Bentley EXP 15 Concept: A 3-Seat, 3-Door Sneak Peek at a Production Bentley EV

Though Bentley pulled back on its full-on EV transition plans last year, it still plans to reveal its very first, fully electric production car next year and begin selling it the year after that. The Bentley EXP 15 concept is the latest look we have at (some of) what to expect.

With three doors and three seats—one of which can slide forward and back, as well as recline—it's likely much of what you see on the EXP 15 won't make it to production. But the Bentley-ish design elements are all there, inside and out, and they show the brand has a utility lifestyle in mind.

It Still Looks Like a Bentley

Inspiration for the EXP 15 came from the three-seater 1930 Bentley Speed Six. Approach the concept and it certainly has all the hallmarks of a production Bentley sedan. A long hood, raked windshield, and fastback silhouette all evoke a sense of forward momentum (and look vaguely similar to the Rolls-Royce Spectre electric coupe...). It's also huge: At more than 197 inches long, it's longer than a Kia Telluride.

Because it previews a BEV, however, the front grille no longer has to be quite as functional, so designers felt they could let loose a bit more here. The bifurcated front plane wears a diamond pattern that recalls a seat pattern design.

Two Bentley logos sit atop it, with the winged "B" meant as a homage of the original 1919 hood ornament. Flanking the front fascia is are four slim light strips that make up the headlights.

Air vents behind the front wheels channel airflow, and the diamond-patterned taillight design is surprisingly modest compared to the highly textured front end. Dual active spoilers and a single diffuser on the car's underside further improve aerodynamics—should the concept actually see any action.

Interestingly, the paint—Pallas Gold—is a super thin aluminum pigment that can allegedly be coated over radar sensors without a detriment to their signal quality. The paint is also highly reflective enough that it can be "seen" by other vehicles' lidar systems.

A Pair of Threes

Without an engine taking up space under the long hood, Bentley says there are two storage compartments under there that can be accessed via hinged engine covers, which implies a flat-ish, low-slung skateboard EV platform.

A full-width digital dashboard can be used to access the infotainment system or turned off to show a wood-veneer surface you can see beneath the glass. Beyond that, any surface that could be textured looks as though it has been textured, like the back-lit and quilted-cut veneers on the door cards.

There are three doors: The first one is the driver's side door that opens to a driver's seat and rear seat behind. The second and third ones are front- and rear-hinged respectively, on the passenger side, which is super fun.

These doors offer access to the show-stopping third seat. It's a flexible, passenger-side seat that can swivel outwards by 45 degrees, so you aren't clambering in and out of the car like some low-class dunce. (Ew, David.) The seat can also be slid up front to be next to the driver, kept in the back in rear-passenger position, or reclined for maximum relaxation.

Positioned away from the front row, this passenger seat offers what appears to be massive amounts of legroom and additional storage space you can access without having to go into the trunk. Speaking of that trunk ...

Let's Talk About That Trunk

Besides being a place to throw your luggage, the EXP 15's tailgate also folds down to create two small jump seats alongside a deployable mood lamp and small fridge. The Bentley photos show glasses of sparkling something we can presume is a vintage Dom, but can you imagine chilling some PBR in there?

Imagine rocking up to the game in this bad boy.

EV Specs? Not Right Now

Bentley says the EXP 15 uses an all-wheel-drive and fully electric powertrain. It's envisioned to have "a long range" and charge speeds within "the convenience customers have come to expect of a Bentley." The automaker offers no further information beyond that, so we'll just have to wait to find out things like power, battery size, and range, but at least two motors (one up front, one in rear) seems easy to envision.

Bentley is careful to say the EXP 15 is not a preview of "the smaller all-electric production Bentley vehicle expected in 2026." So, it's probably safe to say the production car won't be as big and probably won't have the sliding and swiveling passenger seat. It's also unclear whether it'll even come as a sedan, or a coupe like the Rolls-Royce Spectre.

The automaker does note, however, that exterior design cues, as well as technical and digital interior ideas "could become reality in the longer term." We infer this to mean the cabin materials and dashboard layout might be what it's hinting at here.

Mostly, we just hope the tailgate feature makes it to production, because that just seems like a great time.

In the meantime, here are some more sketches of the EXP 15.