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Bentley’s First EV Is A Concept So Weird It Doesn’t Even Have A Front Passenger Seat

  • Bentley debuted the new EXP 15 concept that hints at the styling direction for their first EV.
  • The study is a lifted three-door sedan with three seats and an integrated dog bed.
  • The production EV will be a Luxury Urban SUV built on the Cayenne Electric platform.

Bentley is gearing up to introduce their first electric vehicle in 2026 and they’re previewing its styling language with the new EXP 15 concept. It’s a big departure for the brand and it’s billed as an “elevated sporting sedan.”

While we weren’t expecting Bentley to follow in the footsteps of the Toyota Crown and Volvo S60 Cross Country, the EXP 15 is part coupe, part sedan, and part crossover. It’s an unusual combination, but Bentley Design Director Robin Page offered some context.

More: Bentley’s First EV Caught Hiding Under Porsche Cayenne Disguise

“It’s clear that SUVs are a growing segment and we understand the GT market – through four generations of the Continental GT – but the trickiest segment is the sedan because it’s changing,” he explained. “Some customers want a classic ‘three-box’ sedan shape, others a ‘one-box’ design, and others again something more elevated. So this was a chance for us to talk to people and get a feeling.”

A New Shape for the Brand

They’ll likely get plenty of feedback as the resulting concept doesn’t even resemble a Bentley. Instead, it’s an anonymous edgy blob that looks part Volvo with a dash of Jaguar.

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That’s probably not what designers were going for, but the EXP 15 has an Upright Elegance front end, which is dominated by a large enclosed grille. The latter uses lights to mimic the appearance of a traditional grille, while also turning the unnecessary component into a “piece of digital art.”

Elsewhere, there are vertical headlights and Bentley’s new winged emblem. They’re joined by an illuminated hood ornament as well as a frunk, which is accessed via “piano-style hinged engine covers.”

 Bentley’s First EV Is A Concept So Weird It Doesn’t Even Have A Front Passenger Seat

Moving further back, we can see a relatively flat hood that meets rakish black A-pillars. They flow into a sloping black roof, which contrasts with the shimmering silver-gold body.

The concept has streamlined bodywork that mixes taut surfaces with edgy lines and rounded wheel arches. They’re joined by muscular rear haunches and a slender greenhouse. We can also see aerodynamically optimized wheels and a considerable amount of ground clearance.

The EXP 15 is an oddity due to its three-door arrangement, which has a single door on the driver’s side as well as two doors on the passenger side. Even more strangely, there are two front doors despite the car only having one front seat.

 Bentley’s First EV Is A Concept So Weird It Doesn’t Even Have A Front Passenger Seat

The rear end is less offensive, but a tad generic aside from two active spoilers that are mounted onto the roof. They’re joined by an active diffuser and stylish taillights, which vaguely recall Dodge’s racetrack design.

Bentley didn’t go into many specifics, but confirmed the concept is over 196.9 inches (5,000 mm) long. This suggests it could be smaller than the Flying Spur, which clocks in at 209.3 inches (5,316 mm).

While the production EV will be a far cry from the concept, Bentley said it “provides hints to the design” of future models. They suggested we can expect more modern and sculpted bodywork as well as efforts to reduce “visual weight.”

An Odd And Flexible Interior

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The weirdness continues inside as the EXP 15 has a three-seat interior with “innovative in-cabin storage for treasured pets and/or hand luggage.” As part of this effort, Bentley developed a dog bed that can be strapped where the front passenger seat would normally reside. Drivers can also opt to have two suitcases next to them, presumably stuffed with cash.

The quirkiness doesn’t end there as the passenger-side seat can be moved into three different positions. There’s the Standard rear position, a reclined Relax mode, and a Co-Pilot mode that sees the seat moved up alongside the driver. The seat can also swivel 45 degrees outwards to improve entry and egress.

 Bentley’s First EV Is A Concept So Weird It Doesn’t Even Have A Front Passenger Seat

Bentley noted there’s plenty of legroom in rear-mounted seating positions due to the lack of a front passenger seat. The company also mentioned a Concertina Floor Storage system, which has a footrest that folds downward into the floor when not in use.

Putting the seats aside, there’s a ‘Wing Gesture’ dashboard that can act as a full-width digital display. It features a slender digital instrument cluster and an infotainment system that is represented as a “Mechanical Marvel.” The latter is billed as a “clock-like device with multiple movable and illuminated fingers … which can indicate the car’s direction of travel, the state of its electric charge and much more.” They’re joined by a lower passenger side display, which feels out of place due to the lack of a front passenger seat.

Interestingly, the displays can be switched off to reveal a veneered wood surface that is visible underneath their glass. That isn’t the only cool touch as we can see a stylish steering wheel and some avant-garde switchgear as Page said, “We think people are going to get fed up with a fully digital experience and are pining for physical mechanical elements too.”

 Bentley’s First EV Is A Concept So Weird It Doesn’t Even Have A Front Passenger Seat

Bentley didn’t say much about the rear seats, but they’re separated by a console that has an integrated display as well as a stylish lamp. The console also houses a refrigerator and dedicated controls.

Given that the concept is part crossover, the EXP 15 has a spacious boot that can double as an upmarket picnic area. Part of the liftgate folds down to reveal two small seats that add some much needed cushioning. The rear lamp and fridge from the console can also slide back to the boot for an elegant evening under the stars.

The Electric Bentley

While the production model is coming next year, the company was coy on powertrain details. However, the ultra-luxury brand said the concept was “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.”

That’s not much to go on, but Bentley teased their EV in 2024 and billed it as a “Luxury Urban SUV.” It will only incorporate cues from the EXP 15 as the production model will have a lot in common with the upcoming Porsche Cayenne Electric.

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Bentley Brings Back A 100-Year-Old Car, But Something’s Different

  • The Bentley Blower Jnr is an 85 percent scale replica of the original 1929 model.
  • It’s powered by a small electric motor producing 20 hp and a top speed of 45 mph.
  • Hedley Studios built the car with a steel frame, using aluminum and carbon fiber parts.

Bentley’s Blower is a legend, a symbol of automotive history, and now, almost 100 years after its original debut, it’s making a comeback. Well, sort of. Before you get too excited, let’s temper expectations, as this isn’t the full-throttle, 4.5-liter supercharged beast of yore.

Instead, the Blower Jnr is a more compact tribute to the original. And while it’s marketed by Bentley, it won’t actually be built by them. No, that honor goes to Hedley Studios, a British company better known for crafting miniature versions of classic cars.

Read: Bentley Sends Blower Jnr To Switzerland To Pick Up A Christmas Tree

Hedley Studios might not be a household name, but it’s not exactly new to this whole “tiny car” business. Formerly known as The Little Car Company, Hedley has built scaled-down versions of other iconic vehicles, like the Bugatti Baby II (a 75% scale Type 35) and the Ferrari Testa Rossa J (a 75% scale of the 250 Testa Rossa).

The Blower Jnr takes things a step further, with an 85% scale version of Bentley’s 1929 Blower, and unlike the company’s previous models, this one is fully road legal. Yes, you can legally drive it on the road, assuming you’re not expecting to tear through traffic at warp speed.

Whereas the original Blower had a 4.5-liter supercharged engine, the Blower Jnr rocks a 48-volt electric powertrain delivering a grand total of 20 hp. With this in mind, it’ll only hit 45 mph (72 km/h) in the UK and EU and has been limited to 25 mph (40 km/h) in the US. Hedley says the Blower Jnr can travel up to 65 miles (105 km) on a charge.

 Bentley Brings Back A 100-Year-Old Car, But Something’s Different

Production of the Blower Jnr is now underway, shortly after Bentley hosted a first-drive event for the car on the British island of Jersey, which just so happens to exclusively have 40 mph speed limits. The first deliveries will start later this year, and shoppers will be able to heavily customize their vehicle, ensuring it stands out from all others.

Perhaps the most impressive aspect of the Blower Jnr is not its electric powertrain, but rather how well Hedley has replicated the design of the original. It features a painted steel frame, similar to the original, and also includes leaf springs and period-correct friction dampers. Additionally, the car has a hand-crafted aluminum hood. Other components are made from lightweight carbon fiber, but the car features an impregnated fabric similar to the original car from 1929.

Prices That Will Blow You Away

The price? Well, here’s where most of you will probably tap out. The Blower Jnr starts at around £90,000 or about $121,000 at current exchange rates. That’s high end sports car money for a scaled electric car that won’t go above 45 mph and lacks any modern tech features. Despite the hefty price tag, Hedley is expecting to sell all 349 units it plans to make.

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Someone Paid $3K For This Fake Bentley EV That Charges With Gas

  • The fake Bentley Bentayga combines an electric motor with a small range-extender engine.
  • A noisy combustion engine powers the battery when charging isn’t easily available nearby.
  • Manufactured in China, it is listed online with prices ranging from $2,500 to $3,100.

While China’s major automakers continue pushing the EV envelope with advanced tech and compelling price tags, a different breed of smaller manufacturers is still playing dress-up. Among the growing crowd of micro-EVs that unapologetically borrow from luxury brands like Bugatti, Porsche, Aston Martin, and Maserati, one tiny outlier stands out. This pint-sized oddity doesn’t just mimic a Bentley, it also comes with a surprise under the hood: a range-extender powertrain.

At the front, it’s doing its best impression of a mini Bentley Bentayga, featuring a large mesh-style grille and a pair of round LED headlights. Move to the side or rear and the illusion fades a bit, with a shape that’s closer to a Smart. The tiny wheels and off-kilter proportions won’t have anyone second-guessing what it actually is, but it’s entertaining all the same.

More: Tiny Rolls-Royce And Maybach Clones Are The Cutest Things You’ll See Today

What makes this vehicle a little more than just a visual gag is the inclusion of a small combustion engine that looks suspiciously like it was borrowed from a garden tool. In a video shared on Instagram by yaypan_lik, it can be seen sputtering to life and making more noise than a vehicle of this size probably should. That said, the engine isn’t connected to the wheels; it only works as a generator to feed the battery.

This setup means the car is still powered by a fully electric motor, which is far quieter and presumably more efficient than the gas-powered backup. The hybrid system makes practical sense in places with limited EV charging infrastructure. Fittingly, the clip was filmed in Uzbekistan, where plug-in access might be less reliable.

A Mini Bentley, A Micro Price Tag

According to the Instagram post, the car was priced at around $3,100 and apparently sold, although some commenters speculated the actual sale price may have been lower. A bit of digging shows that the faux Bentley is manufactured in Shandong, China, by Weihai Yilin New Energy Technology. Online listings show prices ranging from $2,500 to $3,100, consistent with the Uzbekistan post.

More: $11k Homemade Cybertruck Is Both Hilarious And Impressive

Measuring 3,850 mm (151.6 inches) in length, the Bentley doppelganger is technically a five-seater, although fitting that many adults inside would likely require some creative Tetris skills. Features include a digital cockpit, LED lights, a roof-mounted fan, heating, power windows, alloy wheels, and disc brakes on all four corners. There’s even a variant with a slightly tweaked exterior mimicking the front end of the Bentley Mulliner Batur, for those seeking an extra touch of fake exclusivity.

The electric motor is rated at 5 horsepower (3.5 kW), giving it a top speed of 45 km/h (28 mph). That puts it in the same performance bracket as heavy quadricycles like the Citroen Ami. As for the combustion engine, battery size, or range, those details are absent. But a full charge reportedly takes 8 to 10 hours.

Would You Buy It?

Of course, it’s not a real Bentley. It doesn’t drive like one, it doesn’t feel like one, and it definitely doesn’t come with the prestige. But for a few thousand dollars, it’s a bizarre, undeniably amusing way to get around the block. The real question is whether you’d choose this over a moped. And if your answer is yes, then maybe the tiny fake Bentley replica is doing something right.

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Photos: Yilin Electric Car

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