Bentley’s EXP 15 Provides Us a Wild Glimpse Into Its All-Electrical Future : Automotive Addicts

Automotive

Bentley isn’t sometimes a model related to radical design experiments, however the brand new EXP 15 idea proves that the British luxurious automaker is absolutely able to problem expectations because it prepares to launch its first absolutely electrical automobile subsequent yr. Whereas it might simply be a design examine for now, the EXP 15 offers a placing preview of what the model’s electrified future may seem like — and it’s not like something we’ve seen from Crewe earlier than.

Probably the most rapid factor you’ll discover is the EXP 15’s asymmetrical door setup. It has two doorways on the left facet and just one on the fitting, which hints at its distinctive inside structure. This isn’t your commonplace four- or five-seat luxurious sedan. As a substitute, it’s a three-seater, with a place instantly behind the motive force on the fitting and one other seat offset on the left rear. It’s Bentley’s interpretation of luxurious mobility, unconstrained by conference, and unapologetically completely different.

If all of it sounds a bit eccentric, that’s by design. Bentley pulled inspiration from its personal previous, most notably the 1930 Pace Six referred to as the “Blue Prepare,” a automotive made well-known when Bentley chairman Woolf Barnato raced and beat a French specific practice throughout the continent. That very same spirit of boldness permeates the EXP 15, which Bentley refers to as a “sedan,” although its profile is far more in step with the glossy traces of a Continental GT coupe.

There are nods to conventional British luxurious all through, however they’re blended with forward-thinking EV design cues. As a result of electrical automobiles don’t want conventional engine cooling, Bentley’s designers used the grille space as a canvas, including an ornamental illuminated component that head designer Robin Web page describes as a chunk of “digital artwork.” It provides the EXP 15 a particular face whereas nonetheless maintaining with Bentley’s unmistakable DNA. Up entrance, the absence of a combustion engine allowed designers to repurpose the elongated hood, which now homes twin storage compartments that open from the middle.

The rear of the automotive will get simply as a lot consideration. There’s a tailgate that folds all the way down to reveal built-in picnic seating, a considerate and charming contact that speaks to Bentley’s quintessentially British aptitude. It’s straightforward to think about house owners establishing trackside at a polo match or Goodwood Revival with their EXP 15 changed into a conveyable lounge.

Inside, the cabin balances trendy tech with heritage craftsmanship. Sure, there are screens — it’s an EV, in spite of everything — however Bentley’s designers have resisted the urge to go absolutely digital. Bodily local weather controls and traditional switchgear stay in place, whereas supplies come from a 250-year-old English textile maker, grounding the futuristic automobile in tangible custom.

Bentley says the EXP 15 straddles a center floor between its present lineup of the Continental GT, the Flying Spur, and the Bentayga. In line with Robin Web page, the sedan section is at present essentially the most tough to outline. Some clients nonetheless want the traditional three-box form, whereas others are gravitating towards extra monolithic or elevated silhouettes. The EXP 15 explores all of these instructions directly, serving as each a design experiment and a dialog starter.

Even with its unconventional type and electrical coronary heart, the EXP 15 nonetheless feels unmistakably Bentley. There’s an plain heft and presence to its proportions, and the opulence of the supplies and finishes makes it clear that this automotive, idea or not, goals to hold ahead the model’s legacy. It’d look not like any Bentley we’ve seen earlier than, however in spirit, it’s proper in step with the model’s daring historical past.

From an organization as soon as recognized for constructing what Ettore Bugatti mockingly referred to as the “quickest lorries on this planet,” the EXP 15 reveals that Bentley is greater than prepared to hold its status for grand touring luxurious into a brand new, electrified period. Whether or not or not the manufacturing model carefully resembles this idea, one factor is definite — the way forward for Bentley will probably be something however boring.

Mike Floyd is a finance government by commerce and a automotive fanatic at coronary heart. As a CFO with a eager eye for element and technique, Mike brings his analytical mindset to the automotive world, uncovering contemporary insights and distinctive views that transcend the floor. His ardour for automobiles—particularly his favourite, the Porsche 911, fuels his contributions to Automotive Addicts, the place he blends a love for efficiency and design along with his skilled precision. Whether or not he’s breaking down business traits or spotlighting rising improvements, Mike helps maintain the positioning each sharp and forward-thinking.