Bentley's First EV Is for The Dogs. Literally
Image Credit: Bentley.
Well, it's happened. The electric tide has finally reached the grand, imposing gates of Crewe. For decades, Bentley has been the undisputed king of glorious, thundering, multi-cylinder excess. Their cars were less about getting from A to B and more about arriving with the seismic impact of a small, exquisitely upholstered planet.
But now, even Bentley is plugging in. And their first hint at this silent future, the EXP 15 concept, is so magnificently, wonderfully weird that I think I might be in love.
Image Credit: Bentley.
Let me be clear. I've been watching this electric revolution with a sort of cheerful skepticism. Sure, the instant acceleration is a riot, and not having to visit a gas station is a perk. But do the Evs have souls? Character? The sort of charming imperfections that make you form a real bond with a machine?
Mostly, no. So far, they've been appliances. Very fast, very clever appliances. But Bentley hasn't built an appliance. They've built a conversation starter. A rolling piece of avant-garde sculpture that asks more questions than it answers.
Image Credit: Bentley.
Bentley calls the EXP 15 an "elevated sporting sedan." What that means, in layman's terms, is that they've thrown a sedan, a coupe, and a crossover into a blender and hit 'frappé.' It sits high off the ground, standing at a rather stately 16.4 feet long, which is a bit shorter than a Flying Spur but still substantial enough to have its own postcode.
The front is dominated by a grille that doesn't actually 'grille' anything. Instead, it's a light-up panel, a sort of "digital piece of art" that tells oncoming traffic, "I'm electric, and I'm frightfully expensive."
Image Credit: Bentley.
The whole thing is a festival of strangeness. Look at the doors. On the driver's side, there is one. Just one, long, elegant door. But on the passenger side, there are two. Yes, two doors. Which would make sense if there were, you know, a front passenger seat.
But there isn't one. It's like designing a tuxedo with two right sleeves. It's brilliantly illogical, and you have to applaud the idea. Bentley says sedans are a tricky market to figure out, so this is their way of "talking to people." Well, they've certainly got me talking.
Image Credit: Bentley.
Let's step inside this enigma. Or rather, let's talk about where you can't sit. The spot traditionally reserved for a co-pilot, a navigator, or simply a spouse, is empty. In its place, Bentley suggests you could strap in… a dog bed. I am not making this up.
Bentley designers have engineered a solution for securing man's best friend in the best seat in the house. Alternatively, if you don't have a pampered pooch, you can place two bespoke suitcases there. Presumably filled to the brim with the cash you'll need to buy this thing.
Image Credit: Bentley.
Where does your human passenger go? Ah, they are relegated to the back. There are two lavish seats at the rear, and the one on the passenger side can slide into three positions. It can be a standard rear seat, recline into a "Relax" mode, or - and this is my favorite part - slide all the way forward into a "Co-Pilot" mode, right alongside the driver.
It even swivels 45 degrees to help you get in and out. It's a seat that's having an identity crisis, and it's fascinating. The engineering required for this must have been monumental, all to solve a problem that never really existed.
Image Credit: Bentley.
The dashboard is another piece of theater. A massive screen stretches across the full width of the cabin, but with the press of a button, it can all disappear, revealing a gorgeous swathe of veneered wood. It's a wonderful nod to the past, a digital detox button for when the world gets too much.
And the infotainment system isn't just an icon on a screen; it's a "Mechanical Marvel," a clock-like device with moving metal fingers. Bentley's designers rightly believe we'll soon tire of jabbing at screens and will crave the touch of something real and mechanical. Hallelujah to that.
Image Credit: Bentley.
As if that weren't enough, the EXP 15 has a neat party trick up its gargantuan sleeve. The center console, which houses a refrigerator and a stylish lamp, can slide backward into the trunk. The tailgate then folds down to reveal two small, cushioned picnic seats.
You can sit there, under the stars, with your chilled champagne and ambient lighting, enjoying an impromptu picnic. It's the sort of feature designed for a lifestyle so opulent and carefree that it barely seems real.
Image Credit: Bentley.
But what about the important stuff? The electric motors, the batteries, the "POWERRR"? Bentley has been coy, saying only that the EXP 15 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." In other words, it'll be powerful, it'll go far on a charge, and it won't take all day to fill up. Thank you for the detailed insight, chaps.
Here's the reality check. The car you'll actually be able to buy in 2026 won't be this EXP 15. It will be a more conventional "Luxury Urban SUV," built on the same platform as the upcoming Porsche Cayenne Electric. This concept is just a wildly extravagant mood board. It's a signal of intent.
Image Credit: Bentley.
Bentley is showing us that their electric future won't be boring. It will feature sculpted bodies, modern lines, and, if we're lucky, a decent sprinkle of this delightful eccentricity. And for that, I am genuinely excited. This concept is ridiculous, impractical, and completely over-the-top. It is, in short, a proper Bentley.
