Bentley EXP 10 Speed 6

Overview

The Bentley EXP 10 is two seat coupe smaller than the existing Bentley Continental GT. The project was managed by Bentley's head of design, Luc Donckerwolke. It is fitted with a V6 but the production version of the concept is expected within three years and will be fitted with the 500 bhp 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 from the Continental GT. The expected price of the model is £120,000 (about US$173,000)

Design

The Bentley EXP 10 Speed Six represents a new design direction for Bentley, and is a significant departure from the brand's current styling language. The Speed 6 retains Bentley's signaturedual round full-LED headlamps, but the main headlamp is almost an oval-shape, but when seen from head-on it appears to be perfectly round. The second headlamps is similar to the second headlamps of the Bentayga and Mulsanne, and is smaller than the main headlamp and features an integrated headlamp-washer.

The rear tail-lights are different than any the taillights of any other Bentley vehicle. The taillights are red-coloured glass and are in an oval shape, they protrude from the rear of the car and are full-LED taillights, and their shape is almost exactly the same shape as seen in the Speed Six's wide dual tailpipes.

The Speed Six is Bentley's first two-seater, and it features an aerodynamic design with many different creases and lines in its body, and Bentley's signature "Flying B" design element has been the inspiration for the b-shaped crease on the Speed Six's side panels and doors. And a Flying B side-grill is present as well.

Additionally, the Speed 6 is Bentley's first use of 3D printing, with parts of the grill and other parts of the body being 3D-printed. The grill it Bentley's signature mesh-like grill, and features for the first-time a "3D design". The Speed 6 is still a coachbuilt and mostly-handmade car, just as other Bentley's are.

Inside the Speed 6 features several curved OLED displays, the first use of curved and OLED technology in a Bentley. For a car of its class, it features an unprecedented amount of leather, wood veneers, bespoke options, and interior appointments compared to its potential rivals including the Lamborghini Huracan, Jaguar F-Type, Porsche 911, Ferrari California, and others.

Powertrain

The concept car featured a V6 plug-in hybrid powertrain, the first V6 plug-in hybrid powertrain ever used in a Bentley concept or production vehicle (a V8 plug-in hybrid was used in the Mulsanne Hybrid Concept in 2014).

Although the concept car was shown with a V6 plug-in hybrid, the production version has been confirmed to likely include an all-electric version, which will be Bentley's first all-electric vehicle, and its second plug-in vehicle (after the Bentayga V8 plug-in hybrid which will arrives in 2017)

There has been speculation of a V8 being available, the same engine used in the Continental GT, and it is likely to be available in the production version as well. There will likely be a Speed or Supersports version of the EXP 10 Speed Six and it has been suggested that there may be a W12 engine available as well.

It is very unlikely that there will be a diesel engine available, unlike in the Bentayga (which will feature a diesel engine as an option in 2017).

Production

The Bentley EXP 10 Speed Six has been approved for production and will be available in coupe and convertible variants, along with a choice of all-electric, V6-plug in hybrid, V8 and possibly W12 powertrain options available. It is expected to go on sale anytime from 2017 to 2020, and will likely be shown in production form at an auto show in the latter part of 2016. The production variant could be called Barnato, a homage to former Bentley chairman and race car driver Woolf Barnato.