{"id":1269,"date":"2019-07-27T18:02:15","date_gmt":"2019-07-27T22:02:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/articles.carcostcanada.com\/?p=1269"},"modified":"2025-03-06T16:21:19","modified_gmt":"2025-03-06T21:21:19","slug":"sensational-exp-100-gt-concept-provides-hint-at-future-bentley-coupe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/articles.carcostcanada.com\/sensational-exp-100-gt-concept-provides-hint-at-future-bentley-coupe\/","title":{"rendered":"Sensational EXP 100 GT Concept provides hint at future Bentley coupe"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"2019
After seeing the EXP 100 GT Concept, most Bentley enthusiasts should feel comforted knowing the illustrious brand is in good hands. (Photo: Bentley)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It hasn\u2019t been all that long since Bentley launched its latest third-generation Continental GT, but they\u2019re already showing us what\u2019s possibly in store for the not too distant future.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The new EXP 100 GT Concept \u201creimagines the Grand Tourer for the world of 2035,\u201d states Bentley in a press release, the swoopy new design exercise boasting a large grille surrounded by big circular headlights, a long elegant hood, a two-door coupe body style with a sweptback roofline, much like the current Continental GT, but the prototype\u2019s grille is illuminated almost as brightly as the dazzling headlamps, its eye-shaped taillights are reminiscent of today\u2019s GT albeit much larger and detailed in OLEDs, and its hind end protrudes much farther rearward than anything we\u2019ve seen from Bentley since the 1950s-era R-Type Continental.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Today\u2019s Continental GT uses a lot of aluminum highlighted with carbon-fibre in some trims, but the EXP 100 GT is mostly carbon-fibre and aluminum, while its uniquely sculpted body panels come coated in \u201cpaint made from recycled rice husks,\u201d adds Bentley. It no doubt takes a lot of rice husks to cover 5.8 metres (19.0 feet) of car, not to mention 2.4 metres (7.9 feet) from side-to-side, but Bentley wasn\u2019t about to make a small statement as part of its 100th anniversary celebrations.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"2019
Swoopy enough for you? The EXP 100 GT has ultra-long rear overhangs. (Photo: Bentley)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Hence the \u201c100\u201d in the EXP 100 GT\u2019s name, the automaker having come to life in North London during 1919.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cToday, on our Centenary, we demonstrate our vision of the future of our Marque, with the Bentley EXP 100 GT \u2013 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,\u201d said Bentley Chairman and CEO Adrian Hallmark. \u201cBentley has, and will continue to enhance and enrich every single journey and the lives of every single person who travels in, or has the honour to be a part of creating our extraordinary products.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

As visually captivating as the EXP 100 GT is, there\u2019s a lot more going on than just dramatic styling. Indeed, it represents much of the advanced ideas and ideals that Bentley hopes for its future. The car is all-electric, expected of future-think concept cars these days, although instead of the usual single battery and one or two electric motor combination the EXP 100 GT\u2019s \u201cNext Generation Traction Drive\u201d system mounts a single electric motor in each of its four wheels, which provide electronic torque vectoring while combining for an astounding 1,100 pound-feet of torque (1,500 Nm).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"2019
The eye-like taillights are similar in shape to the current Continental GT’s, but they’re larger and made from OLEDs. (Photo: Bentley)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Bentley claims standstill to 100km\/h in \u201cless than 2.5 seconds,\u201d which is shockingly quick when factoring in just how big this car is. Some of this can be attributed to a relatively light curb weight of only 1,900 kg (4,189 lbs), which is a lot less than today\u2019s Continental GT that hits the scales at 2,244 kg (4,947 lbs), much thanks to previously noted lightweight materials usage, while Bentley projects a maximum range of 700 km (435 miles), which would presuppose it wasn\u2019t cruising at its 300 km\/h (186 mph) top speed.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This impressive range and performance is due to \u201cfuture battery technology\u201d with \u201cintelligent power and charge management,\u201d says Bentley, which will provide \u201cfive times the conventional energy density,\u201d thus recharging the battery from near empty to 80 percent in just 15 minutes. Incidentally, optimal charging gets taken care of automatically by the Bentley Personal Assistant, a bit of advanced artificial intelligence (AI) tech that acts like a personal valet for all EXP 100 GT occupants.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe Bentley EXP 100 GT represents the kind of cars we want to make in the future,” commented Stefan Sielaff, Director of Design. \u201cLike those iconic Bentleys of the past, this car connects with its passengers\u2019 emotions and helps them experience and safeguard the memories of the really extraordinary journeys they take.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"2019
This advanced roof emits natural and synthesized light. (Photo: Bentley)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Another high-tech advancement promised in the EXP 100 GT is autonomous self-driving ability, transforming this driver\u2019s car into a commuter\u2019s dream. It\u2019s cabin is just as pampering as any current Bentley offerings, with amply sized seats for two or four, plus all the leather, fabrics, glass, wood and metal expected from one of the most luxurious brands the world has to offer.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This said, while Bridge of Weir once again provides the EXP 100 GT\u2019s hides, they\u2019re an alternative material made from 100-percent bio-based winemaking byproducts, whereas the embroidered door panels are recyclable too, and made by UK-based Hand and Lock employing \u201ctraditional techniques that date back to 1767 and are used on Royal and Military Dress uniforms.\u201d What\u2019s more, the car\u2019s interfaces aren\u2019t covered in glass, but rather Cumbrian crystal, while 5,000-year-old peat bog-, lake- and river-sourced Copper Infused Riverwood is used for the interior\u2019s trim, along with real aluminum and copper, this last combo apparently paying homage to an alloy developed by W.O. Bentley for the BR1 Aero engine piston, which played a major aeronautical role during World War 1.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"2019
This gorgeous interior is filled with unusual sustainable materials. (Photo: Bentley)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The mostly clear rooftop seen in photos is used for naturally harvested light, but the innovative roof also synthesizes light via \u201cprisms that collect light and transfer it into the cabin using fibre optics.\u201d At the opposite end of the spectrum, you\u2019ll want to remove your shoes and socks just to wiggle your toes within the deep British Farmed Wool carpets, while embroidered cotton interior surfaces add to the recycled and recyclable atmosphere, making the EXP 100 GT a rolling test bed of sustainability.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Additional tech includes seats that incorporate intelligent, adaptable three-way biometrics, with positions that depend on whether you\u2019re doing the driving or being driven. Yet more biometric sensors monitor the automatic climate control system as well, plus the passengers\u2019 positions, and the exterior environment\u2019s conditions before providing ultimate comfort, while additional biometric sensors are embedded throughout the cabin in order to track eye and head movements, blood pressures, etcetera in order to deliver a level of in-car comfort that far exceeds anything Bentley, or anyone else, currently offers. The cabin is even capable of automatically aerating its atmosphere with a sandalwood and moss fragrance.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"2019
Synthetic leather made from winemaking byproducts? We’ll drink to that (although not while driving). (Photo: Bentley)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Whether we\u2019ll be able to experience this particular Bentley coupe by 2035 or not can\u2019t be known outside of Bentley\u2019s inner circle, but we should remember that automaker\u2019s have to plan their upcoming models decades into the future, so something quite similar may be in the books.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The EXP 100 GT is certainly a vision of distinctive beauty that should be welcomed by car enthusiasts of any era, and is much truer to Bentley\u2019s brand heritage than the kind of electrified, autonomous, monobox SUV\/MPV-thingy they\u2019re more likely to offer in 15 years\u2019 time. Until we find out what\u2019s actually coming down the line, make sure to check out our complete gallery above and nice collection of videos below.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Bentley EXP 100 GT Concept Car Reveal Highlights | Bentley (0:49):
\nhttps:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=fFriHJunQeQ
\n\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Bentley EXP 100 GT Concept car reveal Livestream | Bentley (28:49):
\nhttps:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=3nYp3G-dGuw
\n\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Bentley EXP 100 GT: The Future of Grand Touring | Bentley (2:52):
\nhttps:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=k6XY-w0v1Lk
\n\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

24 Hours to go before Bentley reveals the Future of Grand Touring | Bentley (0:41):
\nhttps:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=sAXQT8XC4-8
\n\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Story credits: Trevor Hofmann\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Photo credits: Bentley<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

It hasn\u2019t been all that long since Bentley launched its latest third-generation Continental GT, but they\u2019re already showing us what\u2019s possibly in store for the not too distant future.\u00a0 The new EXP 100 GT Concept \u201creimagines the Grand Tourer for the world of 2035,\u201d states Bentley in a press release, the swoopy new design exercise […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":1274,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-container-style":"default","site-container-layout":"default","site-sidebar-layout":"default","disable-article-header":"default","disable-site-header":"default","disable-site-footer":"default","disable-content-area-spacing":"default","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[31,247,42,249,122,234,254,41,248,250,63,43,66,246,252,251,253],"class_list":["post-1269","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-carcostcanada","tag-31","tag-bentley","tag-bev","tag-concept","tag-coupe","tag-electric","tag-emissions","tag-ev","tag-exp-100-gt","tag-hardtop","tag-luxury","tag-plug-in","tag-premium","tag-prototype","tag-sustainable","tag-ultra","tag-zero"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/articles.carcostcanada.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1269","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/articles.carcostcanada.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/articles.carcostcanada.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/articles.carcostcanada.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/articles.carcostcanada.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1269"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/articles.carcostcanada.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1269\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1282,"href":"https:\/\/articles.carcostcanada.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1269\/revisions\/1282"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/articles.carcostcanada.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1274"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/articles.carcostcanada.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1269"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/articles.carcostcanada.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1269"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/articles.carcostcanada.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1269"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}