CompleteCar

Bentley tilts at is future with two-seat sports car

Bentley tilts at is future with two-seat sports car Bentley tilts at is future with two-seat sports car
EXP 10 Speed 6 concept hints at Bentley's first post-SUV model.

Well, if you were one of many who were rather upset by the idea that Bentley was about to join the ranks of those making big, profitable SUVs, then this should restore some of your faith in the classic brand.

This is the EXP 10 Speed 6, a two-seat sports car concept that previews a possible 'small' Bentley, with a price tag of around €200,000 to compete with the likes of the Aston Martin DB9 and Ferrari California.

Built around Audi's MLB platform (which can be found under the next generations of A8 and A6) the EXP 10 is a light, low two-seater (there's a set of handmade leather luggage where the back seats should be) that Bentley says evokes the brand's sporting history. Wolfgang Dürheimer, Chairman and Chief Executive of Bentley Motors, said that: "EXP 10 Speed 6 is one vision for Bentley's future - a powerful, exquisite and individual concept. The showcar has the potential to be the new pinnacle luxury two-seat sports car. It offers thrilling, driver-oriented performance, complete with trademark modern Bentley luxury and effortlessness. It could be a future model line, alongside the Continental GT and redefining the pinnacle of another market sector, and the styling of the EXP 10 Speed 6 could influence the expansion of the Bentley family. This is not just a new sports car concept - but the potential Bentley sports car - a bold vision for a brand with a bold future."

There are no technical details yet as Bentley hasn't decided whether it's actually going to make this car, although the rapturous response at its unveiling ahead of the Geneva Motor Show should ensure that it does make it past the decision process. Assuming it does so; expect the primary engine to be Bentley's twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8.

The four round headlights (a Bentley tradition) are blended in rather more rakishly with the bodywork, while the low, wide chrome grille (reminiscent of the early 2000s Hunaudieres concept car) has a deep, 3D effect to its complex mesh.

Inside there's a massive 12-inch curved infotainment control screen while the main dials click and whirr into position when you press the massive 'Flying B' starter buttons. The cabin is also festooned with quilted leather, machined wood and copper detailing.

Will Bentley customers take to a smaller, lighter, less practical Bentley? We'll probably find out some time in 2017...

Written by
Published on March 2, 2015