Something like this, according to the Bentley designers themselves. This is the EXP 10 Speed 6 concept, a design study revealed on the eve of the Geneva show and demonstrating, according to Bentley, 'a future direction of luxury and performance, [...] a British interpretation of a high-performance two-seat sports car."
Which means this very much isn't one of those fit-some-proper-door-mirrors-and-it's-ready-for-production concepts. Rather, this is a toe in the water from Bentley, to assess public reaction to a smaller, sportier offering.
In fact, it's so far from production that there's no word as yet what engine might lie below that long, dipping bonnet, though some iteration of Bentley's 4.0-litre V8 turbo would be a safe bet.
Despite clearly sharing DNA with the current Continental GT, this is emphatically not a reskin of Bentley's footballers' favourite. Though Bentley hasn't yet released dimensions, it's considerably shorter than the Conti: behind the driver's and passenger's seats lurks a cross-brace, some luggage space, and not a whole lot else.
"EXP 10 Speed 6 is one vision for Bentley's future - a power, exquisite and individual concept," says Bentley chairman Wolfgang Durheimer. "The show car has the potential to be the new pinnacle luxury sports car."
That's a hint that a production Speed 6, were Bentley to pursue it, wouldn't necessarily be cheaper than the Continental, which starts around £136,000.
Bentley is most keen that you spend many hours poring over the Speed 6's lavish design details. We're told its grille, rather than being a simple plane, 'includes varying depth with a complex 3D geometry', while that paint is a 'deeper, richer, heavily metallic version of British Racing Green'.
On the inside, there's a portrait 12-inch touchscreen perhaps inspired by that of the Porsche 918, along with Bentley's traditionally spectacular array of leather, metal and wood.
After the Bentayga SUV lands in 2016, Bentley is keen to expand its model range yet further. But it's far from certain that the Speed 6 will be green-lighted for production in preference to, say, a further SUV variant.
Exp 10 Speed 6 Concept
See the future of Bentley's design ambition. Today.
This is a first look at our British interpretation of a pinnacle luxury, high performance two-seater sports car. A bold statement, and one which reflects Bentley's progressive ideology in the use of ultra-modern automotive design, highly skilled handcrafting, the finest materials and advanced performance technology.
It is a statement only Bentley could make – one that, we believe, will redefine a sector.
Muscular, athletic bodywork echoes the inspiration drawn from sleek, aerodynamic aircraft forms. Our designers have sought, and found, a harmony between sharp lines and flowing surfaces and have evocatively harnessed the twisting, sculpted surfaces to imply speed.
Striking copper elements are employed, on both exterior and interior features, as accents to highlight the hybrid potential of this concept's advanced new powertrain.
The inspiration for the interior comes from the continuous line that runs around the cabin, driving through the console into two symmetrical wings before flowing into the door and looping back into the console armrest. Two quilted sports seats are positioned either side of the narros centre console which houses exquisite driver controls and a highly intuitive 12" touch screen. These features combine futuristic technology seamlessly with progressive Bentley craftsmanship.
Bentley's most performance oriented luxury cabin is born of the principles of established luxury applied in new and invigorating ways such as two-metal 3D texturing and a deftly intuitive 12" touchscreen.
The words of Sang Yup Lee, Bentley's Head of Advanced Design, say everything: "When I judge a sports car, I have a simple logic. Unless you fall in love with it at first sight, the car is a failure."
Prepare to fall in love – with the next generation of sports cars.
The Bentley sports car.
Express your interest in the EXP 10 Speed 6 here.