Bentley has lifted the covers on its striking new concept car, the EXP 15, marking both the launch of its latest design language and the official opening of its state-of-the-art design studio in Crewe.
The EXP 15 offers a glimpse into Bentley’s future aesthetic direction while paying homage to the brand’s storied past. Taking cues from the iconic early 20th-century Grand Tourers, the concept channels the spirit of the legendary 1930 Bentley Speed Six Gurney Nutting Sportsman Coupé.
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The car famously beat the luxury express Le Train Bleu in a race from Cannes to London, thanks to company chairman and Bentley Boy, Woolf Barnato. True to that lineage, the full-scale exterior model features a dramatic upright grille, a long, flowing bonnet, and a rear-set cabin.
These classic proportions are fused with cutting-edge surfaces, illuminated design details, and active aerodynamic elements – anchoring the concept firmly in the modern day. While the EXP 15 is not destined for production, Bentley hints that elements of its design will inform future models, including the marque’s first all-electric vehicle, expected in the near future.
Inside, the cabin combines traditional luxury with forward-looking technology. Designed using virtual reality tools to give potential clients a broader view of bespoke configuration options, the interior blends tactile craftsmanship – including plush seating, a wing-style dash, and classic controls – with digital features that adapt to the driver’s mood or purpose.
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The concept breaks convention with a unique three-seat, three-door layout, prioritising space and comfort for fewer occupants. Clever packaging includes integrated storage for pets or small luggage, while even the boot can transform into refined picnic seating when parked.
Material innovation is also central to the EXP 15. Bentley has employed a mix of heritage and sustainability-led approaches, including a 100% wool textile by Somerset-based Fox Brothers – known for inventing thorn-proof cloth and weaving fine English fabrics since the 18th century. This richly coloured material is used in a damson ombré finish and sits alongside futuristic lightweight 3D-printed titanium trim pieces.
User experience plays a central role in the concept’s design, with the car imagined as a “fabulous conductor and celebrated chef all rolled into one,” according to the brand – a metaphor for how the vehicle intuitively responds to its occupants’ needs.
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Robin Page, Bentley’s Director of Design, commented: “The beauty of a concept car is not just to position our new design language, but to test where the market’s going.
“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.”
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