Cool Hunting.com had the opportunity of a more indepth look into the Bentley EXP9. Watch the video below as Darren Day, the Senior Interior Designer at Bentley Motors and one of the lead designers on the concept, walked them through the car's impressive details in CH's exclusive video at the exclusive New York debut.
Bentley Motors also released the powertrain details for the concept vehicle. Basically, Bentley’s recently launched 500bhp, 4.0 litre petrol V8 as well as a groundbreaking powertrain for the luxury SUV segment – a V6 plug-in hybrid. With a potential 30km range in full electric mode and CO2 emissions of 130g/km, the V6 hybrid would still be capable of a 0 to 100km/h sprint time of less than 5 seconds.
Earlier today, based off of the photo above, a non-automotive blog that is known for having 90% of their stories to be false (Media Take Out) reported that New York Rapper, Fabolous, purchased the Bentley EXP 9 Concept SUV. Now, what they failed to realize is that Bentley, or any manufacturer wouldn't sell a concept vehicle, ESPECIALLY one that hasn't been confirmed for production. I'm pretty confident that Fabolous can afford the Bentley SUV once it hits the production line, but I know for the fact that Bentley will not jeopardize their brand for Fabolous to have a full size prototype. If you want to play the game "What If" to understand what I'm talking about, let's play.
What if Bentley sold Fabolous the SUV as is... If they sold it, and something happens to Fabolous while he's operating said vehicle, then they sold him a faulty vehicle, and Fabolous could sue Bentley, win, and be the owner of the company. That's why concepts are just that- a concept. It's not meant for the public to try, even if about 15% of the public can afford it. Fabolous is considered "the public" because regardless of his net worth, he is still a consumer, and he doesn't have the power to "green light" concept vehicles.
Basically I just said "Fabolous can afford the Bentley EXP 9, but Bentley isn't stupid enough to sell a prototype to risk their brand"
Oh, and no matter how hard you try, the Bentley EXP 9 will not hit the metro Atlanta area. Yes Atlanta does have an auto show, but it's a lower tier auto show. A lower tier auto show doesn't have any original unveilings and the cars that's shown that the current year Atlanta show has been shown in New York, Detroit, Chicago, and Los Angeles the previous year. What has been shown in 2012 at the Atlanta Show was seen in New York in 2011. I don't rank auto shows, I just attend them... as media.
You know this is major news if non-automotive outlets are reporting this- even if they don't have the slightest clue of what they're talking about.
The only thing about the Geneva Motor Show that everyone is talking about is the Bentley EXP 9 F (the correct name for the Bentley SUV). Bentley was nice enough to send out a press release, and with that- I will enclose the meat-and-potatoes of the release.
Unmistakably a Bentley – yet a Bentley like none before it – the EXP 9 F could herald a third Bentley model-line alongside the bespoke Mulsanne and the high performance Continental GT, GTC and Flying Spur.
A new class of Bentley allowed the styling team to adopt a more progressive design approach. The exterior is a bold, dynamic statement, combining clean, muscular surfaces with signature character lines, while retaining the qualities of luxury and power – a pure Bentley.
Key Bentley cues such as the matrix grille, round lamps and the strong power-line and haunch along each flank are reinterpreted for EXP 9 F. The ‘hewn from solid’ design language and innovative detailing, emphasise the robust character of this high-luxury SUV.
The designers were inspired not only by the more functional nature of EXP 9 F but by the ‘visible engineering’ of the famous Blower Bentleys. For example, the day-time running lamp apertures also act as the charge cooler air intakes for the twin-turbo W12 engine, each with a dramatic, mesh-covered turbine fan design and ‘rifled’ inner surface finish.
The turbine theme continues with the stunning 23-inch alloy wheels, the design of which complements the sculptured coachwork. The multiple spokes are reminiscent of the shape of turbine fan blades while the centrally mounted wheel nut is a visual reference both to Bentley’s Le Mans racers of the 1920s with centre-lock spinner and to the single nut found on the modern-day Speed 8’s high-tech racing alloys.
Soft-touch leather contrasts with highly durable surfaces with the concept car design experimenting with the use of saddle leather for the seat backs, top roll and loadspace – while analogue bezels and dials are paired with TFT ‘virtual’ instrumentation.
Even the luxurious silk wool floormats are reversible – with one side finished in durable, ribbed saddle leather for use when the driver and passengers are dressed for the great outdoors.
Although the EXP 9 F concept is based around the Bentley 6.0 litre, twin-turbocharged W12 engine with an 8-speed transmission, both the company’s recently-launched 4.0 litre, twin-turbocharged V8 or a hybrid drivetrain could meet the performance requirements of a pinnacle luxury SUV.
Watch the video, and then I'll give you my two cents...
The interior lives up to its name- plush and uber luxurious. However, that exterior needs work. First of all, a boxy front end doesn't look good on a SUV. It's like they took the Bentley Arnage front end and slapped it on a SUV. Wrong, wrong, wrong. The rear looks like the Range Rover Sport, but with different tailpipes and lights. This SUV looks like two different vehicles- Boxy in the front, curvy in the back. If anything, Bentley should have taken the front end of the Continental GT/Flying Spur and kept the rear.
I hope that Bentley will fine-tune this concept before it hits the production line.
