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This year’s Geneva International Motor Show has been a feast for petrolheads – with more performance cars showing up this year than ever before. But amongst the Ferraris, Lamborghinis, McLarens and Koenigseggs, Bentley revealed possibly the most beautiful car of the show in the EXP 10 Speed 6 concept.
The concept previews a high-performance two seater sports car for the brand that is rumoured to be well on its way to production and that will compete against the likes of the Aston Martin Vantage. The design looks very much along the lines of a Bentley, albeit with a far more modern design language. A new matrix grille and four round headlamps retain Bentley heritage, whilst the rich metallic British Racing Green livery further enthuses the heritage factor.
The interior is, again, unmistakably Bentley – quilted leather sports seats, aviation inspired dash, and a clean looking interface that looks ultra-luxurious. The door panels even feature diamond-design 3D wooden inlays, milled directly into solid cherry wood – with each diamond finished with a stud of copper in the centre. The copper elements are dotted throughout the cabin, and on the exterior – all hinting at the drivetrain of the EXP 10 Speed 6.
The drivetrain will perhaps be the most interesting point of discussion on the Speed 6. The copper design elements throughout the vehicle’s design are all symbolic of the hybrid potential of the concept (copper is a highly conductive metal). The ‘6’ in the name also hints that it may feature a 6-cylinder combustion engine – just as the Speed 8 race car had an 8-cylinder one – suggesting a V6 + electric motor hybrid system may be on the cards.
Whilst little else has been divulged about the concept and its production plans, it is believed to be well on its way to a production release by 2018. If that is true, we can’t wait to see such a beautiful machine gracing the streets.
