It’s been an interesting run for Bentley under Volkswagen Group ownership, from re-engineering the Arnage and the 6.75-liter V8 to launching the original Phaeton-based Continental GT, from developing the Bentayga and a fresh W12 engine to the plug-in hybrids of today. There are now more parts being shared among models than ever before, yet quality materials and attention to detail is reason to buy a Bentayga over, say, an Audi RSQ8. However, with the first electric model around the corner, the brand is taking a dramatic visual turn. This isn’t it, but it is the Bentley EXP 15, and it’s about to dictate what future Bentleys look like.
Yes, we’re looking at the first Bentley concept in five years, the last being the EXP 100 GT that previewed the single-lamp look seen on cars from the Bacalar to the new Continental GT. While that was a pure concept of what a Bentley might look like in 2035, the EXP 15 is meant to be a rough preview of cues we’ll see on Bentley’s first electric vehicle, debuting in 2026.
Back in Bentley’s Le Mans days, Ettore Bugatti called the British brand’s 3 Litre model “the fastest lorry in the world,” and there’s something similarly imposing about the EXP 15. While some automakers have sculpted their battery packs to accommodate a reasonably low hip point, Bentley is leaning into the presence of a big pack under the floor with tall coachwork to match the thick sills. Touches like beveling the doors where they meet the sill and serving up a crisp character line running into massive haunches prevent the EXP 15 from looking like a brick, yet the end result serves up mass not seen in a Bentley since the Mulsanne. Fantastic.
Up front, I can’t help but get shades of a Zeekr 009 vibe thanks to the upright body-color grille. Any comparison to a Chinese-market luxury minivan is likely unintentional, and the hood-to-valence vertical lighting elements draw rather literal lines of distinction. Around back, a plunging roofline swoops down to a kammtail with giant yet wafer-thin C-shaped taillights. If you’re getting a whiff of tech influence, just wait until you see the interior.
Yep, we’re looking at a Bentley with extensive use of cloth. Specifically, a wool textile from Fox Brothers and a silk jacquard from Gainsborough adding contrast against titanium surfaces and leather. Traditional, yet modern, considering the trendy move away from all-hide everything. Speaking of trends, ambient lighting makes an appearance here, but it’s different from what you get in a Magic City Maybach. Bentley has made this metal mesh embedded in acrylic that’s then backlit to provide an architectural feeling, and the result is far more subtle than most uses of light inside a modern vehicle. Sure, the three-seat layout is pure flight of fancy, and that steering wheel probably isn’t housing an airbag, but there’s lots here that could potentially make it to production cars.
While the Bentley EXP 15 isn’t traditionally beautiful, it feels traditionally Bentley despite the big leap of an all-electric all-wheel-drive powertrain. Although the actual production electric Bentley won’t be this size and probably won’t be quite this monolithic, this glimpse gives the one percent something to get excited about.
Top graphic image: Bentley
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It looks at least as stupid as the Jaguar. Can we stop with the designs that look like rejected, laughed out of the room Demolition Man props?
This is a concept I hope they abandon. I’m not sure what it is but it feels terribly generic to me.
The Spectre is better… Sorry folks I am going with the Rolls.
The Mohs Ostentienne Opera rises again and I am here for it!
Bentley and Jaguar: all of the money, none of the taste.
Is it me? Or has Brexit destroyed British design?
But wait, there’s more! It slices, it dices, it makes julienne fries!
Between this and the dumbass Jag I hope this cringe design style doesn’t proliferate down the price stack so we have to stare at it for the next fifteen years.
Shitbox Showdown year 2055: a 2035 Bentley EXP15 production model vs a 2028 6000 SUX. In either case, “I’ll buy that for a dollar!”
I kind of like the new Jag. This though? That front end is just awful looking and sure doesn’t present as being a “BENTLEY” or even being upscale. It just looks awkward.
As mentioned below, this looks a lot like a Kia and that’s not to say classy like a Genesis, but one of the awkward Kias.
The front is very reminiscent of modern BMW’s disgusting abuse of the kidney grills.
Needs bigger wheels. 36’s should do it.
Captain Scarlett called and wants his car back.
I think I actually prefer the Jag but they look quite similar.
I can’t be the only one thinking this looks a lot more like a Hyundai/Kia concept car than a proper British car.
Let’s pretend I’m a millionaire and also my conscience is dulled enough to spend 300k on a car- The Cadillac Celestiq is an honest to goodness production car, and has so much more charm, more presence, more gravity than this.
Bentley hasn’t been British for years.
What with Morgan selling up a few years back, I think Ariel is the biggest British manufacturer left.
they look the same
Is it just me? I am tired of today’s design language on cars. Boxy. Angular. Character lines that go nowhere. Or pop up out of no where. Squinty tail lights. They all look the same. Ugly. Ugly even. Bring back curves. More aerodynamic, and more pleasing to the eye. And who would have guessed most of us (not me!) would be driving station wagons! Call them SUVs.. Crossovers, whatever you call them they are nothing more than jacked up station wagons. I’m going to buy a couple of 60s cars that are smog exempt, that I can work on, and actually may appreciate.
If that wasn’t enough it’s amazing all the recalls that most manufacturers are having to announce. Is your new vehicles engine going to grenade? Hope they cleaned out all the metal shavings. Just glad I was hearing for the good old days. When the air was clean and sex was dirty.
Right nobody can look me in the eyes and tell me this is more attractive to the eye than a 3 year old Flying Spur.
It’s not just you. It’s hideous.
“Just glad I was hearing for the good old days. When the air was clean and sex was dirty.”
I can’t speak for the latter but as someone who spent the 1970s in smogbowl LA I can assure you it couldn’t have been dirtier than the air.
Kick ass! I was wondering what the boys at DARTZ Motorz were going to come up with next. Is that steering wheel covered in whale-penis leather?!
Oh… wait a sec
What are we calling that grille? Washboard? Cheese grater? Dish drainer?
I’m going with bathroom floor mat.
Pedestrian stamper.
Tell me they just didn’t hire the guys from Pimp My Ride. This makes JC Whitney look like old money British Aristocrats. I guess since the new money is tasteless rappers and influencers it is probably going to be successful.
Yes, it looks a lot like there’s an element of carcinisation in British luxury vehicles. But this Bentley concept is a lot more developed than the Jaguar one. Also (and this is quite important) Bentley is still selling actual cars, unlike Jaguar.
As much as I don’t like this, I do give Bentley credit for introducing high-end textiles into the interior environment instead of leather. It’s a different way of looking at luxury that plays nicely into the sensibilities of an increasing number of luxury buyers.
Just British? Just luxury? Everything from a Ferrari Purosangue to a Chevy Trax is evolving into a Mazda CX-5 and this is just a CX-5 with a washboard strapped to its front.
I have always suspected that those expensive consultancies charge enormous fees, and then hand you a reworked version of the recommendations they just wrote for someone else. It appears that Jaguar and Bentley both hired the same consultants, but Jag got there first. The consultants said, “OK, the Jag is long and low, so let’s make the Bentley kind of tall and awkward, eh?”
I just came here to say that this reminds me very much of the Jag concept.
I really hope this was the same company selling the same work twice. I further hope that they sold it more than twice, and that there are several heads of design frantically trying to redesign their concepts after seeing these two.
Wondering who copied whose homework here, Jag or Bentley?
Well, that’s the ugliest object I’ve seen all day.
Why does it look like that?
It would be great If all the luxury brands head this direction. Then I won’t have to endure any vague pangs of jealousy about rich people’s fancy cars.
Not that I really do right now, but this certainly nips that in the bud.