Bentley is a brand that has been largely related to opulent grand touring. They make luxurious sedans and coupes that are competent grand tourers. In July 2019, Bentley had turned 100, and to celebrate its centenary, they showcased the future of luxury grand touring. The EXP 100 GT is a concept that showcases Bentley's plan for future grand tourers. This concept has been pitched in as a crucial aspect of Bentley's future.

This is evident from the usage of design cues of the EXP 100 GT concept in the recent and upcoming production cars from Bentley. But the aspect that makes this particular concept interesting is its inspiration. Bentley has derived it from the elements of travel — light, air, and earth which emphasize sustainable mobility. Bentley has showcased it with a fully electric powertrain setup that is future-proof. It is a fine fusion of Bentley craftsmanship and future technology bundled to build the Grand Tourer of 2035.

The Bentley EXP 100 GT is a concept that showcases the future of Grand Touring with the well-being of nature in mind.

Electric Power For The Future Grand Tourer

Bentley EXP 100 GT rear third quarter view
Via: Bentleymedia.com

Details on the powertrain are scarce but this grand tourer for 2035 is electrified. Bentley has given the EXP 100 GT four electric motors, each for every wheel, and has a maximum of 1,100 lb-ft. Power figures are not disclosed yet but we suspect it to be closer to its torque figures, and 1,000+ hp for sure.

The Bentley EXP 100 GT can go from 0-60 mph in 2.5 seconds and has a top speed of 186 mph. The highlight, however, is its driving range, which Bentley states to be at 435 miles. This is a 4,200 lbs luxury tourer that uses solid-state battery tech to achieve these impressive numbers. It is also capable of charging from 0-80% in just 15 minutes via fast-charging.

Driving the EXP 100 GT is a thing of the future but the concept does bundle in another interesting aspect in the form of an Artificial Intelligent Personal Assistant that can control 4 autonomous driving modes — Enhance, Cocoon, Re-Live, and Custom.

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The Interior Is A Grail Of Meticulous Craftsmanship

Bentley EXP 100 GT interior front row view
Via: Bentleymedia.com

The cabin is where all of the drama unfolds, as Bentley has extensively showcased its craftmanship credentials with the use of exquisite materials that are slated to be in harmony with nature. The layout is catered towards autonomous driving and has an adaptive layout of 2, 3, or 4-seats.

The glow that you get to see in the cabin is because of the usage of a unique copper-infused wood from "fallen" trees that have been conserved for an extended time, which gives it a soft touch appeal, similar to that of leather. Bentley has gone for a much minimal approach on the inside and the glass roof gives it an airy and open approach. Talking of the glass roof, it is infused with refractive prism elements that can get tinted at will. This all0ws for a "clear sky" experience that makes it look as if there isn't a roof.

Cleanliness plays an important role in this concept and the air is purified before being circulated in the cabin. The system is located in the trunk and keeps a check on the air quality index and purifies it accordingly. Bentley has also developed a unique scent in collaboration with Fragrance Houe 12.29, which is a fusion of sandalwood and fresh moss. Apart from these, the cabin also uses leather, wool, and aluminum, which clearly upholds its lux-appeal, but in a method that utilizes recycled materials. Bentley has focused highly on this and calls it "sustainable innovation".

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Bold Curves And Sleek Lines Define The Future Of Grand Touring

Bentley EXP 100 GT side view
Via: Bentleymedia.com

Sleek, smooth, and curves define the Bentley of the future. The automaker has fused its heritage and futuristic features in the EXP 100 GT. The front fascia uses the unmistakable "Bentley" layout with a huge mesh grille that is made up of 6,000 LED bulbs, that is sliced through the center with a slim piece of copper that stays in line with the Bentley emblem upfront.

It uses a single set of round headlamps instead of its well-known dual-layout. This car is huge at 228 inches long, 93.6 inches wide, and weighs in at over 4,000 lbs despite using a lightweight structure comprising of carbon fiber and aluminum. The design language is sleek and has its connection with the 1955 Bentley R-Type Continental, which is one of Bentley's iconic cars.

The glass roof is infused in an interesting offset layout made of silver and the "Active Aero" wheels have movable flaps to divert air for a more efficient drag co-eff. Bentley has also used sustainable materials on the exterior with its unique "compass" paint that is made from recycled risk husks.

When Will This Vision Turn Into Reality?

Bentley EXP 100 GT rear view
Via: Bentleymedia.com

The inception of this particular concept into a road-going model is highly unlikely as Bentley has showcased it as a cumulative effort of what they visualize to put into their grand tourers of the future. So, many of the ideas and design cues will surely make its way into future cars from Bentley, but the EXP 100 GT is unlikely to go into production.

However, key aspects like sustenance and electrification have been confirmed to be the norm before the company slated the deadline of 2035. Bentley has also confirmed that it will be focusing on practical 4-seater offerings, unlike the elusive EXP 10 Speed 6 concept that was showcased as a 2-seat sports car in the 2015 Geneva Auto Show. But as we currently see design cues of the EXP 10 Speed 6 being implemented in all of the iterations of the 2021 Bentley Continental GT, a similar take can be expected from the EXP 100 GT.

Sources: Bentleymotor.com, Caranddriver.com, Motor1.com, Forbes.com, Wikipedia.org, Motor1.com

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