Bentley Motors has officially unveiled its EXP 15 concept, a groundbreaking design vision that represents the luxury automaker’s bold step into the electric vehicle era. Presented at Bentley’s brand-new design studio in Crewe, the EXP 15 serves as a full-size exterior model paired with virtual reality interior experiences, providing crucial insights into the brand’s upcoming first fully electric production car scheduled for 2026.
The concept draws deep inspiration from Bentley’s illustrious heritage, particularly the legendary 1930 Bentley Speed Six Gurney Nutting Sportsman coupe, famously known as the “Blue Train” – a vehicle associated with the historic race between Woolf Barnato and a luxury express train from Cannes to London.
Design Philosophy and Heritage Integration
Five Core Design Principles
The EXP 15 concept embodies five exterior design principles that will influence Bentley’s future production cars. Understanding these principles helps us grasp how Bentley plans to bridge its century-old heritage with cutting-edge electric technology.
The first principle, ‘Upright Elegance’, ensures that all future Bentley fronts display a gently curved vertical line, reminiscent of a thoroughbred horse that has walked forward and come to a confident stop. This creates an immediate visual connection to Bentley’s prestigious automotive lineage.
The Iconic Grille Revolution
Despite the transition to electrified powertrains, Bentley maintains its iconic grille as essential to the brand’s historic visual architecture, now reimagined as “a piece of digital art” using advanced light technology. This represents a fascinating evolution from functional necessity to aesthetic statement, showing how traditional luxury brands can adapt without losing their identity.
The grille features an array of triangular elements that mimic the chrome crosshairs of a classic Bentley grille, bisected by a central spine and illuminated by LEDs. This thoughtful integration of heritage design cues with modern technology demonstrates Bentley’s commitment to maintaining brand recognition in the electric age.
Technical Innovation and Interior Experience
Revolutionary Three-Seat Configuration
The EXP 15 showcases a unique three-seat, three-door design with innovative features including a sliding, swiveling passenger seat and convertible trunk space. This unconventional layout reflects Bentley’s understanding that luxury vehicle usage patterns are changing, with many high-end vehicles primarily occupied by single passengers.
The concept’s interior design philosophy merges physical controls with digital interfaces, addressing customer fatigue with purely touchscreen-based systems. Bentley deliberately includes physical switchgear, recognizing that customers are tired of the “giant smartphone” approach and actually enjoy interacting with beautifully crafted mechanical controls.
Advanced Materials and Craftsmanship
The EXP 15 incorporates innovative materials that showcase Bentley’s commitment to luxury while embracing sustainability. The paint, called Pallas Gold, uses super-thin aluminum pigment that can be coated over radar sensors without affecting their signal quality, while being reflective enough to be detected by other vehicles’ lidar systems. This demonstrates how luxury materials can serve functional purposes in autonomous and semi-autonomous driving systems.
Production Timeline and Market Strategy
2026 Debut Strategy
Bentley’s first production electric vehicle will debut in 2026 as a “luxury urban SUV” measuring less than five meters in length, designed to create an entirely new segment just as the Continental GT did over two decades ago. This positioning strategy shows Bentley’s intention to define new luxury categories rather than simply following existing market trends.
The production vehicle will differ significantly from the EXP 15 concept. While the concept isn’t a direct preview of the upcoming car, certain design elements and interior ideas could become reality in the longer term. This approach allows Bentley to test radical concepts while maintaining practical considerations for mass production.
Beyond100+ Electrification Strategy
Bentley has extended its electrification timeline through the “Beyond100+” strategy, now planning to maintain plug-in hybrid production until 2035 while introducing a new PHEV or BEV model annually over the next decade. This measured approach reflects market realities while maintaining commitment to eventual full electrification.
Market Positioning and Competitive Landscape
Urban Luxury Redefined
The upcoming electric Bentley will combine SUV form factor with manageable urban dimensions, alongside cutting-edge driver assistance systems to make city driving effortless while remaining capable of long, exhilarating drives on open roads. This dual-purpose approach addresses the evolving needs of luxury vehicle owners who require both urban maneuverability and grand touring capability.
The positioning as the world’s first “luxury urban SUV” represents Bentley’s strategy to create new market categories rather than compete directly in established segments. This approach has historical precedent – the original Continental GT successfully created the modern luxury grand tourer category.
Technical Specifications Overview
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Length | Over 5 meters (EXP 15 concept) |
| Production EV Length | Under 5 meters (“compact for Bentley”) |
| Drivetrain | All-electric, all-wheel drive |
| Seating Configuration | 3 seats (concept), production TBD |
| Doors | 3 doors (concept), production TBD |
| Expected Launch | 2026 (reveal), 2027 (sales) |
| Platform | Premium Platform Electric (PPE) |
| Charging | Fast charging capability confirmed |
| Customization | 46 billion configuration options expected |
Manufacturing and Investment Commitments
Bentley is investing substantially in its Crewe facility, with a new paint shop, design center, and integrated logistics center in 2025, followed by a BEV assembly line in 2026. This infrastructure investment demonstrates the company’s serious commitment to electric vehicle production while maintaining its traditional craftsmanship standards.
The manufacturing approach will maintain Bentley’s hand-crafted heritage while incorporating advanced digital technologies and sustainable practices. The Crewe facility has operated on 100% renewable electricity since 2017 and maintained carbon neutral status for five consecutive years.
A New Chapter for Luxury Motoring
The EXP 15 concept represents more than just a design exercise – it embodies Bentley’s vision for maintaining luxury automotive leadership in the electric era. By carefully balancing heritage appreciation with innovative technology, Bentley demonstrates how traditional luxury brands can evolve without losing their essential character.
The concept’s bold design choices, from its asymmetric door configuration to its reimagined grille, show that electric luxury vehicles need not abandon distinctive character in favor of aerodynamic efficiency. Instead, the EXP 15 suggests that the future of luxury motoring lies in thoughtful integration of tradition and innovation, creating vehicles that honor the past while embracing tomorrow’s possibilities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Will the EXP 15 concept go into production? A: No, the EXP 15 is a design vision concept only. However, certain design elements and interior ideas may influence Bentley’s production vehicles, including the 2026 luxury urban SUV.
Q: When will Bentley’s first electric vehicle launch? A: Bentley will reveal its first fully electric production vehicle in 2026, with sales beginning in 2027. This will be a luxury urban SUV measuring under 5 meters in length.
Q: How does the EXP 15 connect to Bentley’s heritage? A: The concept draws inspiration from the 1930 Bentley Speed Six “Blue Train” coupe, incorporating classic design elements like the upright grille, long bonnet, and powerful rear haunches into a modern electric vehicle context.