There’s a new guy in charge of sculpting Bentley’s voluptuous British bodies.
The automaker announced today that John Paul Gregory has been appointed Head of Exterior Design, putting him in charge of the team crafting future Bentley models. An eight-year veteran of the company, Gregory replaces Sangyup Lee, who jumped ship to the new Genesis brand back in May.
Prior to this, Gregory served as Advanced Exterior Design Leader, working with a “skunk works” team at the brand’s Coventry, England design studio.
Under his guidance, the studio cranked out perhaps the sexiest vehicle in the brand’s history. The Bentley EXP-10 Speed 6 concept appeared at the 2015 Geneva Auto Show sporting two seats, a hybrid drivetrain, and all the styling cues a Bentley buyer demands.
A two-seater based on the concept is now headed for production as the Bentley Barnato, and is expected to arrive in 2019. The trademarked name honors former Bentley chairman Woolf Barnato, who won the 24 Hours of LeMans in 1928, 1929 and 1930.
Risk-taking efforts like the EXP-10 Speed 6 shows what Gregory is capable of. That’s assuming he isn’t poached by Genesis before the products start flowing.
In a statement, Bentley design director Stefan Sielaff stated, “John Paul’s experience at Bentley is invaluable. He brings a passion for the brand and a deep understanding of the direction we wish to go in. This is an important time for the company as we look ahead to new models with John Paul, alongside our highly-skilled design team, bringing many insights and ideas to inspire the next great Bentley.”
[Images: Bentley Motors]
Bentley’s Sexiest Concept? Really? IMO it looks like an Aston Martin with an uninspired-looking front.
I don’t care much at all for the front. It looks inspired, alright, but not in a good way. Shades of the Neon SRT-4 or 1st gen Buick Lacrosse should not be present on a Bentley.
Yep. Did they steal the new Fiat 124’s headlights?
I’ve actually been convinced since the EXP-10 came out that it was built on an Aston Martin body. The roof structure and daylight opening are identical, I think. And what a bargain way to crank out a concept car!
Sloped cars are beautiful and all, but when they only offer 37″ of headroom in the front and 35″ in the back, they’re useless.
I know such cars are not intended for all-around utility, but one should at least be able to drive the thing without excusing its ridiculously small interior.
It’s that, a sedan with nearly the same proportions and still called a coupe, or an SUV… Seeing as I won’t drive/ own any of them, I’ll take the pretty ones to look at when I get a chance to at least see them.
Make them lower & lower, I say! Punish the wealthy!
With their eager consent :-D
Since the U.S. market consists of professional basketball and football players. it seems that this concept will not go well here.
“Number Six, you are Head of Exterior Design.”
“What happened to Number Nine?”
“There is no Number Nine. Disobedience will be punished.”
“I am not a number, I am a free man”
“Be seeing you.”
P. McGoohan
This guy looks like the villain of every 80s teen movie ever.
And he stole the greenhouse for this concept pretty much directly from Aston Martin. We will see what happens.
I think he tried to sell me fair trade coffee at Whole Foods last week.
/I actually shop at Kroger./
This designer sounds like a triple pope!
Seriously, this concept looks much better than most cars on the road. My few gripes:
* Ugly grill
* Too busy. Needs to be cleaned up a bit.
get rid of the headlight covers
Still looks like a design made specifically with the Chinese market in mind.
The fitted luggage in the back and the interior are both sublime.
I guess Hyundai pays better than Bentley.
So the guy who designed the Camaro got ousted for a guy who designed a Bentley with the rear haunches of a Mustang.
Personally I like it.
Bunter