By James Stinson
Bentley has finally gone electric, and it has done so in typically extravagant fashion with this striking new Torcal.
The five-metre-long luxury SUV becomes Bentley’s fourth model line and, more significantly, the first fully electric production car in the company’s 107-year history.
That’s a big deal for a manufacturer synonymous with huge petrol engines, effortless performance and a suitably rich exhaust note. Importantly, though, the Torcal doesn’t mean the end for petrol-powered Bentleys. Instead, the electric model joins the existing combustion-engined and hybrid line-up, giving buyers another option.
And if traditional Bentley customers were worried electrification might mean sacrificing performance, they shouldn’t be.
Serious electric performance
Two versions will be available initially, starting with the standard Torcal. Its twin electric motors produce a colossal 810bhp and 1,194Nm of torque, enough to propel it from 0-60mph in just 3.3 seconds. Top speed is 155mph.
The sportier Torcal S ups power to an extraordinary 876bhp and 1,350Nm with Launch Control activated. It will blast from 0-60mph in only 2.8 seconds and carry on to 162mph.
That’s supercar performance from a sizeable luxury SUV, though Bentley says it deliberately resisted making the Torcal accelerate even faster because more extreme performance could become uncomfortable for occupants.
Underneath is some seriously sophisticated chassis technology too. Fully active suspension is fitted to a Bentley for the first time, while adaptive dampers and standard all-wheel steering are designed to combine the comfort expected of a Flying Spur with something approaching the agility of a Continental GT Speed.
Luxury comes first
The Torcal is perhaps more interesting inside because this is where Bentley really needs to justify its hefty premium over other electric SUVs.
Standard seats get 16-way adjustment plus heating, ventilation, adjustable bolsters and massage. Buyers can go considerably further with an optional Wellness Seat Specification, which extends the massage function to your legs as well as your back and shoulders.
Curved OLED displays provide the digital niceties, while Bentley has wisely retained physical switches for frequently used functions.
And traditional luxury certainly hasn’t disappeared. Buyers can choose from an enormous selection of leather, wool, wood and aluminium finishes, including a new 100% Merino wool fabric. Mulliner also offers an elaborate Ombré Walnut finish made using up to 1,000 layers of walnut off-cuts and recycled paper.
You can even specify a 1,780-watt, 28-speaker Naim sound system with Dolby Atmos and seat shakers.
Bentley has also tackled the absence of a traditional V8 soundtrack in an unusual way. Rather than simply synthesising an engine noise, musicians using drums, viola and bass guitar helped create the Torcal’s Dynamic Symphony, inspired by the beat of traditional Bentley V8s. Thankfully, you can switch it off if you prefer the silence of electric motoring.
375 miles between charges
Power comes from a sizeable 113kWh battery operating on an 800-volt architecture, with Bentley claiming a maximum range of 375 miles.
Even more impressive is its charging ability. Find a suitably powerful 400kW charger and the battery can go from 10-80% in around 16 minutes, while roughly 100 miles can be added in seven minutes.
There’s decent practicality too. Despite being Bentley’s shortest four-door model, the Torcal offers a 460-litre boot plus another 90 litres beneath the bonnet.
At launch there are two main specifications. The standard Torcal comes with 21-inch wheels, satin-silver exterior detailing and open-pore Crown Cut Walnut trim.
The Torcal S gets standard 22-inch wheels, black exterior trim and badges, darker rear lights, a sportier rear diffuser and sills, red brake calipers, sports pedals and Piano Black interior trim.
Rivals and prices
The obvious competition comes from the new electric Range Rover and high-end versions of the Porsche Cayenne Electric. Indeed, the Porsche is particularly interesting because the two cars use related electric architecture. But Bentley is pitching the Torcal above more conventional premium EVs: what you’re paying for here is the craftsmanship, materials, extensive personalisation and exclusivity that have traditionally separated Bentleys from the crowd.
If you have to ask how much one of these costs, you probably can’t afford one. For the record, prices start at £173,300 for the standard Torcal, rising to around £199,300 for the Torcal S. Options from Bentley and its Mulliner bespoke division could, of course, push those figures considerably higher.
On paper at least, the Torcal therefore looks convincingly Bentley rather than merely another electric SUV wearing a prestigious badge. It’s incredibly fast, impressively long-legged and packed with technology, but the real test will be whether its traditional luxury and electric refinement can win over Bentley buyers who still associate the brand with the burble of a big petrol engine.
