The iconic British carmaker has unveiled the experimental EXP 100 GT electric vehicle as a highlight to its centenary celebrations. The concept looks ahead 16 years to the year 2035, providing a vision of what its cars could look and be like in the future.
Bentley chairman and CEO Adrian Hallmark said:
Today, on our Centenary, we demonstrate our vision of the future of our marque, with the Bentley EXP 100 GT – a modern and definitive grand tourer designed to demonstrate that the future of luxury mobility is as inspirational and aspirational as the last 100 years.
The firm said the new car was ‘a physical embodiment of the future Bentley brand’ and ‘an inspiring blend of performance, technology and craftsmanship’ drawing on its century of experience.
Design chief Stefan Sielaff said in a news release ahead of the EXP 100 GT′s formal debut:
The Bentley EXP 100 GT represents the kind of cars we want to make in the future. Like those iconic Bentleys of the past, this car connects with its passengers’ emotions and helps them experience and safeguard the memories of the really extraordinary journeys they take.
Bentley seeks to kickstart its next 100 years, with an aim to give future owners ‘the thrill of driving or being driven autonomously’. Which is why the EXP is intended to operate in both, fully autonomous mode, or manual mode, “for when one wishes to enjoy the thrill of driving,” the carmaker said. In addition to being able to drive for you, it’s internal AI system will be able to check your blood pressure and arrange the air conditioning and lighting to suit moods, among many other things.
The two-door coupe features a glass roof that leads into the scissor doors which are an impressive 2 meters (6’6″) wide. The body itself is 5.8 meters (19′) long and made of carbon fiber and aluminum. The new eco-friendly autumnal exterior paint (called Compass) is made from recycled rice husks that reduces what goes to landfill. The grille is fully illuminated and even the hood ornament and the center trim piece on the hood lights up. The wheels have active aerodynamic panels and their Pirelli tires can (conceptually) change their pattern and contact patch for various driving conditions.
The engine is fully electric and features four motors, one for each wheel, to provide full torque vectoring. They deliver a lot of torque, too, at 1,106 pound-feet. Bentley says the car could reach 60mph in under 2.5 seconds, with a top speed of 186mph. The battery pack has a range of 435 miles and it can and be 80% charged in just 15 minutes.
As for the inside, the car is designed to be as luxurious as you would expect a Bentley to be. It is draped in high-end materials and outrageous design.
Dashboard touch-points are made from Cumbrian crystal, while carpets are made of British farmed wool. Intricately stitched cotton interior surfaces and door panels have been created by London-based embroidery company Hand and Lock which employs traditional techniques dating back to 1767 and are used on Royal and Military Dress uniforms.
The seats are an organic, leather-like material created from the byproduct of winemaking, not animals. Final touches include 5,000-year-old ‘copper-infused’ Riverwood from fallen trees preserved in peat-bogs, lakes, and rivers.
The company did not provide any pricing information for the EXP 100 GT, but the cheapest Bentley on the market right now starts at just under $200,000 with higher-end models with all the upgrades pushing prices for some over $1 million, so it’s most likely within that price range.
Now, whether or not we actually see a Bentley like this one reach production is uncertain. However, it is sure that we will see an electric Bentley with high performance, advanced driver assistance systems, and loads of luxurious appointments sooner rather than later. Bentley has already announced that the company’s future will be electric. It has pledged an electrified hybrid option for every car in its range by 2023, with its first pure electric car by 2025.
