Unveilings

Bentley Motors celebrated its 100^th birthday by unveiling its vision of the future of luxury mobility at the home of Bentley in Crewe. The Bentley EXP 100 GT is a physical embodiment of the future Bentley brand, reimagining Grand Touring for the future.

Beyond mere mobility, the Bentley EXP 100 GT concept car will enhance the owner’s Grand Touring experience, whether driving or being driven autonomously.

Designed from the inside out and taking advantage of an all-electric platform, Bentley EXP 100 GT reimagines the Grand Tourer for the world of 2035. This is a world of shared luxury experiences where passenger and driver enjoy equal status in their enjoyment of their extraordinary journeys. The cars’ presence and impressive exterior proportions are reminiscent of many of Bentley’s historic Grand Tourers but take these luxury hallmarks into the future. The result is a future vision commensurate with Bentley’s status as the world’s most sought after luxury brand.

Adrian Hallmark, Bentley Chairman and CEO, said:

“Today, on our Centenary, we demonstrate our vision of the future of our Marque, with the Bentley EXP 100 GT – a modern and definitive Grand Tourer designed to demonstrate that the future of luxury mobility is as inspirational and aspirational as the last 100 years. Bentley has, and will continue to enhance and enrich every single journey and the lives of every single person who travels in, or has the honour to be a part of creating our extraordinary products.”

Stefan Sielaff, Director of Design added:

“The Bentley EXP 100 GT represents the kind of cars we want to make in the future. Like those iconic Bentleys of the past, this car connects with its passengers’ emotions and helps them experience and safeguard the memories of the really extraordinary journeys they take.” 

Unfortunately I had left Bentley Motors before this concept was unveiled. However I did get to play a central role in the design and development of the GT for several months. Having considerable involvement in the early concept development, platform proportions, and the final design proposal before l leaving the company late last year. It was amazing several months later to see the actual car. What an amazing achievement by the team at Bentley. Well done everyone!

Bentley Motorsport is today unveiling an all-new Continental GT3 race car, currently in development for the 2018 motorsport season.

The second-generation Continental GT3 is the latest dedicated race car in an acclaimed Bentley Motorsport lineage that includes the 4½ Litre, Speed Six and Speed 8 Le Mans winners. The first-generation Continental GT3 has proven to be a championship-winning endurance racer, scoring 120 podiums and 45 wins across 528 races around the world to date.

Bentley’s Director of Motorsport, Brian Gush comments:

“After four years of success with our Continental GT3, we’re excited to reveal our second-generation car. The new car leaves no area or system untouched in the search for even better performance, and the early test results are promising. The new Continental GT road car has proved to be a great starting point for the development of a new racer, and the engineering development work is true to Bentley’s impeccable standards.”

It was a great honour to be involved in the development of this car. This was the first race car for any brand that I had worked on, and it was a fascinating and exciting experience. It was also the first time I had worked with Bentley Motorsport who were a great team of people, hopefully I will get the opportunity again!

Bentley Motors has today announcing full details of its new Continental GT, the definitive Grand Tourer. Designed, engineered and handcrafted in Britain, the new third-generation Bentley Continental GT combines spirited, focused performance with handcrafted luxury and cutting-edge technology, to create the finest Grand Tourer ever produced.

Wolfgang Dürheimer, chairman and chief executive of Bentley Motors, said:

“Bentley has been at the forefront of luxury Grand Touring for nearly one hundred years. The new, third-generation Continental GT is the pinnacle of our design and engineering achievements and marks the next step in Bentley’s journey.

“We are the world leader in luxury mobility and our products and services define new luxury in the automotive world. The new Continental GT encapsulates our desire to innovate as well as celebrate our heritage and take the Bentley ownership experience to the next, unparalleled level.”

The muscular exterior design, created using revolutionary technology, results in a lightweight, yet stiff, body. The engine is positioned further back to improve weight distribution, resulting in driver-focused, dynamic performance.

Offering four seats and improved luggage capacity for genuine real-world usability, the new Bentley Continental GT’s luxurious cabin is packed with exquisite details such as a new ‘diamond in diamond’ leather design. In addition, significant work has gone into harmonising the extensive portfolio of 15 colours across hides and carpets.

The interior design of the Continental GT is tailored specifically to the modern luxury customer, with unrivalled attention to detail that creates an effortless ownership experience. The cabin seamlessly integrates cutting-edge onboard technology with the finest handcrafted natural materials. The result is an exquisite, harmonised, connected and luxurious space.

The new Continental GT will make its global debut at the IAA Frankfurt Motor Show between 12 and 24 September, 2017.

This is now the second time I have been involved in the design and development of Bentley’s iconic Continent GT. Having now worked on the second and third generation of the car. Though this is the first time I have been heavily involved from the outset, having considerable involvement in the early concept development, platform proportions, and the final design proposal as it moved towards production. It great to finally see it in sheet metal and to be working with Bentley in this increasingly exciting time in the company’s history.

Bentley unveils its latest concept in early March at the Salon International De L’auto 2017. This is officially called EXP 12 Speed 6e concept and showcases Bentley’s ambition to define the electric luxury segment.

Wolfgang Dürheimer, chairman and chief executive of Bentley Motors, said:

“The EXP 12 Speed 6e is a concept to show that Bentley is defining electric motoring in the luxury sector, with the appropriate technology, high quality materials and refinement levels you’d expect from a true Bentley. This concept enables us to engage with luxury customers and gather feedback on our approach.”

“Bentley is committed to offering an electric model in its future portfolio and we are interested to receive feedback on this concept,” Dürheimer concluded.

Bentley underlined that an all-electric model will not compromise the quality, refinement and high performance levels expected of the luxury brand. These renowned Bentley characteristics such as immediate, effortless surge of torque and grand touring range will be combined with new high performance technology such as rapid inductive charging and state-of-the-art on board concierge-style services for an effortless ownership experience.

Bentley believes that the concept will open discussions with luxury car buyers of the future – millennials, members of Generation C and the rising affluent in developing economies – to understand the desired expectations from a future electric luxury car ownership experience.

The luxury brand’s electric car strategy includes the introduction of PHEV models across the Bentley model range over the next few years, starting with the Bentayga in 2018.

Like the EXP 10 Speed 6 before it, this was a project that I was heavily involved in. Working closely with John Paul Gregory, Head of Exterior Design, I was instrumental in designing and developing this all electric cabriolet version. It is a car that I am very proud of, and one that I hope signifies a new era for Bentley Motors.

Bentley Motors unveiled its sector-defining Bentayga SUV at the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show. A car that it officially describes as being the fastest, most powerful, most luxurious, and most exclusive SUV in the world. The Bentayga combines unparalleled luxury with effortless performance and everyday usability.

This is an all new car for Bentley and when production starts early next year it will give Bentley an all important third line of vehicles (after the Continenal and Mulsanne lines) creating an all important sustained boast in sales and secure the future of Bentley’s headquarters in Crewe. Bentley has been slow at delivering its SUV but now it’s here it certainly won’t disappoint.

Bentley Chairman and CEO, Wolfgang Dürheimer, who unveiled the car in Frankfurt commented:

“The Bentayga is truly the Bentley of SUVs. It redefines luxury in the SUV sector and offers a genuine Bentley experience in any environment, thanks to a combination of unparalleled attention to detail, go-anywhere ability and cutting-edge technology. With this extraordinary car we are looking forward to an exciting period of strong growth and sales success for Bentley. The Bentayga is the next step in our brand’s bold future.”

As one of the first projects I was involved in at Bentley, it’s very exciting to see this pivotal car in its ‘sheet metal’ and one that I can’t wait to see on the roads. It’s fantastic to be involved with a company and a project in this exciting time in its history.

Bentley unveils its latest concept in early March at the Salon International De L’auto 2015. This is officially called EXP 10 Speed 6 concept and showcases Bentley new and future design language as envisaged by Luc Donckerwolke and Sang Yup Lee who head up Bentley’s design team.

The concept is officially described as a British interpretation of a high performance two seater sports car, drawing from the racing success of the company’s early years to the international Motorsport success of today. Bentley have fused its iconic design cues with progressive craftsmanship techniques and modern technologies to create what is arguably one of its most exciting and beautiful cars.

Bentley Chairman and CEO, Wolfgang Dürheimer, who unveiled the car in Geneva commented:

“Making its global debut at the Geneva Show, the EXP 10 Speed 6 is the ultimate expression of our vision for Bentley’s future – a powerful, exquisite and individual concept. This one car showcases modern automotive design, highly skilled British handcrafting, the finest materials and advanced performance technology. This is not just a new sports car concept – but the potential Bentley of sports cars – a bold vision for a brand with a bold future.”

I have worked on numerous projects during my time at Bentley but this one has been the pinnacle of my time there. It is also the project that I have invested most time in. For nearly a year I did little else but work on this car from its initial gestation, through various volume studies and styling concepts to creating and managing the build of the finally exterior design CAD model. That was a fantastic year!

Bentley unveiled one of its most luxurious cars yet when it brought it to the Los Angeles Auto show on 19th November 2014. It is one of the most sophisticated open-top cars ever created by Bentley and showcases their unparalleled skills in building cars entirely by hand in the finest materials. This Grand Tourer is intended as a highly exclusive, limited edition, collectors piece for some of Bentley’s best customers.

Bentley Chairman and CEO, Wolfgang Dürheimer, who unveiled the car in Los Angeles, commented:

“This concept demonstrates Bentley’s ability to create a pinnacle convertible Grand Tourer, while embodying elegance beyond compare. With this car we combine the opulent Mulsanne experience with the full sensory indulgence of open-air touring, continuing to unite luxury and performance in new ways.”

This was a car that was a long time coming, and one that I worked on as far back as 2009, when the Mulsanne, its larger sibling, was initially launched. It is a beautiful car, cleverly imagined, that I am very proud of to have been integrally involved with.