Bentley's New EV Makes Jaguar's Reboot Look Tame

The Bentley EXP 15 Concept is "a design vision for the future, transforming inspiration from heritage."
It has three doors, three seats and an elevated ride height—almost like an SUV.
The unusual design will preview a production model due out in 2026.

Plenty of folks aren't happy about the bold reboot happening at Jaguar, which involves dumping the entire lineup for an avant-garde electric coupe with a six-figure price tag and high-fashion vibes.

Well, wait until they see what Bentley has been up to.

The storied British luxury brand, which has been owned by the Volkswagen Group since 1998, is also getting a bold new chapter that will be underpinned by a controversial design. Meet the Bentley EXP 15 Concept, which "provides hints to the design" of a future all-electric sedan due to be revealed in 2026.

This concept makes Jaguar's EV coupe look conservative. It's a tall setup with an almost SUV-like stance, featuring three doors, three seats and a flat, angular grille. Out back, the roof slopes into a steep coupe-like shape. The rear looks more like a Polestar than anything that's come from the British luxury brand thus far, although I don't necessarily mean that in a bad way.

All in all, it's something different—at least, at first glance. Bentley would beg to differ, saying the EXP 15 Concept draws on some of its more famous historical models.

"Accordingly, the five-meter-plus (16-foot) full-size physical exterior model has an iconic upright grille, long ‘endless’ bonnet and rearward cabin reminiscent of the 1930 Bentley Speed Six Gurney Nutting Sportsman coupe, often known as the 'Blue Train,'" Bentley said in a news release. And it's pictured next to a vintage Speed Six for effect.

Where it really differs from that car is in its powertrain. Bentley has confirmed that the future production Grand Tourer based on this concept will be completely electric. Details about its battery size and projected range have not been revealed yet, but Bentley says it's built to go the distance.

"To that end, EXP 15 is conceived as having a fully-electric, all-wheel-drive powertrain with a long range and recharging speeds commensurate with the convenience customers have come to expect of a Bentley," the automaker said. "But as a design concept, no further details are being given of its technical specification nor possible platform."

How mysterious. But if the future of Bentley is in this tall, three-door, three-seat grand touring EV, it's certainly going to turn heads.