Bentley's EXP 10 Speed 6 concept was one of the biggest surprises of the Geneva auto show earlier this month. Few outsiders knew about it, and it was kept under wraps until VW Group Night—a pre-show event where each brand rolls out its show star—at the Halle Sécheron. We recently sat down with the brand's CEO Wolfgang Dürheimer to discuss the Speed 6, as well as the portfolio in general.
-The idea to build a two-seat Bentley isn't new, said Dürheimer. The last true two-seater from the brand, in fact, was the Hunaudières concept from 1999, which was based on the Lamborghini Diablo. The Speed 6, says Dürheimer, could be built on the VW Group's MSB architecture. MSB stands for Modularer Standard-Baukasten; it is the architecture that will form the base of a number of VW Group vehicles, including the next Porsche Panamera.
-But the CEO isn't ready to commit to that route quite yet. "It is possible that we will just use modules, not the full platform, because it comes with certain restrictions. For the production volume we would be aiming for, it might not be the right approach." Why? "If we build the car, I want to make it ultra-light and competitive, and it could be better to follow our own approach," says Dürheimer. One possibility to achieve the desired low weight would be an aluminum space-frame architecture.
-If built—Bentley's lead designer told us it would be easy to produce—the Speed 6 would use a front-mid engine placement. Dürheimer rules out a W-12 engine: "It would have a V-6 or V-8″—turbocharged, no doubt. Dürheimer also says that while it is designed as an all-wheel-drive car, a rear-wheel-drive version is possible. But he rules out a manual transmission.
-The EXP 10 Speed 6 is fitted with copper-background emblems on the grille, tail, and hubcaps; they are designed to identify its (conceptual) plug-in hybrid powertrain. On its other models, Bentley uses black and red emblems to indicate the powertrain. Down the road, the copper element might appear on more than just the plug-in hybrid models: "We have currently planned to execute these elements in copper on [plug-in] versions, but I think they look so good that we might not keep them exclusive to the hybrids," says Dürheimer.
-Dürheimer confirmed that the Bentayga SUV will be the first model with an available plug-in hybrid powertrain, based on a gasoline engine. "We will then roll it out to the Continental and Flying Spur."
-However, it doesn't sound like Bentley will build a Tesla fighter. "We could do a battery-electric vehcle, but I believe we don't need to. Our customers generally have between four and eight cars in their garage, and the electric one might well come from another brand. I think we have some excellent options in the VW Group."
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So there will be no Bentley BEV in the foreseeable future, but what about a true dream car—a four-door Bugatti, such as the Galibier concept shown in Geneva 2011? Dürheimer still likes the idea, even though it was axed by ex-Bugatti head Wolfgang Schreiber: "It is currently on ice, but the idea, concept, and its high-tech innovations are in the back of my mind and won't disappear from there."
-from Car and Driver Blog http://ift.tt/nSHy27
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