Bentley imagines all-electric Grand Tourer of 2035

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As the automotive industry continues to invest heavily in electric mobility, Bentley is showcasing what they’ve got to offer in the future where ICE-powered cars start to look rather old (for most people). The concept we’re seeing here was unveiled as part of Bentley’s 100th birthday celebrations and is called the EXP 100 GT.

The concept imagines an extraordinary Grand Tourer of 2035, and features sustainable innovation. Meaning, for example, the exterior paint called Compass is made from recycled rice husk ash – a harmful bi-product of the rice industry, remanufactured for the EXP 100 GT to try and reduce the amount that ends up in landfill waste.

Made from aluminium and carbon fibre, the concept measures 5.8 metres long and almost 2.4 metres wide. There are decorative elements made from copper and aluminium, which evoke W.O Bentley’s choice of materials used to create the alloy for his BR1 Aero engine piston.

There’s no shortage of light shows here. The illuminated matrix grille and Flying B mascot come to life as one approaches the car. At the rear, a section of the boot is a 3D OLED screen on which lighting effects can blend in with the taillamps.

The driver and passenger doors are two metres wide and pivot outwards and upwards. When fully open, they rise to almost three metres. While they look impractically tall, it is all about adding to the sense of occasion on arrival, at least here on the concept vehicle.

The Active Aero Wheels dynamically adjust to deliver efficiency or maximum performance; Pirelli tyres adapt their contact patches based on weather conditions or driver demand.

For the interiors too, sustainability is the order of the day. The choice of materials include wood from naturally fallen trees that have been preserved for 5,000 years. The Riverwood featured in the cabin has been sourced from The Fenland Black Oak Project, a British organisation set up to preserve this material for future generations. Bentley has also used the by-products of wine-making to create a leather-like seating material.

Illuminated Cumbria Crystal

Technologies inside include Bentley Personal Assistant – a centrepiece of the main console, an illuminated crystal from Cumbria, England. There is also Adaptable Biometric Seating that can be configured in three different ways, depending on whether the owner is driving or using autonomous mode. Biometric sensors monitor temperature, passenger position and environmental conditions to deliver the ultimate in comfort, whatever the conditions.

Door pads act as projection panels. One of the other main features inside is a Cartridge Delivery System that can deliver items from an under the bonnet storage area into the cabin itself.

As for the technical bits, the EXP 100 GT features 4 electric motors that offer a maximum torque of 1,500 Nm, enough to accelerate from 0 – 100 km/h in less than 2.5 seconds and onto a top speed of 300 km/h.

Future battery technology will offer five times the conventional energy density, and charging the EXP 100 GT to 80 percent of capacity will take only 15 minutes, Bentley said. Charging is automatically taken care of by the Bentley Personal Assistant. Weight will be around 1,900 kg and Bentley is targeting a range of 700 km (435 miles).