Remember the Bentley EXP 10 Speed 6 concept from the 2015 Geneva Motor Show? Well, for this year’s event, Bentley has decided to chop off the coupe’s roof to create a convertible version it calls the Bentley EXP 12 Speed 6e.
The ‘e’ stands for electric, and the concept serves as a tool to gauge public and customer feedback. Bentley did not disclose much in the way of technical details like how many electric motors it has, but one of the photos does show the car will have a range of up to 413 km.
An all-electric Bentley will allow customers to drive between London and Paris or Milan and Monaco on a single charge, says the company. Rapid inductive charging will also be an important criteria towards an “effortless ownership experience,” but if that isn’t available, the concept can be connected to an AC power supply via the auxiliary charging point concealed behind the rear number plate.
“The EXP 12 Speed 6e is a concept to show that Bentley is defining electric motoring in the luxury sector, with the appropriate technology, high quality materials and refinement levels you’d expect from a true Bentley. This concept enables us to engage with luxury customers and gather feedback on our approach.
“Bentley is committed to offering an electric model in its future portfolio and we are interested to receive feedback on this concept,” said Wolfgang Durheimer, chairman and chief executive of Bentley Motors.
Aside from the open-air conversion, the concept also comes with cameras for side mirrors, and the ‘6e’ logo illuminates in white when the car is running. The twin scoops on the bonnet also act as heat sinks that supply additional cooling to the battery and powertrain.
Other familiar cues from before include the long bonnet, short front overhang, Bentley ‘big-small’ headlamps are oval-shaped (with LED rings) and prominent rear haunches. A minor omission are the exhaust outlets, seeing how this is a zero-emissions vehicle.
The interior also differs significantly from the 2015 concept, with high-quality leather and copper trim applied on most surfaces. The main highlight is the centre console that is fitted with a solid piece of glass to cover the high-definition OLED touchscreen. As there isn’t an engine, the gear lever has been replaced with a rotary knob instead.
Another interesting feature is the half-cut steering wheel, which uses glass elements embedded with various buttons and controls. Look closely, and you’ll see two buttons with a rocket motif at the top of the cut-away steering wheel. One offers an instant performance boost, while the other activates the speed limiter, so pressing both at the same time like you’re engaging hyperspace isn’t a good idea.
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how to make u-turn with that steering..??
So, this Big B 12-speed 6e is just to gauge public & customer feedback ?! The fact that U just chop off the coupe’s roof to create a convertible version suggest that U are lazy. Need I say more ?!
We don’t want a range equivalent to one full tank; it has to be at least twice, because it is much more difficult to charge the battery as compared to just filling fuel at petrol stations.
What is the range when the battery is five years old under hot humid climate?
Inadequate cooling in tropical countries, and during summer, pose any danger?