Bentley’s dynamic driving simulator promises a more sustainable future

• State-of-the-art simulator set to revolutionise Bentley research and development
• Compact in-house system will reduce the need for thousands of miles of real-world testing
• Potential to save 85 tonnes of CO2 per vehicle prototype
• Bentley customers to benefit from an even more refined driving experience in the world’s most sought-after luxury cars

(Crewe, 2 May 2024) Bentley Motors today announced the company’s new Compact Full Spectrum Driving Simulator, to be installed at its Dream Factory in Crewe where every Bentley is crafted by hand. The innovative driving simulator offers a more sustainable alternative to physical testing for development of vehicle comfort and will dramatically cut the number of real-world road miles Bentley engineers will cover in order to test the world’s most sought-after luxury cars.

Among the elements the simulator can accurately assess are ride comfort, cabin acoustics and vibration, as well as supporting seat development. It will enable ride comfort evaluations over various emulated road surfaces, such as potholes and bumps, providing a valuable and time-saving representation of vehicle response, long before the reliance on physical prototypes would have previously enabled. 

Installed at the Bentley’s campus, the pioneering technology will save around 85 tons of CO2 and up to 350 days of traditional road testing per vehicle prototype. Developed in Italy by global simulator specialists VI-grade, the compact system will play a major role in the development of Bentley’s forthcoming range of battery electric vehicles.

Dr Matthias Rabe, Member of the Board for Engineering, Bentley Motors, said:

“Beyond its technical capabilities, the Dynamic Driving Simulator brings substantial sustainability benefits, reducing the need for both physical prototypes and extensive physical tests, the latter often involving cars and colleagues shipped to remote locations around the world. As our customers would expect, the system will also play a key part in defining the luxury experience associated with every Bentley car.”

Charlie Smith, Virtual Vehicle Engineer at Bentley Motors, added:

"The introduction of the first, all-encompassing ride frequency driving simulator at Bentley is a key moment for us. This state-of-the-art system represents a significant advancement in our virtual development capabilities and will allow us to refine core Bentley attributes in a dynamic, driver-in-the-loop virtual environment for the first time. It offers unprecedented precision, ensuring that every Bentley delivers the unparalleled luxury and performance our customers demand. This simulator is a strategic step towards accelerating our product development cycle, minimising reliance on physical prototypes and enhancing simulation capabilities.”

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