FINALLY, something more exciting to look forward to from Bentley with its centenary birthday present to itself.
After the chunky Bentayga and flat Flying Spur the future looks brighter with the EXP 100 GT. A concept, mind you, but it does bring some of the excitement of the Continental GT into a world where electric seems to be the way to go.
The buzzwords are all in evidence. Artificial intelligence, IoT, sustainability, autonomous, electric. Yup, all the boxes ticked.
But, Bentley is also using some of them in step with its traditions, and to keep craftsmanship alive.
The EXP 100 GT will be loaded with sustainable luxury: 5-millennia-old copper infused riverwood; exterior paint made from recycled rice husks; organic leather-like textile; wool carpets; and embroidered cotton interior surfaces.
There’s a swish new hood ornament to reflect the envisioned times.
It’s about keeping British craftsmanship alive, post-Brexit (if it’s resolved by then, whenever this car or an iteration of it is ready to roll) and keeping the luxury flag flying for the brand that seems to be trailing in the wake of another British brand that’s been fostered to German parents.
Got To Be Patient
A design envisioned for 2035, the EX 100 GT is a grand tourer with an expected range of 700km. It measures 5.8m in length, is 2.4m wide, and is made from aluminium and carbon fibre.
Its presence and a sense of drama will be evident in doors that swing up and lights that deliver a dazzling performance.
Biometrics will provide the best seating and will track the state of the driver through the journey.
That means there will be so many more points to connect to the world of Big Brother.
Given the state of employment — more machines taking jobs away — at that point in time, the elite who will roll around in this GT will expect to be pampered to the nines. Handcrafted interiors will fit the occupants’ moods, and can be changed by gesture control.
From 0-100kmh in 2.5 seconds and on to 300kmh, will autonomous driving mean speed limits become irrelevant? Or will Big Brother, in its quest for funds to fuel the machinery, be that bothersome control freak that keeps an unwavering and tighter watch on things?
