Bentley’s ‘EXP 15’ Concept is a Sneak Peek at its First EV, Due in 2026

• Futuristic concept showcases what future EVs from Bentley could look like
• Incorporates an illuminated grille which mimics the current design
• Upcoming EV will have an AWD electric powertrain

Bentley is best known for its slightly imperious but lavishly trimmed luxury cars. Slightly more sporting than Rolls-Royce, though, Bentley manages to make luxury cars that also deliver the power to swallow vast distances with ease. 

However, with an electric future looming large, Bentley has had to do change with the times—but it’s done so by looking into its glorious back catalogue. You see, Bentley used to make a car called the ‘Speed Six Gurney Nutting Sportsman’ coupe in the 1930s which had an unusual body style: a high-riding coupe with a fastback sloping roofline. 

Now, the automaker’s new ‘EXP 15’ concept follows in those footsteps but with an even more outrageous design, and shows what the next EV from Bentley could look like. 

This concept hints at the brand’s electric future and some design cues will eventually be added to the production EV due next year while the interior is made in virtual reality.

Standing tall and measuring more than five-metres, the EXP 15 concept divides opinion in terms of its styling but, to us, the design screams Bentley. The grille is not the usual EV-esque body-coloured affair, and is instead an illuminated art piece. The new Bentley badge also now sits inside the grille while new vertical headlamps give it a menacing glare. 

Move to the side and that’s where things get interesting: the EXP 15 gets a unique 3-door design much like the Hyundai Veloster plus there are two active rear spoilers along with a large diffuser. The ride height is more than a typical sedan but still shorter than an SUV, delivering an interesting crossover of sorts.

Inside, there is a 3-seat configuration as the space next to the driver has been reserved for taking pets or luggage—also a nod to the bespoke vintage cars. The rear seats and the passenger side seat can swivel 45 degrees for easier ingress/egress while the cabin is bathed in traditional luxury elements, and Bentley has designed the cabin to include both physical and digital design details, along with a mix of traditional, artisanal, and sustainable materials. You can even use the car’s boot space as a picnic table.

“The beauty of a concept car is not just to position our new design language, but to test where the market’s going. 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,” said Robin Page, Bentley’s director of design.

“Some customers want a classic ‘three-box’ sedan shape, others a ‘one-box’ design, and others again something more elevated. (The EXP 15 is) a chance for us to talk to people and get a feeling.”

Like any typical Bentley there is a lot of knurled switchgear too and the jewellery is in abundance with a superb attention to detail. The digital interface throughout the dashboard can be turned off to embrace a digital detoxication while being covered by some fine wood veneer for the passengers to ogle at. It seems Bentley is attempting to keep some balance between technology and giving its customers the feel of physical buttons, along with its traditional luxury vibe.

The EXP 15 is purely a concept, not a work of science fiction, since we can expect many of these details to actually trickle down to its first EV. Whenever that arrives, we can expect a powerful AWD configuration with many motors developing more power than any of its current V8 cars along with a plethora of technology.