Bentley EXP 100 GT Concept celebrates brand’s centenary

In celebration of its 100th anniversary, Bentley has given itself a big and shiny present wrapped in exotic-sounding materials in the form of the Bentley EXP 100 GT concept.

With the theme of envisioning a luxury grand tourer for 2035, it comes as no surprise that the concept behind the EXP 100 GT features the adoption of an all-electric drivetrain and embraces the use of artificial intelligence.

Thrust for the EXP 100 GT is derived from four electric motors that would deliver a 1500Nm surge, propelling the 5.8-metre long concept to 0-100km/h in 2.5sec, with a top whack of 300km/h, and able to return a range of 700km.

Bentley claims the EXP 100 GT is capable of these performance figures thanks to the car’s construction of aluminium of carbon-fibre that lends it a weight figure of 1900kg.

A feather-weight by Bentley standards considering its lightest current model – the Bentley Continental GT V8 – already breaks the scales at 2165kg.

14

Speaking of construction, headlining the EXP 100 GT is its use of ‘sustainable’ materials, such as the exterior paint pigment being derived from rice husk ash, its seats wrapped in a leather-like textile derived from wine-making, and wooden trim made from 5000-year old preserved trees dredged up from bogs.

Though autonomous technology features heavily in the EXP 100 GT, the concept still has an eye on delivering some driving thrills with features such as torque vectoring, Active Aero Wheels that dynamically adjust itself for performance, and “Intelligent Pirelli Tyres” that adapts its contact patches.

14

While the EXP 100 GT was envisioned for 2035, the year futurists are predicting when the auto industry will experience a convergence of the widespread adoption of electric drivetrain and autonomous technologies, it is also the year that marks a 100 years since W.O. Bentley left his eponymous company, which was by then owned by Rolls-Royce and began its decline into a subordinate role.

A neat but certainly unintended allegory for the driver’s role in cars, perhaps?