Bentley just dropped a bold new concept car, and it's unlike anything we've seen from the brand before. It's called the EXP 15, and it's a massive, high-riding luxury limo that could shape the future of Bentley design and maybe even replace the now-retired Mulsanne.
At 5.4 metres long, it’s part limo, part SUV, part grand tourer, and it's been designed to hint at Bentley’s first electric cars, starting with a smaller electric SUV launching next year that’ll sit below the Bentayga.
The EXP 15 mixes futuristic styling with nods to classic Bentleys, and it’s the first big project from new design boss Robin Page, who returned to Bentley in 2023 after a stint at Volvo. His goal? To shake things up while staying true to what makes a Bentley a Bentley.
“It’s still in that linear line of Bentleys, but it’s a fresh start – a new design language. The point is to make a bit of a bang: next chapter,” said Page.
Instead of chasing range records, Bentley is focusing on design, drama and luxury. Page says their customers are happy with 300 to 350 miles of range. Anything more, and they’re probably jumping on a private jet anyway.
Page and his team took inspiration from the iconic 1928 Bentley Speed Six ‘Blue Train’, blending classic proportions with a cleaner, modern vibe.
The bold front end is upright, confident, and nothing like the swoopy front ends we’re used to seeing on EVs. Page compares it to a racehorse at full stop – strong and proud.
A long bonnet remains, but this time, it hides a large front boot with twin piano-hinged lids.
The rear features a new light signature inspired by Bentley’s ‘B’ badge and the luggage racks on classic models.
Heavily sculpted rear arches add a muscular look Bentley calls the “resting beast” stance. Think of a tiger with coiled energy, ready to pounce.
Even the grille, something EVs don’t technically need, has been reimagined. It’s now a piece of design art, lit up with crystal-like LEDs and diamond shapes that change depending on your viewing angle.
And yes, Bentley’s famous round headlights are gone, replaced by sleek vertical lights inspired by chrome trim on the old Speed Six. Page says round lights scream "retro", and Bentley wants to push forward, not look back.
Step inside the EXP 15, and it’s clear Bentley is thinking outside the box. There’s a three-seat layout, with the passenger seat able to slide and swivel for a more dramatic entrance. And when we say dramatic, we mean doors open, the seat turns, the roof lifts, and boom – Instagram moment.
There’s a champagne cooler in the boot, picnic seats, and even a luxury dog carrier built into the passenger footwell. Because, as Page puts it, “the dog is now a very important accessory.”
Bentley also ditched the huge central touchscreen for a more refined solution – a physical rotary dial with a built-in digital screen, sort of like combining a mechanical watch with a smartwatch. The goal is to bring back tactile controls while still keeping the digital perks where they matter, like nav and media.
“People are getting a bit bored with full-digital screens,” said Page. “What makes us premium is to keep a good level of mechanical detailing that the others can’t do,”
Will Bentley actually build it?
Right now, the EXP 15 is a concept, but it’s more than just a styling exercise. It’s built around a realistic platform, and Page says it could be turned into a production model if the reaction is strong enough.
If it does make it to showrooms, it would sit alongside the Continental GT and Bentayga, not replace them. It would likely become Bentley’s new luxury flagship, stepping into the space the Mulsanne left when it was axed in 2020.
Bentley’s confident in their GT and SUV game, but they’re testing the waters with this elevated saloon-SUV mashup. The question is whether people still want a traditional luxury saloon, or something a bit more daring.
Luxury car buyers, especially in key markets like China and the US, are changing. It’s not just about how a car drives anymore, but how it feels to be seen in one. Arrival is everything.
The EXP 15 is Bentley’s way of staying ahead of the curve, mixing classic luxury with future-forward thinking. And if it lands right, it might just redefine what a luxury Bentley looks like in the electric age.
