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} Auto Review<br />
BENTLEY REVEALS EXP <strong>10</strong>0 GT<br />
CENTENARY CONCEPT CAR<br />
By Miranda Blazeby<br />
Bentley has unveiled a futuristic concept car designed for the<br />
world of 2035 to mark its centenary anniversary.<br />
Unveiled at The Home of Bentley<br />
in Crewe, the autonomous and<br />
completely electric Bentley EXP <strong>10</strong>0<br />
GT represents the British brand’s<br />
vision of future car design while preserving its<br />
heritage.<br />
References to famous models from Bentley’s<br />
past are seen throughout the sleek and<br />
muscular exterior of the 5.8-metre-long car.<br />
These include the round headlights that<br />
overlap the grille in a nod to the Bentley<br />
Blower and a rear resembling the famous<br />
R-Type Continental.<br />
Made from lightweight aluminium and carbon<br />
fibre, decorative features are made from copper<br />
and aluminium while the driver and passenger<br />
doors are two metres wide and pivot outwards<br />
and upwards to rise to three metres tall.<br />
The Bentley EXP <strong>10</strong>0 GT has seen the brand<br />
place sustainability at the forefront of its design<br />
ambitions, with a zero emissions powertrain<br />
and range of up to 700km. The exterior paint,<br />
named “Compass”, is made from rice husk<br />
ash, a bi-product of the rice industry, while the<br />
cockpit is styled with natural materials such as<br />
wood, leather and glass.<br />
Bentley’s director of design Stefan Sielaff<br />
said the concept “represents the kind of cars<br />
we want to make in the future.” He added:<br />
“Like those iconic Bentleys of the past, this<br />
Like those iconic Bentleys of the past, this<br />
car connects with its passengers’ emotions<br />
and helps them experience and safeguard<br />
the memories of the really extraordinary<br />
journeys they take.<br />
car connects with its passengers’ emotions<br />
and helps them experience and safeguard the<br />
memories of the really extraordinary journeys<br />
they take.”<br />
Head of exterior design John Paul Gregory<br />
revealed that the concept was heavily<br />
informed by the history of the brand. “The<br />
starting point was our heritage. Bentley’s<br />
history is peppered with amazing cars so that<br />
was our first port of call.<br />
“You start with the proportions. You stand a<br />
good distance away from the car and you’re<br />
able to recognise that it’s a Bentley, even just<br />
from the silhouette.” MS<br />
Creditline: Boat International<br />
www.mbrpublications.net } 43
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