RE: Bentley - Geneva

Monday 2nd March 2015

Bentley - Geneva

Ruded up Conti only half the story as Bentley unveils EXP10 Speed 6 concept



The carefully orchestrated VW Group Night threw up the first of Geneva's proper surprises ahead of the main press day with the unveiling of a new Bentley concept called the EXP10 Speed 6. Rolls off the tongue, right?

Shown immediately after the updated Continental GT (that one we did know about!), the EXP10 Speed 6 is a pure concept intended, we were told, "to show where we are heading" in a post-Continental world. Oh, and once that Bentayga SUV has been dealt with too. For all the fuss that car has had it got merely a passing mention, the business to be attended to before getting back to the fun stuff of making 'proper' Bentleys.

Updated Continental GT Speed plays it straight
Updated Continental GT Speed plays it straight
The name might be a mouthful but is logical enough, 'EXP' denoting an experimental car and Speed 6 an iconic Bentley badge from back in the day, typically applied to more sporting two-seaters. Promising a "more emotional" design language the Speed 6 is definitely a sleeker and more overtly sporting proposition than the bluff Continental. The bonnet line in particular is a lot sleeker and the overall proportions are more Aston Vanquish chaser than Rolls-Royce Wraith rival. Is that a hint of F-Type in the C-pillar there too? Just possibly...

There's no talk of what might power the car, Bentley boss Wolfgang Durheimer simply saying "performance goals including top speed are set to challenge competitors and define a new segment benchmark." When the revised Continental boasts of efficiency gains that cut CO2 to 'just' 333g/km it's safe to assume this isn't a shallow boast and a suitably overbearing powerplant will be in place.

Given that it's all about the design there are some interesting quirks in this show car, combining Bentley's more traditional materials with modern manufacturing techniques. So the grille and other metal parts have been 3D printed while the quilting in the doors is actually machined out of cherry wood and capped with copper trim. Lavish, luxurious and distinctive if this really is the future look of Bentley the boys from Crewe have much to be cheerful about.

Once they've sold a ton of those Bentaygas, obviously.







Click here for the PH Geneva news hub!

Author
Discussion

EricE

Original Poster:

1,945 posts

128 months

Monday 2nd March 2015
quotequote all
That looks like somebody transplanted the fascia of a cheap chinese Audi R8 knock-off onto an Aston. Ouch.

Regiment

2,799 posts

158 months

Monday 2nd March 2015
quotequote all
Looks so much nicer than the current Continental GT.

goodhand

75 posts

212 months

Monday 2nd March 2015
quotequote all
A fine looker. Front is reminiscent of the Hunaudieres concept.

stain

1,051 posts

209 months

Monday 2nd March 2015
quotequote all
Ermmmm, I won't be buying one.

Jader1973

3,946 posts

199 months

Monday 2nd March 2015
quotequote all
According to other reports it will be based on a front engined platform developed by Porsche.

daytona111r

762 posts

203 months

Monday 2nd March 2015
quotequote all
err . . has noone realised it's got an AM rear end . . ??

Repent

358 posts

172 months

Monday 2nd March 2015
quotequote all
Not a hugely successful effort, I like the way the front end comes down haunched over the wheels but the grille dominating with nothing much to make sense of it looks lazy. Similar to the TT which is laughably bad, can't see this big mouth look ageing well theres no delicacy to it.

pegon

41 posts

125 months

Monday 2nd March 2015
quotequote all
Overall a beautiful car. Not sure about the lamp design, particularly at the front, but the lines and proportions are spot on. Make it and i buy one.

Blayney

2,948 posts

185 months

Monday 2nd March 2015
quotequote all
Nice body. Shame about the face.

FourWheelDrift

88,382 posts

283 months

Monday 2nd March 2015
quotequote all
I think it's appearance would improve 100% if they turned the lights off.

And I don't mean on the car.



Actually I do smile

pegon

41 posts

125 months

Monday 2nd March 2015
quotequote all
Yes, maybe thats it. Loosing the "glow" rings around the lamps and replace with crome.

Edited by pegon on Monday 2nd March 22:52

gregd

1,640 posts

218 months

Monday 2nd March 2015
quotequote all
It's a bit BOBFOC but overall I like it. It's more Jag F Type than anything to me.

gigglebug

2,611 posts

121 months

Monday 2nd March 2015
quotequote all
A RHD concept car, who would have thought? I can only assume that countries like America won't understand it now. I like it especially the interior but it's hardly breaking any new ground. Just enough bling on the outside and the wheels look fab. The back does look very DB7 but that can hardly be a criticism can it? The interior shots over on Autocar look stunning too

swisstoni

16,855 posts

278 months

Monday 2nd March 2015
quotequote all
Those headlamps are a bit


DUMBO100

1,878 posts

183 months

Monday 2nd March 2015
quotequote all
It's awright from afar but far from awright

shipoftheseus

57 posts

112 months

Monday 2nd March 2015
quotequote all
Yep, a bit Aston at the back, but I quite like the front end. At least it's lost the VW in drag looks. But that's just my opinion...Yours truly, Ray Charleslaugh

glazbagun

14,259 posts

196 months

Monday 2nd March 2015
quotequote all
Front end reminds me of the ever-growing MINI variants.

unsprung

5,467 posts

123 months

Tuesday 3rd March 2015
quotequote all
EricE said:
That looks like somebody transplanted the fascia of a cheap chinese Audi R8 knock-off onto an Aston. Ouch.
The grille in particular has a kit-car look to it, doesn't it.

Apart from this, the car looks fabulous. It would be even better if they could bring a bit more discernment to the fascia.


dandare

957 posts

253 months

Tuesday 3rd March 2015
quotequote all
Very handsome. The door is a work of art. Good for Bentley, assuming they don't water it down for production.

redroadster

1,729 posts

231 months

Tuesday 3rd March 2015
quotequote all
Once designer has had his yearly spec saver appointment I,m sure he will get front end right.