Business 137
Volkswagen Now Sells More EVs Than Petrol Cars in Germany
Bentley Unveils Torcal, Its First Electric Car
Bentley has revealed the Torcal, its first electric vehicle, a five-metre SUV with up to 876bhp, 375 miles of range and a £173,300 starting price.
By George Kensington · 4 min read
Bentley has unveiled the Torcal, its first electric car, a five-metre SUV that becomes the marque's fourth model line and the spearhead of a new design language for the Crewe-based manufacturer. The Torcal arrives a year later than originally planned but in line with Bentley's revised electrification strategy, and it will be the only pure-electric model the firm launches this decade.
Two versions will be offered from launch, both using twin permanent-magnet synchronous motors, an 800-volt electrical architecture and a 113kWh usable battery backed by a ten-year, 100,000-mile warranty. The standard Torcal develops 810bhp and 881lb ft, reaching 60mph in 3.3 seconds and a top speed of 155mph. The Torcal S raises output to 876bhp and 996lb ft with Launch Control active, cutting the 0-60mph sprint to 2.8 seconds and lifting top speed to 162mph. Bentley engineers concluded that acceleration beyond that point becomes uncomfortable for most customers and deliberately chose not to pursue it.
Bentley claims up to 375 miles of WLTP range. Connected to a sufficiently powerful DC charger, the Torcal accepts up to 400kW, taking the battery from 10 to 80 per cent in under 20 minutes, while roughly 100 miles of range can be added in seven minutes. At five metres long, the Torcal is Bentley's shortest four-door model and around 135mm shorter than the Bentayga, positioning it as more of an urban proposition than its mile-munching stablemates. It offers 460 litres of cargo capacity behind the rear seats and a further 90 litres under the bonnet.
The Torcal is based on the same PPE architecture as the Porsche Cayenne Electric and shares much of that car's powertrain and interior technology, mirroring the relationship between the Bentayga and the petrol Cayenne. Bentley nevertheless emphasises the investment made to ensure the Torcal looks, feels and sounds entirely bespoke, including its own orchestral soundtrack. Chief executive Frank-Steffen Walliser said: «The Torcal is a Bentley first and foremost, created by hand by people who care, using the best available materials and technology to blend heritage with cutting-edge innovation.»
Visually, an enormous illuminated diamond grille dominates the nose, flanked by split headlights and razor-thin daytime running lights. The rear is cleaner, with slim horizontal lamps and vertical elements framing the tailgate. Bentley says it deliberately reduced the number of lines across the body, allowing its proportions, surfaces and muscular rear haunches to carry the design. The company expects the new language to influence future models regardless of what powers them.
Pricing starts at £173,300 for the standard car and £199,300 for the 876bhp S, giving the Torcal rough price parity with equivalent Bentaygas and pitching it against the electric Range Rover, which was revealed a few weeks earlier. Production will begin at Bentley's Crewe plant by the end of the year, following a £350 million programme to adapt the site to build electric and combustion-engined models in sequence.
The launch comes as Bentley has scrapped plans to go all-electric by 2030, instead developing a new generation of plug-in hybrid models in response to sustained demand for combustion power from luxury buyers. The Torcal is the first of a wave of new Bentley models due by 2030, but it will remain the brand's sole pure-electric offering for the rest of the decade.
4
