Bentley EXP 10 heading for production
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The stunning Bentley EXP 10 – a concept two-seat super sport coupe – looks to be very close to being signed-off for production despite VW’s economic problems.
Speaking to Top Gear, Bentley Board Member for sales and Marketing. Kevin Rose, said the EXP-10 ticked all the boxes for Bentley and that it would get underpinnings that will be shared with the next generation Porsche Panamera, as well as with the Bentley Continental range.
What we don’t know is what Bentley will call their new two-seat sports car – a car aimed at stuff like the AMG GT – but it’s extremely unlikely the EXP moniker will survive. That leaves Bentley having to come up with a whole new name – as they did with Bentayga – or digging in to its history.
But early Bentleys came with numbers, like the 4¼-litre, Mark V and S1, and later models majored on ‘Continental’ and ‘Mulsanne’. Perhaps an old name that might work would be Camargue, but the betting’s on a new name, or perhaps even Speed 6.
What engines will the Bentley EXP 10 get?
It’s a good question, and one that depends very much on where Bentley pitch the EXP 10 in their range.
When the EXP 10 was first shown, we all thought it previewed an entry-level Bentley, but various comments from Bentley since seem to indicate it won’t be cheaper – just different.
That opens up the possibility that a range-topping version could come with the new, 600bhp W12 that’s already in the Bentayga, a mid-range version with the twin-turbo V8 and perhaps even an entry-level with a six-pot.
But what seems almost certain is that Bentley will use the Porsche Mission E as a template for an electric sports car, offering stunning, almost silent, acceleration and a range of around 300 miles.
But whatever Bentley put under the bonnet of the EXP 10 when it does go in to production is almost academic. It’s so good looking it will probably be forgiven almost anything.
A bit like every Aston Martin ever made.
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