What's all this about?

This is it, then: the first fully electric Bentley production model. It's called the Torcal, it's an SUV and it represents quite a challenge for the company to retain its traditional values while pivoting to an all-new platform/propulsion type.

Can you outline the key points?

Intriguingly, physically it's actually a bit smaller than the firm's existing SUV, the Bentayga, but as it starts from £173,300 for the regular Torcal or £199,300 for the slightly more powerful Torcal S, it's not really priced below the Bentayga.

And it's also the most potent production Bentley yet to see the light of day. It sits on the same 800-volt PPE architecture as distantly related vehicles such as the Porsche Cayenne Electric, which means it has a massive 113kWh gross, 108kWh usable NMC battery pack. That allows it to charge back up at an ultra-rapid 400kW DC when you need it to, so you won't be forced to mix with the hoi polloi at public points any longer than is strictly necessary.

As hinted, there are two powertrains to go at from launch, although there's not a huge gulf between the two. The opening Torcal EV has 821hp and 1,194Nm, allowing the all-wheel-drive, dual-motor Bentley to sprint from 0-62mph in 3.4 seconds, while topping out at 155mph. Above that sits the Torcal S, which increases the outputs to 888hp/1,350Nm, while cutting the 0-62mph time to 2.9 seconds and bumping the V-max to 162mph. Either one can go up to 375 miles between charging cycles.

Underpinning the Torcal is a locking differential for its rear motor with a multi-plate clutch on each shaft, as well as a Bentley-first feature of fully active suspension (this will be a development of Porsche Active Ride, first seen on the Panamera) with adaptive two-valve dampers. The Torcal also gains four-wheel steering as standard and an iron braking system with 420mm front, 370mm rear discs, although 440mm/410mm carbon-ceramics will be a cost-option upgrade.

How about those aesthetics?

The Torcal's look is sure to generate debate, much as the Bentayga's did when its challenging form first appeared back in 2016, but you can draw your own conclusions from the images. We happen to quite like it, although we almost daren't say that the front of it looks less like a Bentley and more like a... well, a bit like a... y'know, a Roll-... OK, we'll stop there. But it's a reasonably handsome, chunky thing, which sits on 21-inch wheels as standard on the entry-point model and 22s for the S, with a further variety of 22s, including an aero-optimised design, on the options list for all.

Sound is a key part of the Torcal's DNA. Quite beyond the audio systems available to the SUV's clientele - a 620-watt, 16-speaker set-up is the standard array, with a thumping Naim stereo with 1,780 watts and 28 speakers with Dolby Atmos 7.1 as the upgrade - there's something called the Bentley Dynamic Symphony. This is supposed to fill the void left by one of the company's rhythmic V8s of antiquity but it's not simply a 'taped' version of an old engine; instead, drums, viola and bass were used for a human-generated soundtrack that overlays the EV's performance as speed rises, to provide what the company says is an 'important sense of connection and sensory feedback' for the driver. Even the indicators of the Torcal make a noise of a hammer striking leather, this recorded from Bentley's own upholstery workshops.

Of course, the interiors from this esteemed company have long been a highlight in terms of their material quality and sheer sense of craftsmanship. In the Torcal, that legacy continues, although sustainable materials like Merino wool and something called Ombre Walnut (taken from responsibly sourced walnut off-cuts and craft, recycled paper) are also included. You can obviously personalise the Bentley EV's plush cabin every which way but loose, while in terms of practicality the Torcal has a 460-litre boot with all seats in use, as well as another 90 litres of storage at the front of the vehicle beneath its imposing bonnet. Oh, and naturally for 2026, the grille lights up at night.

Dr Frank-Steffen Walliser, the chairman and CEO of Bentley, said at the Torcal's unveiling in London: "For 107 years, Bentleys have been the most incredibly complete cars - effortless performance, outstanding comfort, exquisite British handcraftsmanship using the best natural materials, and a soundtrack with soul. Our new Torcal sets extraordinary benchmarks in every area that matters."

Matt Robinson - 24 Sep 2026