The Bentley of a decade or so from now will not look radically different. Yet, be prepared for a marque that is imagining a highly progressive future, one that will adopt advanced production methods, offer sustainable materials, embrace autonomous driving and even offer a virtual butler.
‘For the future I see some kind of avatar who can organise your time; somebody you can talk to for a more personalised experience,’ says Stefan Sielaff, Bentley’s director of design. ‘We have to be able to connect with digital natives – our future customers.’
Sielaff presents us with an imagined autonomous Mulsanne cabin. It offers a classic luxury living room environment, yet is also a highly technical space replete with a holographic character on the wraparound infotainment screen. The flexible, 0.5mm-thick paper-thin material is in development stage, but Bentley is convinced it represents the future.
Sielaff says millennials will have different expectations from their cars and stresses that ‘Bentley has to react’. This means offering a new level of digitisation, but also shifting its internal attitude away from only working with materials and technology conventionally associated with luxury.
Without dismissing the craft heritage and classic luxury materials, the artisanal skills and expertise embodied by Bentley’s Mulliner division will now extend to advanced materials. Accordingly, Bentley is responding to lifestyles from all over the world. ‘They are influencing our behaviour and new thinking is definitely coming into the luxury car sector.’
Stone veneer, slate and quartz cut to 0.7mm are already being offered as alternatives to wood and metal. In textiles, the marque is researching into cashmere for cars, developing substitute protein leather, and creating intricate patterns from recycled carbon fibre.
Bentley is also is working with 3D printing to create more complex patterns in the radiator grille, and the cut whisky glass has informed the kaleidoscope-style animation inside the light bulbs to reveal the Bentley logo and welcome the driver in unexpected ways.
The 'Flying B' mascot and 'Winged B' badge will remain but could be refreshed. ‘We have some ideas for three-dimensional OLEDs,’ says Sielaff, referring to the organic LED technology that emits light in response to an electric current.
Bentley design will continue to respond to its British heritage through what Sielaff calls ‘fusion of extremes’, with the sporting and luxury models at either end – the gap now widening to allow for a larger family of cars. The latest EXP 10 Speed 6 coupé concept, we’re told, is being considered for production.
‘We have many different targets to fulfil,’ Sielaff concludes, ‘but when you smell, feel and touch the car, you must always think: “this is a Bentley”.’
Yet, the Bentley of a decade or so from now will not look radically different to its current form
‘We have to be able to connect with digital natives – our future customers,’ says Stefan Sielaff, Bentley’s director of design. Pictured: the Bentley Bentayga
Sielaff believes that millennials will have different expectations from their cars and stresses that ‘Bentley has to react’. Pictured: the Bentley EXP 10 Speed 6
This means offering a new level of digitalisation, but also shifting the company's internal attitude away from only working with materials and technology conventionally associated with luxury – like the 'quilted wood' interiors effect, seen here
Bentley is also is working with 3D printing (evinced in the 3D printed titanium, pictured left) to create more complex patterns in the radiator grille. Right: Bentley's cut glass
Stone veneer (an example is pictured), along with slate and quartz cut to 0.7mm, are already being offered by Bentley as alternatives to wood and metal
Cut whisky glass (pictured) has informed the kaleidoscope-style animation inside the light bulbs to reveal the Bentley logo
The 'Flying B' mascot (pictured) and 'Winged B' badge will remain but could be refreshed. ‘We have some ideas for three-dimensional OLEDs,’ Slielaff explains
INFORMATION
For more information, visit the Bentley Motors website
Photography courtesy Bentley Motors
-
Last chance to see: Sharjah Biennial 15, ‘Thinking Historically in the Present’Built on the vision of late curator Okwui Enwezor, the Sharjah Biennial 15: ‘Thinking Historically in the Present’ offers a critical reframing of postcolonial narratives through major new commissions
-
For London Gallery Weekend 2023, the mood is hardcore
With London Gallery Weekend 2023 almost upon us (2 – 4 June), here’s our list of must-see art exhibitions
-
Birkenstock celebrates its most memorable styles with colourful capsule (and matching socks)
Birkenstock marks the 40th, 50th and 60th anniversaries of the Gizeh, Arizona and Madrid sandals, respectively, with limited-edition versions
-
Flexjet takes to the skies with Bentley
Flexjet brings exclusive Bentley interiors to its new Gulfstream G650 jet and Sikorsky S-76 helicopter, in the smoothest of transfers
-
Bentley’s Continental GT Speed reaches giddy new heights
All beauty, artistry and vigour, the Bentley Continental GT Speed is the marque’s most powerful car yet but, a classic grand tourer, just as suited to easy cruising on a scenic Sicilian trip
-
Classic car revivals: everything old is new again
Here, we round up a few firms who are committed to dishing up revived classics from their past
-
How Bentley has shifted gears during the pandemic
Midway through its centenary year, we catch up with Bentley, spotlighting the new Bentayga, and the new Continental GT
-
Bentley's digital co-creation process puts you in the drivers seat
The Bentley Co-Creation program empowers more daring design statements, with consultations now happening in virtual reality
-
Bentley's design director on the return of its 1950s coach-building tradition
Bentley's design director, Stefan Sielaff discusses the launch of Bentley Bacalar – the tradition offering super-rare models
-
Bentley EXP 100 GT imagines driving in the year 2035
-
Bentley looks towards an electrified, grand touring future with its twin release
