Bentley has revealed the Torcal, a fully electric SUV with up to 888PS, a 113kWh battery and a claimed range of up to 600km, which the brand says sets the template for its future models.
Bentley has finally gone fully electric, and it has chosen a low, sleek SUV to do it. The new Torcal made its global debut in London on 23 September. Bentley says it is a template for every future model, whatever powers it.
That puts a lot of weight on one car. So what has Crewe actually built?
Plenty of power, deliberately capped
The Torcal makes up to 888PS from two permanent magnet synchronous motors. Its 1,350Nm is the most torque of any Bentley ever made. Bentley quotes 0-100km/h in 2.9 seconds.
Interestingly, Bentley says it chose that figure on purpose. According to its engineers, most customers find harder acceleration uncomfortable. That makes a refreshing change from the usual EV arms race.
The rear motor gets a locking differential with a multi-plate clutch on each output shaft. The front uses an open differential.
Battery, range and charging
The battery has a net capacity of 113kWh and runs at 800V. Bentley claims a range of up to 600km. At a 400kW charger, a 10-80 per cent top-up takes just under 20 minutes. Bentley also says seven minutes adds 161km.
The battery carries a 10-year, 100,000-mile warranty. That should reassure buyers worried about long-term ownership.
Chassis firsts for Bentley
This is the first Bentley with fully active suspension. Each damper can raise or lower itself independently, so the car does without anti-roll bars. Rear-wheel steering comes as standard, with up to five degrees of angle, which cuts the turning circle to 11.1 metres.
Standard iron brakes measure 420mm at the front. Optional carbon-ceramic discs grow to 440mm. Bentley claims the Torcal rides like a Flying Spur and handles like a Continental GT Speed, which is a tall order for any SUV.
Shorter, but still practical
At five metres long, the Torcal is the shortest four-door in Bentley’s line-up. Even so, it has a 460-litre boot plus a 90-litre front storage area. The rear bench gets a power-fold function, another first for the brand.
Design director Robin Page’s team gave it an illuminated diamond grille, with nods to the Continental T. It is also the first Bentley to wear the brand’s redesigned emblem. Inside, physical controls remain on the console and steering wheel. Nice.
A soundtrack played by humans
Synthetic EV noise is usually a weak spot. Bentley’s answer, the Dynamic Symphony, was recorded with real drums, viola and bass guitar, inspired by the rhythm of its V8. It responds to speed and torque demand, gets louder in Sport mode and can be switched off.
Even the indicator tick comes from a hammer striking leather in Bentley’s upholstery workshop. Audiophiles can also choose a 1,780W, 28-speaker Naim system.
Why it matters
Bentley has not yet announced pricing in this material. What it has made clear is that the Torcal sets the direction for the brand. Holding back on outright acceleration, keeping physical buttons and adding a soundtrack played by real musicians all suggest Bentley wants its first EV to feel familiar to existing owners, rather than chase headline numbers.
