all the latest news, reviews and exclusives, direct to your inbox. It's decisions like the LED strip-lighting front and rear that jar. Is that truly distinctive enough? Or perhaps a case of 'we don't need to make our car recognisable at night because the badges all light up and spell it out for us'. It's more menacing than the almost surprised-looking expressions of the Mulsanne and Flying Spur, but for us the Bentleyness has been sacrificed along the way, in favour of a lighting signature that any one of the Chinese upstarts could've scrawled. Bentley insists the EXP 15 is dripping with classic cues from the Speed Six 'Blue Train' special of 1930. Apparently they come in the form of the 'endless' bonnet line that runs from the tip of the nose and along the car's shoulder, the upright grille, the rearward cabin, pumped rear haunches, and the three-seater interior. The last idea is built on sound logic: Bentleys are bought by people who like to drive themsleves and occasionally be driven. The least important seat in the car is the front passenger's, so it's been dispensed with in favour of a pampered pet bed. The passenger-side seat then has room to recline, and indeed swivel for easier egress when the rear passenger coach door is opened. Don't go looking for the same trick on the driver's side – the EXP 15 is asymmetric. One-door coupe to the right, two-door saloon to the left. Who knew the Hyundai Veloster was actually onto something? Skip 17 photos in the image carousel and continue reading Up front the Bentley wings are echoed in the dashboard shape and Bentley shreds the concept car rulebook by fitting physical switchgear, conscious their customers (like the rest of us) are sick of the giant smartphone act and actually enjoy twiddling a knurled metal switch from time to time. Even the charging indicator is a mechanical artefact, encased in glass like something Tom Cruise would have to steal in Mission Impossible 17: Electro-Heist Protocol . As of right now Bentley is the undisputed interior design master: everything from the material quality to the balance of touchscreen media with tactile controls is unmatched in the industry. Perhaps there are clues here that particular baby isn't being lobbed out with the bathwater. And let's not overlook that Bentley gets its big, controversial calls right. Sharing a platform with a Volkswagen saloon did the original Continental GT no harm at all back in 2003. It became the best-selling Bentley ever. Today's arch money-printer is the Bentayga, which was itself previewed by a much-maligned EXPerimetal car: the EXP 9F was unveiled in 2012 to gasps and birds falling out of the sky stone-dead. To modern eyes accustomed to all these ultra-4x4s it's nothing offensive, but Bentley insiders at the time admitted they'd gone a tad overboard with their Strange Rover. Feedback was vitriolic and the production car was redrawn, and sold bucketloads. Question is, has Bentley got the looks of its brave new world right first time on this occasion? 11 minutes 51 seconds
Top Gear
08-07-2025
- Automotive
- Top Gear
This electric three-door EV with a dog bed is the future of Bentley – unless you hate it
First Look Three doors, three seats, a clockwork charging gauge and LED strip lights: is this Bentley's 'BMW beavertooth' design moment? Skip 17 photos in the image carousel and continue reading Welcome to Bentley's experimental phase. This isn't going to please the traditional purists one bit. But it's steaming towards some very tricky questions. Bentley is the master of continent-gobbling coupes and has successfully ridden the uberluxe SUV wave, but what happens next to the traditional saloon (or sedan)? How to replace the Flying Spur, which succeeded the Mulsanne, and Arnage? Advertisement - Page continues below Should it be… taller? Offer lopsided doors? Change shape altogether? And how does Bentley stay, well, 'Bentleyish', when it begins building EVs? Those ideas and more all collide in this new concept car dubbed EXP 15. Yowser. First, let's address the shape. The ride height is much loftier than a regular saloon but the cabin is swept back like an Audi A7's. Are we to understand that tomorrow's Flying Spur will become some sort of coupefied crossover? Bentley's design director Robin Page explains the logic behind the unorthodox silhouette thusly: 'The beauty of a concept car is not just to position our new design language, but to test where the market's going. You might like "It's clear that SUVs are a growing segment and we understand the GT market but the trickiest segment is the sedan because it's changing. 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.' Obviously aero has a lot to do with this. That matters when you're going electric. Bentley's designers have gilded the car with twin active roof spoilers and a diffuser to aid range. The wheels are shrouded in flush covers. You need a slippery shape when batteries are the new W12s. Advertisement - Page continues below The EXP 15 is imagined as an AWD electric automobile, though no estimated battery size, range or performance is quoted. But you can bet Bentley boffins are sweating exactly that right now, ahead of the company's commitment to launch its first pure EV at the close of next year (a 'luxury urban SUV' is promised – oh goodie) and be an entirely engine-free marque by 2035. Bentley, like Rolls-Royce, Audi and Mercedes, is in the awkward position of having built up decades of design DNA that doesn't translate especially well into EVs. Sit-up-and-beg visages wreck the drag coefficient. Why carry around a massive grille when there's no engine to cool, at the end of a massive bonnet which houses fresh air? So they've rebranded the family silver: the grille becomes an illuminated art installation in the only slightly tapered nose. The vast bonnet houses piano-cover hinged compartments for stowing one's fitted luggage. A smart idea, but most front-motored EVs barely offer a froot that could carry a bunch of grapes. Will Bentley be able to innovate around that? Front and centre, the winged B logo has had its feathers sharpened up – it's only the fourth time in Bentley's 106 years they've dared to dabble with the badge. Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Look out for your regular round-up of news, reviews and offers in your inbox. Get all the latest news, reviews and exclusives, direct to your inbox. It's decisions like the LED strip-lighting front and rear that jar. Is that truly distinctive enough? Or perhaps a case of 'we don't need to make our car recognisable at night because the badges all light up and spell it out for us'. It's more menacing than the almost surprised-looking expressions of the Mulsanne and Flying Spur, but for us the Bentleyness has been sacrificed along the way, in favour of a lighting signature that any one of the Chinese upstarts could've scrawled. Bentley insists the EXP 15 is dripping with classic cues from the Speed Six 'Blue Train' special of 1930. Apparently they come in the form of the 'endless' bonnet line that runs from the tip of the nose and along the car's shoulder, the upright grille, the rearward cabin, pumped rear haunches, and the three-seater interior. The last idea is built on sound logic: Bentleys are bought by people who like to drive themsleves and occasionally be driven. The least important seat in the car is the front passenger's, so it's been dispensed with in favour of a pampered pet bed. The passenger-side seat then has room to recline, and indeed swivel for easier egress when the rear passenger coach door is opened. Don't go looking for the same trick on the driver's side – the EXP 15 is asymmetric. One-door coupe to the right, two-door saloon to the left. Who knew the Hyundai Veloster was actually onto something? Skip 17 photos in the image carousel and continue reading Up front the Bentley wings are echoed in the dashboard shape and Bentley shreds the concept car rulebook by fitting physical switchgear, conscious their customers (like the rest of us) are sick of the giant smartphone act and actually enjoy twiddling a knurled metal switch from time to time. Even the charging indicator is a mechanical artefact, encased in glass like something Tom Cruise would have to steal in Mission Impossible 17: Electro-Heist Protocol . As of right now Bentley is the undisputed interior design master: everything from the material quality to the balance of touchscreen media with tactile controls is unmatched in the industry. Perhaps there are clues here that particular baby isn't being lobbed out with the bathwater. And let's not overlook that Bentley gets its big, controversial calls right. Sharing a platform with a Volkswagen saloon did the original Continental GT no harm at all back in 2003. It became the best-selling Bentley ever. Today's arch money-printer is the Bentayga, which was itself previewed by a much-maligned EXPerimetal car: the EXP 9F was unveiled in 2012 to gasps and birds falling out of the sky stone-dead. To modern eyes accustomed to all these ultra-4x4s it's nothing offensive, but Bentley insiders at the time admitted they'd gone a tad overboard with their Strange Rover. Feedback was vitriolic and the production car was redrawn, and sold bucketloads. Question is, has Bentley got the looks of its brave new world right first time on this occasion? 11 minutes 51 seconds
