Latest news with #Crewe
The Australian
a day ago
- Automotive
- The Australian
Bentley's EXP 15 concept previews luxury brand's electric future
Bentley's drive for the future is as bold as its vehicles. A daring new concept car, the EXP 15, paves the road ahead for a brand that has juggled tech and tradition for decades. Though Bentley originally planned to release its first EV in 2025, we are still waiting to see what form that car will take. Like many brands, Bentley has pushed back its electrification plan to make sure it delivers something customers are ready for. Bentley's EXP 15 concept. Picture: Supplied Bentley factory in Crewe. (Picture: Supplied) MORE: Jet pilot tech tested for drivers The company is now focusing on a new goal of offering a complete line-up of electric vehicles by 2035. A key detail in the company's strategy is to ensure that the Bentley Dream Factory in Crewe is fully operational for EV production by the time they start rolling out their first EV product. Bentley has recently opened a new paint shop and an 'Excellence Centre for Quality and Launch', marking a significant milestone in transforming the 85-year-old site for a new era of electrification. Bentley says the new facilities aim to set a new benchmark in next-generation, digital, flexible, and high-value manufacturing operations. it is now shifting its focus to constructing a new logistics centre, with the completion timeline aimed for later this year. We still don't know much about the new full-electric vehicle being launched in 2026, except that it is a luxury urban SUV. Bentley's factory in Crewe. Picture: Supplied The brand prides itself on attention to detail. Picture: Supplied Bentley recently revealed the EXP 15 concept electric vehicle, which gives us the best idea yet of what the brand's first EV might look like. The EXP 15 draws design inspiration from the marque's renowned 'Blue Train' Speed Six of 1930 and features an all-electric, all-wheel-drive powertrain that will ultimately replace its iconic V8 and W12 engines. Bentley's EXP 15 concept points to an electric future. Picture: Supplied The EXP 15 concept has bold styling. Picture: Supplied MORE: Luxury vans to shock Australia With its radical three-door layout and emphasis on tactile controls, the EXP 15 offers an exciting preview of Bentley's commitment to performance and luxury in an electric era. Bentley's design director Robin Page said the car is an opportunity to explore new approaches. 'It's clear the SUVs are a growing segment, and we understand the GT market (through four generations of Continental GT), but the trickiest segment is the sedan because it's changing,' he said. 'Some customers want a classic 'three-box' sedan shape, others a 'one-box design, and others again something more elevated. 'The EXP 15 falls somewhere in between, with raised ride height and a sloped fastback-style roof line, but many familiar elements from Bentley's two-door and four-door models.' At the front, slim vertical LED lights frame a bold new take on Bentley's iconic upright grille. Bentley has chosen to retain the upright grille as a way to maintain one of its most iconic design elements. Although electric vehicles do not require a grille for cooling, Page noted that the grille would evolve into a form of 'digital art.' EXP 15 concept. (Picture: Supplied) Behind it, it retains Bentley's signature 'endless' bonnet line, but rather than hiding a combustion engine, it conceals two luggage compartments beneath piano-hinged covers inspired by the 1930 Bentley Gurney Nutting coupe. The top of the bonnet also debuts Bentley's new logo. At the back of the car, the pillars beside the rear window taper inward, giving it a sleek 'boattail' shape that enhances the wide rear wheel arches. The tailgate features two high-mounted spoilers that connect seamlessly to slim, C-shaped tail-lights. These lights frame a new design element known as the 'Prestigious Shield,' which showcases the Bentley badge. Inside, the EXP 15 features a radical three-door, three-seat layout, which takes inspiration from the one-off 'Blue Train' Speed Six. EXP 15 concept. (Picture: Supplied) MORE: The best car of the 21st century There's a single door on the driver's side in true coupe style, while the passenger side gets a two-door saloon set up. How does this configuration make logical sense? Well, according to the brand, it does. Here's why. Bentleys are traditionally bought by people who like to drive themselves and occasionally be driven. The least important seat in the car is the front passenger's, so it's been replaced with a luxury pet bed or additional luggage storage space. EXP 15 concept. (Picture: Supplied) The dashboard is shaped like the Bentley wings and includes physical tactile switches, as customers are increasingly tired of digital buttons and prefer the responsiveness of physical controls. Bentley has not released specific technical details about the EXP 15's powertrain, but the confirmed all-wheel-drive electric system, likely featuring two motors, suggests that Bentley's future EVs will uphold their legacy of both performance and luxury. Although the EXP 15 is just a concept and won't be arriving at any dealerships in Australia, we can expect to see features from this innovative design integrated into the luxury brand's first electric vehicle. James Chung Digital Content Creator James is a Digital Content Creator at and is part of the News Corp Australia's digital real estate team. His previous experience includes working for Sky News Australia.
BBC News
3 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Storage facility plan in Crewe for arson-hit site set for approval
An arson-hit site looks set to be used for a self-storage business, despite concerns around noise, traffic and impact on air fire at the former printworks on Frances Street, Crewe in August 2024 led to hundreds of people being forced to evacuate their homes, with two men later Stock Self Storage Limited wants to use the vacant land as a storage facility, but some residents and Crewe Town Council have concerns as it could be in operation 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The application is recommended for approval, subject to conditions, with a Cheshire East Council planning committee set to consider it on 30 July. A report from a planning officer states that, while it is not ideal to have commercial uses next to residential properties, the site was formerly had asked why it could not be used for housing, a community garden, playground or residents' parking it said, but the land was privately owned and not in the council's issues to be assessed were whether the storage use and containers were acceptable in terms of the design, amenity and highways implications, it containers would be bottle green, and up to 2.6m in height, which would be "significantly lower" than the former buildings. Lighting would be directed down into the site, and not towards neighbouring properties, stated the report, and 24-hour operation was the applicant's business were no opening hours restrictions when it was a printworks, and the proposed use would not generate as much noise, it added. This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations. Follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Crewe sign teenage Stoke striker Tezgel on loan
Crewe Alexandra have signed teenage forward Emre Tezgel on loan from Stoke City. The 19-year-old moves to the Alex for the 2025-26 season having signed a new two-year contract with the Potters last month. Tezgel, who became Stoke's youngest first-team player when he made his debut in an FA Cup tie against Leyton Orient as a 16-year-old in January 2022, has made 23 senior appearances, including 17 across all competitions last term. The move to Crewe is Tezgel's second loan, having spent the second half of 2023-24 in League Two with MK Dons, where he scored three goals in 17 games. Tezgel is the fifth summer signing made by boss Lee Bell, who is keen to add more before the start of the new season. Transfers - July 2025
BBC News
5 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Crewe sign teenage Stoke striker Tezgel on loan
Crewe Alexandra have signed teenage forward Emre Tezgel on loan from Stoke 19-year-old moves to the Alex for the 2025-26 season having signed a new two-year contract with the Potters last who became Stoke's youngest first-team player when he made his debut in an FA Cup tie against Leyton Orient as a 16-year-old in January 2022, has made 23 senior appearances, including 17 across all competitions last move to Crewe is Tezgel's second loan, having spent the second half of 2023-24 in League Two with MK Dons, where he scored three goals in 17 is the fifth summer signing made by boss Lee Bell, who is keen to add more before the start of the new season.
BBC News
22-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Lee hails Tracey 'bonus' and wants four more deals
Crewe Alexandra manager Lee Bell says Shilow Tracey's new contract is a "massive bonus" for the club in his efforts to sign four more players before the start of the League Two Tracey agreed a new one-year deal, with an option for a further 12 months, last week having missed the last two months of 2024-25 after breaking his 27-year-old is still working his way back to full fitness and, although there is not timeline for the player's return to the squad, Lee says the fact that Tracey is staying is a big boost."I'm absolutely delighted with it and I think it's brilliant from the club to do that," Bell told BBC Radio Stoke. "They backed our judgement with it. He's been a massive part of our success - you could see that last year when we lost him and the impact that had on the team."It's a massive bonus for us." Taylor scored six goals last season, with his final one in the club's 3-1 win at Chesterfield on 1 March - a result that put the Alex into the play-off his season as ended in the 4-1 home defeat by Fleetwood Town in the next game with Crewe winning only one of the final 11 games as their promotion challenge is aware fans will want to know when Tracey might be back but cannot give a definitive answer at the moment. "I don't want the question every week 'when is he fit?'," Bell said."The boy's got some work to do still. He'll go and see a specialist again in a couple of weeks which will give us an indication of when he can step up his rehab."He looks as fit as a fiddle and let's hope it's sooner rather than later but certainly in the immediate future that [his comeback date] is not for now."We have to make sure we get him in a comfortable position to get back on the pitch." 'Lots of conversations' Tracey is one of three Crewe players to commit their futures to the club this summer along with four new signings - loanees Tommi O'Reilly and goalkeeper Sam Waller and permanent arrivals Josh March and Reece says work is ongoing to add to those."I'm trying to target to get four players in between now and the start of the season. Whether we can do that, I'm not sure," he said the club were still waiting for the green light on another possible loan signing and revealed there were "lots of conversations, lots of phone calls and lots of watching" going on with the club's technical director Josh Kennard and recruitment analyst Joe begin the League Two season at Salford City on Saturday 2 August.
