The‘ Future of Luxury’ revealed

Bentley concept features a holographic butler, but where’s the driver?

BENTLEY HAS REVEALED a concept titled ‘Future of Luxury’, and if you look closely, it doesn’t feature a driver.

Speaking to evo at a small event in London, Bentley’s director of design, Stefan Sielaff (pictured top right), claimed the company invented autonomous driving, ‘Because our customers have had chauffeurs for the past 100 years !’

The traditional driver environment does not exist at all in the image revealed by Bentley. There is no steering wheel, no individual driver’s seat and no gearlever or pedals. There are no seatbelts either.

Other features of note include information screens lacquered onto traditional wood panels. At the event, Sielaff demonstrated a bendable, transparent screen just 0.5 mm thick that could be used for this purpose. ‘It is closer to reality than you may think ,’ he teased.

Bentley also revealed that 3D printing is likely to be used in the future for components that can’t be cast or milled. Moreover, advanced new finishes such as quilted wood (above right) and stone veneer are close to production, as are ‘protein leather sand textiles that will appeal to those with a vegan lifestyle’. For traditionalists, the bullseye vents and organ stops will be maintained.

Arguably the most arresting feature of the concept interior image is the holographic ‘butler’. This butler would be the primary interface with the vehicle.

It is closer to reality than you may think

German-born Sielaff has been with Bentley since July last year, following a stint at VW as head of group interior design. The selfconfessed Anglophile is ultimately responsible for the future of Bentley design, and is following a Bentley trend for ‘provocation’ that began with the EXP 9 F SUV concept .‘ You discover more when you agitate the audience,’ explained engineering bossRolfFrech.

Sielaff will oversee the forthcoming Speed 6 sports car, a new Continental GT and the Bentayga-based SUV coupe.