Bentley EXP 15 concept previews new design direction
In a press release, Bentley emphasized that the EXP 15 is not a direct preview of that SUV (or any other production vehicle, as it's a static model that isn't drivable). But "subtle design cues" from that model have been incorporated into the EXP 15's exterior, and the interior's tech features could be incorporated into future Bentley models as well.
The EXP 15's namesake received its Blue Train nickname when Bentley chairman Woolf Barnato used it to race a train of that name from Cannes in the south of France to Calais in the north. Barnato made it across the English Channel to London before the train reached Calais, creating a foundational piece of Bentley lore. Ninety-five years later, the distinctive shape of the Bentley Blue Train's coachbuilt Gurney Nutting bodywork is making a comeback.
Like the Blue Train, the EXP 15 isn't an SUV. But its tall body sides and upright front end work well in the current era, where SUVs continue push aside traditional cars. They combine with an elongated hood and steeply-raked back window-also prominent features of the Blue Train-to create a look intended to test customer tastes.
"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." Bentley design boss Robin Page said in a statement. "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."
Whether a vehicle with this shape will ever roll off the production line at Bentley's United Kingdom factory is unclear, but the automaker claims some of the concept's details will. The exterior surfacing, meant to give the EXP 15 a muscular appearance, will be applied to future models, according to Bentley. The concept's exterior lighting, including headlights formed from four thin strips and LEDs arranged to suggest Bentley's current diamond-patterned grilles, hint at what's possible as well.
The need to maximize range means EVs can't afford to ignore aerodynamics, so it wouldn't be surprising to see the EXP 15's front-fender vents and pair of deployable rear spoilers on a production car. The protruding taillights also help channel air around the car, Bentley claims.
Less likely to reach production is the EXP 15's three-door, three-seat layout. Like an upscale Hyundai Veloster, the concept has one driver's side door and two passenger's side doors. In this case, though they're coach doors that open along with a section of the roof to make ingress and egress easier. A seat that swivels 45 degrees aids in that as well. That seat can also switch from fully upright "Co-Pilot" mode, to slid-back "Standard" mode, to reclined "Relax" mode.
The EXP 15 also features an update of Bentley's current rotating central touchscreen, which can be hidden away when not in use, that now encompasses the entire dashboard. The dash can now switch from a pillar-to-pillar screen to a wood veneer without a pixel in sight. It also incorporates a physical dial that designer call the "Mechanical Marvel," which can be reconfigured to show the state of charge, direction of travel, and other information.
High-end materials are expected in a Bentley, and the EXP 15 features a mix of old (silk jacquard textile woven at one of the U.K.'s oldest mills) and new (3D-printed titanium trim that reduces weight and waste compared to conventional processes). The concept's Pallas Gold paint also has an aluminum pigment that allows it to be used on bodywork that covers sensors, which would otherwise be unable to transmit through paint.
Bentley didn't provide much detail on the engineering side of the EXP 15, only saying that it was designed around an all-wheel drive electric powertrain. That will soon become the norm at Bentley which, after roughly a decade of fits and starts, plans to go all-electric by 2035. That shift, heralded by a redesign of Bentley's iconic logo, will start with the aforementioned smaller SUV, but could encompass more stately models closer to the EXP 15 as Bentley builds out the lineup.
Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Newsweek
17 hours ago
- Newsweek
Bentley Rebounding From Tariff Uncertainty to Seize the Sales Moment
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Automakers across the globe are struggling to balance the uncertainty surrounding the Trump Administration's evolving tariff negotiations. Bentley Motors, based in the U.K., has a clearer picture than most thanks to a deal agreed to in May and an executive order signed by President Trump in June. Bentley's U.S. business is bouncing back following the deal. "It's obviously been an interesting year," Michael Rocco, president and CEO of Bentley Americas, told Newsweek at The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering. "We're, I would say, in a better place than most countries [because of] negotiating the 10 percent tariff with the UK. But in doing so, we paused wholesales coming in for 90 days [before the deal]." During the uncertainty, vehicles shipped from the U.K. were subject to a 27.5 percent tariff. That 90-day pause allowed Bentley dealers across the U.S. to sell through the inventory they had on hand. But, Rocco is clear: "We didn't have enough cars on the ground, and we missed sales opportunities because of that." Bentley Continental GT Speed wearing the new Ombre by Mulliner finish. Bentley Continental GT Speed wearing the new Ombre by Mulliner finish. Bentley Motors When the company was able to resume shipments, it gave dealers access to a product lineup that had been enhanced in recent months. "July was really the first month we started wholesaling a lot of cars to the dealers, which they needed, and it was refreshing for them now that they have new products in the market," Rocco said. In 2024, Bentley sold just over 10,000 vehicles across the world, around 3,000 fewer than the year before as the company transitioned its lineup to new models. The U.S. was the company's strongest sales region. The automaker's refreshed lineup includes the well-received Bentley Continental GT Speed coupé, enhanced Flying Spur sedans and the new Bentayga Speed SUV. And, Bentley opened two new retail locations, in Santa Barbara, California, and San Antonio, Texas. While that lineup is enticing customers, Rocco is seeing the luxury market beginning to hold back from shelling out on big purchases. In June, Bain & Company, in partnership with Altagamma, said the personal luxury goods market is likely to shrink by 2 to 5 percent in 2025, the most probable scenario, marking the industry's first slowdown since the 2008-09 financial crisis, excluding the COVID-19 period. "Right now, there's hesitancy in the market. But the good news for us is our full range of cars are now here... So we're in a good place, but it's been challenging with the unforeseen disruptions, the things that we cannot control... [it] makes the market, makes the industry a little bit more difficult," he said. But Rocco likes his company's chances. "We see the playbook. Now we need to execute. I still believe the next couple of months there's going to be uncertainty. I do believe the fourth quarter will be strong, and it always is," he said. Bentley's fourth quarter business relies heavily on snowbird traffic, those making their way from northern states to the warmer climates of Florida, where they then purchase a new luxury car. Bentley Motors stand at The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering. Bentley Motors stand at The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering. Bentley Motors "Our business is a bit seasonal. Florida's our largest market, those people will come back to Florida. But, I do see the fourth quarter, being stronger and improving. There's always the discussion about [interest] rate cuts, the things we can't control. But the good news [is that we have a] full line of product... Our dealers are very encouraged with, you know, with where we're going in the future," he continued.
Los Angeles Times
4 days ago
- Los Angeles Times
Newport Pagnell to Goodwood: Restoring My Aston Martin V600
I guess we can blame Bond for this. James Bond. Like so many kids of his generation, Elliott Broidy grew up in the 1960s fantasizing about being the man in the immaculate tux with the Silver Birch Aston Martin DB5. That car, for him, was a symbol of elegance, power and possibility – and a dream that planted itself early. He remains hooked to this day. And who can blame him? There is something about an Aston Martin that you don't find in any other car. They're not always the fastest, nor the most agile – but they have soul. The interiors feel crafted by hand, not machine. You're not just buying a car; you're buying into a story, a legacy. Aston Martin is older than Bentley, while Ferrari and Lamborghini are young upstarts by comparison. Even Rolls-Royce, which predates Aston Martin, never raced, while Aston Martin has been on the track since before it sold road cars to customers. Racing runs deep in the company's DNA. Its early entries into motorsport were often underfunded but fiercely determined, with victories snatched from more dominant teams. Today, with a new state-of-the-art factory, wind tunnel and the legendary Adrian Newey at the design helm, Aston Martin looks poised to write another racing chapter – but it's the past Broidy has always been drawn to. Of all the Astons, the ones that resonate most with him are those built at Newport Pagnell. This year marks 70 years of production at that iconic factory in Buckinghamshire. It was here that David Brown introduced a new era of Aston Martins, starting with the DB4 in the late 1950s, which evolved into the DB5. These weren't just new models – they represented a new philosophy: combining speed, elegance and craftsmanship in a uniquely British way. In 2023, Broidy bought his own DB5, which is currently undergoing a full nut-and-bolt restoration. But that story – as steeped in heritage as it is – will be told another time. Because there was another Aston Martin that haunted him, quietly but insistently, ever since he first saw it over two decades ago: the V8 Vantage Le Mans V600. In 2000, Broidy found himself standing in a London dealership, staring in awe at a V600. He recalls realizing immediately it was unlike anything else he had ever seen. It was shown in 1999 and just 40 were made – one for each year since Aston Martin's historic win at the 1959 Le Mans 24 Hours. To put that in perspective, that's just four more cars than the total number of Ferrari 250 GTOs, the most valuable of all Ferraris. The V600 was the company's first road car to claim a top speed of 200 mph, boasting 600bhp output from a 5.3-litre supercharged V8 engine. At the time, it was the most powerful car offered for sale by a mainstream manufacturer, dwarfing the 479bhp of the 550 Maranello, Ferrari's most powerful car of the era. But numbers alone never define an Aston Martin. This car was the final, most potent expression of Tadek Marek's legendary V8 engine, which first ran in 1965, was installed in the DBS V8 in 1969 and went on to become Aston's staple motor for the next 25 years. It was also the last engine to be entirely designed in-house by Aston Martin. The V600's chassis was a direct descendant of the DBS platform, even retaining its wheelbase. The Superleggera construction techniques, first used in the DB4, still lingered beneath the surface. Every piece of it was built by hand at Newport Pagnell, making it not just a swan song but a summation of everything that had come before. In this one car lay the history of Aston Martin production at Newport Pagnell in the 20th century, as well as a glimpse at the future direction of the company. So, it became his goal: One day, Broidy would own a V600. But with only 40 in existence, it would need to be the right one. No compromises. That car didn't emerge until 2024. On the 25th anniversary of the V600's creation – after over two decades of waiting – he finally found it. Chassis #09 of 40, just 8,000 miles on the odometer since it was released from the Aston Martin works on December 15, 1999. Named after its original owner, Eric Wright, the car is painted in a deep, dark green hue (often confused with what some call 'British racing green' though no such color exists), unique to this car, with piped green trim, green Wilton carpets edged in Onslow Forest Green with a green Alcantara headliner. Factory-fit optional extras included Burr Elm facias, a fuel filler key and personalized sill plaques naming the original owner and confirming it to be car #09 of 40. Even among this already rare breed, it stood apart. But for Broidy, it wasn't enough for it to be great. It had to be flawless. The restoration wasn't about modification – it was about precision, about bringing it back to exactly how it left Newport Pagnell, only better. And because he planned to drive it regularly in the U.S. – since a car like this, he says, is only at its most beautiful when it's doing what it was designed to do - a left-hand drive conversion was essential. Broidy turned to trusted hands in England. His friend Gil Holt introduced him to Matthew Hill Coach Trimming, who undertook the meticulous conversion process. Beyond the LHD change, they were tasked with redoing the electrics, decoking the engine and replacing its valve seals. Every detail mattered. Cosmetically, the car was in very good condition, but not perfect. Minor corrosion on the doors and wheel arches, a few stone chips – all typical, but unacceptable in a car of this pedigree. Shaun Hayward at Hayward Classics took over. He executed a complete respray, re-applied the protective underbody coating and restored the Dymag magnesium alloy wheels. He also refurbished the clutch, fine-tuned the suspension and rebuilt the massive AP Racing brakes. Then there was the under-bonnet cover needed for the left-hand drive conversion. None could be sourced – not from Aston Martin, not from original suppliers. So, Jon Davy of CD Equipment created one from scratch, reverse-engineering a mirror image of the original and even making the tooling required to fabricate it. It took an enormous amount of time and work, but perfection has no shortcuts. It had to be done to get it right. With everything complete, there was only one thing left to do: Drive it. And there was only one place worthy of that first outing – Goodwood. The Goodwood Motor Circuit is hallowed ground. It's where Aston Martin's racing team achieved true greatness in the most implausible circumstances. In 1959, having skipped the World Sports Car Championship to focus on Le Mans, the company unexpectedly found itself in contention for the title. Stirling Moss offered to pay personally for a car to be sent to the Nürburgring round – and won. Then, as if by serendipity, Carroll Shelby and Roy Salvadori delivered victory at Le Mans. The World Champion title suddenly hinged entirely on the final round, and that would take place at Goodwood. During the race, after taking an early lead and poised to win, Moss' car suddenly caught fire during a pit stop, sending the Aston Martin garage up in flames with it. In a stunning display of determination, the team persuaded a private Aston Martin customer to withdraw from the race so his pit could be taken over. Then, another Aston further back was called in, and its driver was replaced by Moss with instructions to drive flat out. He did, securing both the race and the World Sportscar Championship for Aston Martin, beating Ferrari, Porsche, Maserati and Alfa Romeo. Driving his V600 on that same track was surreal, a bucket-list moment Broidy will never forget. The thunder of the V8, amplified by the whine of the twin superchargers, filled the air. Despite its sheer power, the car was predictable, planted and communicative. It didn't intimidate – it inspired. In those moments, pushing it through Goodwood's fast, flowing corners, he felt entirely connected to the machine and the legacy it carried. To be certain everything was as it should be, Broidy invited a journalist who had tested the V600 back when it first launched 25 years ago to drive it. After his drive, he turned to him and said it felt exactly the same. That was all the confirmation he needed. A bucket-list moment, indeed. Others may be faster, lighter, more advanced. But he doesn't care. What Broidy wants is a car where the passion of its creators can be heard in the exhaust note, seen in the craftsmanship and felt in the steering wheel. He wants a car with a story that stretches back generations. On that day at Goodwood, behind the wheel of his V600, he knew he didn't just drive a car – he fulfilled a dream a quarter century in the making. And, for a brief moment, he felt like he had stepped into the frame of a Bond film, only this time, it was real.
Edmunds
7 days ago
- Edmunds
Would You Pay $158,000 For a Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing?
General Motors is launching its new Curated by Cadillac vehicle customization program on the CT5-V Blackwing, opening up more than 160 colors and a whole bunch of swanky interior materials to the company's fire-breathing performance sedan. The good news? Buyers can now work with individual Cadillac designers to customize a CT5-V Blackwing to new heights. The bad news? It'll cost you $158,000 — nearly $60,000 more than the base price of a CT5-V Blackwing — and that doesn't include desirable performance or tech options. The Curated by Cadillac program builds on lessons learned from the brand's Celestiq EV — a $300,000 flagship that hopes to put Cadillac in the same conversations as Bentley and Rolls-Royce. For the CT5-V Blackwing, buyers work with their dealer and a Cadillac Concierge to discuss the variety of colors and materials on offer, designing a bespoke sedan that's then hand-built at the company's Artisan Center in Warren, Michigan. We have no doubt that the Curated experience will result in some seriously stunning Blackwings, but this all begs the question: Is it worth it?
