British luxury carmaker Bentley Motors has entered the electric vehicle market with the launch of the all-new Torcal, its first fully electric model in the company’s 107-year history. The new electric SUV marks a significant step for Bentley as the luxury automotive industry continues to test the appetite of affluent buyers for high-performance EVs.The Torcal, which was unveiled in London on Wednesday evening, becomes the fourth model in Bentley’s current line-up alongside the Continental GT, Flying Spur and Bentayga. Designed and engineered at Bentley’s headquarters in Crewe, northwest England, the electric SUV has been developed to combine the brand’s traditional craftsmanship with new electric technology, performance and a completely new design language.The Torcal starts at £173,000, or around $229,000, placing it substantially below Ferrari’s first electric vehicle, the Luce, which carries a reported starting price of around €550,000 ($626,000). Ferrari launched the Luce three months before Bentley’s EV, with its design drawing mixed reactions from some observers and analysts.
Bentley says wealthy buyers are increasingly accepting EVs
Speaking to CNBC’s Squawk Box Europe, Bentley Motors chairman and CEO Frank-Steffen Walliser said the Torcal sits at the entry level of Bentley’s price range and has received positive reactions across markets.Walliser said Bentley was not looking at Ferrari’s Luce launch for lessons because the development of a luxury vehicle is a long-term process. He pointed out that Bentley works on a roughly four-year development cycle and cannot change direction simply in response to what another manufacturer has launched.According to Walliser, acceptance of electric cars among Bentley’s wealthy clientele is continuing to grow, with customers becoming increasingly knowledgeable about EV technology.The comments come as several luxury manufacturers reassess their electric strategies. Porsche and Lamborghini, for instance, have scaled back aspects of their EV plans amid weaker-than-expected demand in parts of the luxury electric-car market.Bentley’s approach with the Torcal has been to make the vehicle feel like a Bentley first, regardless of its powertrain. The company says particular attention has been paid to design, driving behaviour, sound and the overall sensory experience.
Torcal specifications in detail
The Bentley Torcal offers a driving range of up to 375 miles. (Photo: Bentley)
The Torcal is a five-metre-long electric SUV and is the shortest four-door Bentley yet produced. It has a wheelbase designed to maximise cabin space while its short overhangs, long bonnet and upright front end give it the powerful stance Bentley wanted for its new design direction.The electric SUV offers a driving range of up to 375 miles, or approximately 600 km, depending on specification and conditions. Bentley says the vehicle can charge from 10% to 80% in less than 20 minutes when connected to a 400kW charging system. The company also says around 100 miles of range can be added in seven minutes.Two versions will be available at launch: the Core and the S.The Core version develops 810bhp and 1,194Nm of torque. It can accelerate from 0 to 60mph in 3.3 seconds and has a top speed of 155mph.The more performance-focused S produces 876bhp and up to 1,350Nm of torque with Launch Control. It can accelerate from 0 to 60mph in just 2.8 seconds, while its top speed rises to 162mph.Bentley says the electric powertrain allows the Torcal to combine supercar-like acceleration with what it describes as year-round usability.The vehicle provides 460 litres of boot space, while a further 90-litre front luggage compartment is available under the bonnet. Its turning circle is 11.1 metres, an important consideration for a vehicle measuring around five metres in length.
New Bentley design language debuts with the Torcal
Bentley has combined electric performance with its signature luxury design and handcrafted cabin. (Photo: Bentley)
The Torcal represents the production interpretation of Bentley’s EXP 15 concept, which was first revealed in 2025. Its design introduces a new visual direction for the marque while retaining elements intended to connect the electric SUV with Bentley’s heritage.Lead designer Robin Page describes the design process through four key areas: proportion, graphical elements, surface language and detail.The long wheelbase, short overhangs, long bonnet and upright front create what Bentley calls a “powerful stance” and “upright elegance”. The company says the proportions are intended to make the Torcal immediately recognisable as a Bentley despite its new electric architecture.The front features an illuminated diamond grille and advanced lighting elements. The rear graphics form what Bentley describes as a prestigious shield, while several design cues reference the EXP 15 concept and historic Bentley models, including the Continental T.Rather than relying on numerous character lines, Bentley has used a more sculptural approach. The surfaces taper towards the rear, creating what the company describes as the appearance of a “resting beast”.The diamond pattern seen on the exterior continues into the cabin, creating a visual link between the outside and inside of the vehicle.
Cabin combines leather, wood, wool and aluminium with digital technology
The Bentley Torcal starts at £173,000, significantly below Ferrari’s Luce EV. (Photo: Bentley)
Inside, the Torcal blends traditional Bentley materials with modern technology.The dashboard takes inspiration from a wing and combines leather, wood or veneer and aluminium. Bentley has retained physical controls in key areas, including the centre console and steering wheel, while curved OLED displays provide the main digital interface.The seats offer 16-way adjustment, along with heating, ventilation, adjustable bolsters and massage functions. Optional postural adjustment and smart climate functions are also available.A wellness-focused seat function can provide leg massage, adding another element to Bentley’s emphasis on long-distance comfort.The company has also placed considerable emphasis on sustainable material choices. The cabin can use leather, wood, wool and aluminium, including what Bentley describes as the world’s first 100% Merino wool automotive fabric, which is certified by the Responsible Wool Standard.Sustainably sourced walnut offcuts are also used in the interior.For additional practicality, Bentley has introduced power-folding rear seats for the first time in the model.
Four Experience modes change the character of the car
The Torcal features four Experience modes that alter various aspects of the vehicle, including lighting, sound, climate, airflow and the amount of digital information presented to the driver.Comfort mode is designed around a calmer environment and a more relaxed experience, including what Bentley describes as a digital detox approach.Sport mode, meanwhile, increases the intensity of the experience with a more immersive soundtrack and changes to the lighting and other cabin elements.Facial-recognition technology can also identify individual occupants and automatically adjust settings such as the seat, steering wheel and certain advanced driver-assistance system preferences.The Torcal uses a network of 25 radars, sensors and cameras to support its driver-assistance and vehicle-monitoring systems.
Bentley recreates engine character for its electric SUV
One of the more distinctive aspects of the Torcal is its approach to sound.Instead of leaving the cabin silent, Bentley has created the Bentley Dynamic Symphony, an artificial soundtrack designed around the rhythms and character associated with the company’s historic combustion engines.The sound incorporates elements inspired by Bentley’s 6¾-litre V8, combined with drums, viola and bass guitar.The soundtrack is calibrated to the vehicle’s torque demand and speed, with the intensity, volume and feedback increasing when the driver selects Sport mode.Bentley has also developed a more advanced audio system for the cabin. The standard system produces 620 watts through 16 speakers, while the optional system delivers 1,780 watts through 28 speakers with Dolby Atmos. The upgraded system also incorporates kinaesthetic seat shakers and speakers positioned in the front headrests.
S version brings a more aggressive exterior
The Torcal S receives additional styling changes to distinguish it from the Core version.These include black exterior brightware, black mirror caps, darker rear lamps, rear diffusers and sportier side sills. The front bumper also receives additional strakes, while red brake calipers add another performance-oriented visual element.Inside, the S introduces its own colour split, quilting and stitching treatments.While the S offers the highest output at 876bhp, Bentley says the focus is not simply on outright acceleration. The company has attempted to combine the additional performance with the comfort, refinement and usability traditionally associated with its luxury grand tourers and SUVs.
Bentley wants the Torcal to remain a Bentley first
The Torcal arrives at a critical point for the luxury EV market, where manufacturers are balancing increasingly powerful electric drivetrains with changing customer expectations.Bentley’s first fully electric model was originally expected to arrive earlier, but its launch was pushed back amid softer demand for luxury electric vehicles.The company is now betting that its established design language, handcrafted interior, high performance and focus on sound and sensory experience can make the transition to electric power feel familiar to existing Bentley customers.With a starting price of £173,000, a range of up to 375 miles, charging from 10% to 80% in less than 20 minutes and as much as 876bhp in S specification, the Torcal represents Bentley’s attempt to bring electric propulsion into its traditional luxury performance formula.The model is expected to go on sale by the end of the year, although the extensive range of available options can push the final price significantly higher.