Bentley Motors officially opened its new design studio this week, while also simultaneously unveiling its latest concept, the EXP 15, a concept that the company says aims to define its future design direction by "taking inspiration from its early 20th century Grand Tourer heritage and interpreting it in a thoroughly modern 21st century way."
The five-metre-plus full-size physical exterior model of the EXP 15 features an upright grille, a long 'endless' bonnet, and a rearward cabin, reminiscent of the iconic 1930 Bentley Speed Six Gurney Nutting Sportsman coupe, famously associated with Bentley's then-chairman Woolf Barnato's "Blue Train" race made famous by images of the Speed Six racing alongside a train (although that never actually happened, and it wasn't even the Gurney Nutting coupe that Barnato drove either...).
“The beauty of a concept car is not just to position our new design language, but to test where the market’s going," said Robin Page, Bentley Director of Design.
"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."
Bentley says the EXP 15 embodies five exterior design principles that will influence future production cars:
'Upright Elegance': Fronts of Bentley cars should display a gently curved vertical line in silhouette, "akin to the upper body of a thoroughbred horse."
'Iconic Grille': Despite changes to powertrains, the grille remains crucial to the brand's historic visual architecture, with Page saying “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."
'Endless Bonnet Line': This line reflects heritage and continues unbroken under side windows to the rear pillar, referencing the 1930 Gurney Nutting coupe. Spare space under the bonnet, due to future electric powertrains, is repurposed for storage that is accessed via twin panels which reference the Gurney Nutting coupe's piano-style hinged engine covers.
'Resting Beast': “All the finest Bentleys feature rear haunches that bulge outward from the body of the car above the rear wheels, expressing their ‘muscle’ and potent energy, just like the rounded shape of the bent upper legs of a big cat,” says Domen Rucigaj, Head of Exterior Design, before going on to explain that a Bentley’s overall stance needs to be "relaxed and horizontal, not aggressively leaning forward, nor leaning back and looking lazy".
'Prestigious Shield':The fifth and final key exterior design principle refers to the large, clean rear surface, which on the EXP 15 is part of the tailgate, displaying the new winged Bentley emblem framed by diamond-patterned rear lights.
The interior design was created using virtual reality software, and blends familiar physical features with futuristic digital elements. Featuring an unusual three-seat, three-door configuration, again referencing the 1930 Speed Six Gurney Nutting Sportsman coupe and was influenced by the idea of a three-seat car for grand tours to offer greater luxury for passengers.
A single door on the driver's side leads to the driver’s seat and a "cocooning" rear seat. On the passenger side, twin coach doors and part of the panoramic roof open upwards for easier entry and exit, while the passenger seat can swivel 45 degrees outwards for "dignified egress" and "the perfect Instagram shot", according to Darren Day, Bentley's Head of Interior Design.
"The seat can rotate and you step out, totally unflustered, not trying to clamber out of the car like you see with some supercars," said Day. "If you look at the car we built for Her Majesty the Queen, it was always designed around the aperture of the door and ‘the art of arrival’. It was really important for us to create that feeling here too."
The passenger seat is highly flexible, offering 'Co-pilot' mode (where it slides up front alongside the driver), 'Standard' mode (slid back for massive legroom), or 'Relax' mode (reclined). In the latter two modes, a "Concertina Floor Storage" system allows footrests to fold down, creating shallow space for a pet or hand luggage, accessible without opening the boot. Even the boot space has a dual role, with two small deployable seats, a physical lamp, and a fridge for luxury tailgate parties.
Bentley says the interior mixes "traditional, artisanal, sustainable, ultra-modern, and futuristic elements" including a 100 percent wool textile by Fox Brothers and fine silk jacquard textile by British company Gainsborough alongside a new fine woven metal mesh called 'Acrylic Couture' to create "radiant 3D effects".
Bentley has built on the concept it introduced in current models with its rotating dash (which can reveal a infotainment touchscreen at one moment and then rotate back to a solid wood dashboard surface) by introducing 'Magical Fusion', a new principle that it says combines physical and digital features.
The full-width dashboard can act as a digital interface or reveal a veneered wood surface underneath the glass when off, while a central, clock-like 'Mechanical Marvel' device with movable, illuminated fingers can indicate direction or charge, or simply serve as "a delightful centrepiece to gaze upon".
"We think people are going to get fed up with a fully digital experience and are pining for physical mechanical elements too," said Page.
"By combining the two, you can get the best of both worlds. It’s almost like wearing a beautiful mechanical watch on one wrist and a digital watch on the other. Imagine the magical experience you would get if mechanical and digital are overlayed together."
While primarily a design concept, the EXP 15 is conceived with a fully-electric, all-wheel drive powertrain offering long range and fast recharging speeds, aligned with Bentley customer expectations for "convenience and sustainable performance".
No actual technical specifications or platform details were revealed and Bentley emphasises that the EXP 15 is not a preview of the smaller all-electric production Bentley expected in 2026, but "subtle design cues relating to that first car are highlighted within this concept’s exterior form, as well as showcasing digital and technical ideas on the interior that could become reality in the longer-term."
