Front profile of the new Bentley EXP 15 Concept Car with the new Bentley wings and illuminated front grille
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Front profile of the new Bentley EXP 15 Concept Car with the new Bentley wings and illuminated front grille

Concept Cars

EXP 15

Bentley has been an innovator for more than a hundred years, constantly pushing the limits of what a luxury car can be. While this unrivalled creativity is demonstrated most effectively in current production cars, it has always been the concept cars that offer the most radical visions of the future.

Side profile of the new Bentley EXP 15 Concept Car hidden as a dark silhouette

Creating the future

As the latest in a long line of innovative concept cars, EXP 15 ushers in a number of revolutionary ideas. From the configurable nature of the interior space to the artful use of light and digital interface elements, a wealth of new ideas come together in EXP 15, to offer a holistic automotive experience that bridges the gap between the physical and digital worlds. 

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Rear haunch of EXP 15 with light highlighting contours of the concept car
A close up of the diamond illuminated front grille featured on EXP 15
Close up of the sustainably manufactured door card in EXP 15
A close up of the driver controls available in the new EXP 15
A close up of the mechanic marvel in the front cabin of EXP 15
Close up of the LED Matrix headlights and front grille of EXP 15
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Core concepts

Where physical meets digital
Controlled curation
Painting with light

Throughout the car, the line between the digital and the physical is blurred. Based on a principle the designers call ‘Magical Fusion’, it includes features like a full-width digital dashboard. Integrated into the screen lies the ‘Mechanical Marvel’. This remarkable feature floats in the space between the digital and physical worlds, offering 3 modes: interactive digital display, physical solid dash or a magical combination of both. It can indicate the car’s direction of travel, the state of its electric charge and more – or simply act as a delightful centrepiece. 

Advanced technology is used to revolutionise the EXP 15 experience, starting from the moment the car is commissioned. Virtual reality (VR) software is used to enable customers to see and experience their changing configurations, with millions of combinations of features and finishes available. Even after taking ownership, however, further personalisation remains possible. Familiar physical features – think seats, dashboard, steering wheel and switchgear – can be moved, exposed or hidden, with digital interface elements coming to the fore or melting away into the background. It is all part of a system that learns occupants’ preferences and responds accordingly, offering a far more tailored experience than anything offered in today’s cars.

Light plays a crucial role in the stunning styling of EXP 15. The headlights, for example, are made up of four ultra-slim strips, with the bottom two turned inwards and positioned just inside the wheel arches, helping define the car’s edges. On the front grille, a central light spine descends elegantly from just below the Winged B, while a horizontal interpretation of the iconic Bentley diamond quilting recalls the pattern of a classic Bentley grille, now rendered in sparkling LEDs. 

Side profile of the new Bentley EXP 15 Concept Car hidden as a dark silhouette
Close ups of the new Bentley wings and flying B introduced on EXP 15
Close up of the wheel exclusive to and launched on EXP 15
Close up of the diamond lights that sit behind the front grille of EXP 15

Explore EXP 15

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Upright elegance

The first exterior design principle is ‘Upright Elegance’, referring to the idea that in profile, the front of the car should display a strong yet very gently curved vertical line. 

Iconic grille

The second exterior design principle is the ‘Iconic Grille’. Despite the shift to electrified power, the front grille remains a crucial element in Bentley’s visual architecture. On EXP 15, it is reimagined as a sculpture in light, with diamond-matrix LED details emanating from a vertical line at its centre. 

Endless bonnet line

The ‘Endless Bonnet Line’ is an unbroken line running from the bonnet to the rear haunches, inspired by the 1930s ‘Blue Train’ Speed Six. Spare space beneath is used for twin storage compartments, accessed via panels inspired by the hinged engine covers on the original Blue Train car.

Resting beast

The fourth principle references the rear haunches that bulge outward from the body of the car, above the rear wheels. Their sculpted shape suggests the latent power of a predator, ready to strike.

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Flexible three-seat layout

Most cars feature four or five doors and four or five seats, usually to ensure the vehicle can accommodate as many passengers as possible. EXP15 takes a different approach, inspired by the luxury of the 1930s ‘Blue Train’ Speed Six. In order to offer a smaller number of occupants a more luxurious, configurable experience, it has three seats and three doors. 

Ingenious in-cabin storage

Interior space is not simply a function of how many people can be accommodated. EXP 15 features a wealth of innovative in-cabin storage solutions, offering greater security for valuables, alongside plenty of room for luggage and comfortable, wellbeing-enhancing spaces for treasured pets. 

Locally sourced materials

Throughout the car, luxurious materials have been used in innovative ways, often from local suppliers. An exquisite example is the silk from historic textile specialists Gainsborough, woven in one of the UK’s oldest mills and deployed in the cabin to promote comfort and wellness. 

Lightweight 3D-printed metals

For both functional switchgear and aesthetic enhancements, the cabin features a variety of tactile 3D-printed titanium finishes. 3D printing makes previously impossible shapes much easier to create, while the lightweight nature of titanium contributes to a lower kerb weight for the car, improving energy efficiency. 

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Dual-use features

The designers have sought out new opportunities to tailor the car to its owners’ lifestyles, with numerous dual-use features. They include a boot space that can take on the secondary role of picnic seating when the car is stationary. 

Prestigious Shield

The final exterior design principle, ‘Prestigious Shield’, relates to the large, clean surface at the rear. On classic Bentleys like the Blue Train car, these panels would house separate luggage compartments. On EXP 15, however, it is part of the tailgate, bearing the new Bentley Winged B emblem.

Close up of the new illuminated wings launched as part of EXP 15
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A shrine to Bentley design

A new concept car. A new logo. And now an entirely new design studio: the place where every new Bentley will be designed for years to come. Built on the same site as the factory in Crewe, England, the new studio is a purpose-built facility, where Bentley’s renowned team of automotive design experts can experiment with the very latest in materials and production techniques – all in the process of bringing the next generation of Bentleys to life. 

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Designer sketches of EXP 15 along side the car that inspired it, the Blue Train Speed Six Saloon

Blue Train

Inspired by icons of the past

Like every Bentley, EXP 15 features details inspired by Bentley cars of the past. In fact, its upright grille, ‘endless’ bonnet, three-seat layout and rearward cabin are all deliberately derived from one classic Bentley in particular: the iconic 1930 Bentley Speed Six ‘Blue Train’ grand tourer. 

 

That car was driven in its sedan form by Bentley Boy Woolf Barnato and made famous when he raced against ‘Le Train Bleu’ from Paris to Calais, eventually making it all the way to his club in London before the train pulled into Calais station. 

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Top view of the sculpted exterior of EXP 15

Have your say

How do you personally see the future?

To share your views with the team at Bentley, please take a moment to complete our survey. Your answers could influence the next generation of Bentley cars. 

Rear cross cabin of the new Bentley EXP 15 concept car featuring sustainable materials, three seats and a luggage compartment