Bentley has finally pulled the covers off its first electric car, the Torcal, and it is quite an introduction to the brand's EV era.
The luxury SUV arrives with up to 876bhp in range-topping Torcal S form, a claimed 0-60mph time of 2.8 seconds and up to 373 miles of range. UK prices start at £173,300, according to Top Gear, with the Torcal S costing £199,300. First deliveries are expected in summer 2027.
That makes the Torcal one of the most powerful production Bentleys ever built, with Bentley describing the S as its most powerful production car to date. The standard Torcal produces 810bhp and 1,155Nm, while the S gets 876bhp and 1,350Nm when Launch Control is active.
Bentley has also been keen to stress that going electric has not meant abandoning the character associated with the marque. The Torcal gets handcrafted materials, physical controls, advanced suspension and even a synthetic soundtrack created using real musical instruments.
Bentley Torcal price and launch date
The Torcal starts at £173,300 in the UK, while the faster Torcal S is priced from £199,300. Those figures come from Top Gear's first-look report, while Bentley's own UK site is now inviting customers to enquire and configure the car.
First deliveries are expected in summer 2027, so this is still some way from becoming a familiar sight on British roads. That also means there is no reason to talk about test drives or immediate availability yet.
The Torcal is the fourth model line in Bentley's current range, joining the Continental GT, Flying Spur and Bentayga. Its name comes from El Torcal de Antequera, the dramatic limestone landscape in Andalusia, Spain. Bentley says the name also shares a root with "torque".
Bentley Torcal design
The Torcal introduces a new design direction for Bentley, with a cleaner and more minimalist shape than the current Bentayga.
There is still plenty of visual theatre. The illuminated front grille uses 76 hand-applied LED diamonds, while the rear haunches and tailgate take inspiration from Bentley's historic Blue Train. The car measures 5,008mm long and has an 11-metre turning circle, helped by four-wheel steering.
The result is a large luxury SUV that should have plenty of road presence without looking like a conventional high-performance electric crossover.
The Torcal S adds a darker treatment, including black exterior detailing and sportier bodywork, to match its extra performance.
Bentley Torcal interior and technology
Inside, Bentley has gone heavily into craftsmanship. There is handcrafted walnut, leather and Dinamica upholstery, while buyers can also specify a new 100 per cent Merino wool fabric developed with British clothmaker Fox Brothers. Bentley describes it as the first automotive-grade fabric of its type.
The front seats have 16-way electric adjustment, heating, ventilation and massage functions. Postural Adjust uses air pockets within the seats to vary pressure around the occupant, while Seat Auto Climate monitors temperature and humidity at the surface of the seat.
The centre of the dashboard houses a curved 12.25-inch OLED touchscreen, although Bentley has retained plenty of physical switchgear. There is also a 620W, 16-speaker Bentley Signature Audio system, with an optional 1,780W Naim system featuring 28 speakers and Dolby Atmos.
One of the more unusual features is Bentley's Curation system. Four modes called Bentley, Comfort, Sport and Refresh alter elements such as lighting, sound, climate and seating to change the atmosphere inside the car.
Bentley Torcal range and performance
There are two versions at launch, the Torcal and Torcal S.
The standard car uses two electric motors to produce 810bhp and 1,155Nm. Bentley claims 0-60mph in 3.3 seconds and a top speed of 155mph. Its 113.2kWh battery gives a claimed maximum range of 373 miles.
The Torcal S turns the dial up considerably. It produces 876bhp and 1,350Nm when Launch Control is active, reaches 60mph from rest in 2.8 seconds and has a 162mph top speed. Its claimed maximum range is also 373 miles.
Those are serious numbers, although Bentley is yet to prove what the Torcal is like on British roads. Top Gear has already highlighted the car's sophisticated active suspension, with the publication noting that it will have to wait a few months before driving the new model itself.
Bentley's Active Ride system uses individually controlled dampers and hydraulic pumps at each wheel. Four-wheel steering should also make the Torcal easier to manoeuvre at low speeds, while all-wheel drive provides traction.
Bentley Torcal range and charging
The Torcal uses a 113.2kWh battery and supports DC charging from 10 to 80 per cent in a claimed 16 minutes. Bentley says a maximum charging session can add more than 220 miles of range in 10 minutes.
The headline range figure is up to 373 miles, although Bentley currently notes that EU27 range and efficiency data remain subject to type approval.
That makes the Torcal look well suited to long-distance driving on paper. The charging figure is particularly important for a Bentley, because buyers spending this sort of money are unlikely to accept long waits at motorway chargers.
Bentley Torcal practicality
Despite all the luxury and performance hardware, Bentley has designed the Torcal to work as an everyday SUV.
It has a 90-litre front boot and a maximum braked towing capacity of 2,700kg. The car is just over five metres long, while the four-wheel-steering system cuts the turning circle to 11 metres.
There is also plenty of clever technology designed to make a large luxury SUV easier to live with. Park Assist can handle steering, pedals and gears, while Remote Park Assist lets the owner move the car using the My Bentley app. A Reversing Assist function can also remember the previous 50 metres of low-speed driving and help steer the car back along the same route.
Bentley Torcal pros and cons
Pros
- Up to 876bhp in the Torcal S
- Claimed range of up to 373 miles
- 16-minute 10-80 per cent DC charging claim
- Exceptionally detailed interior
- Four-wheel steering and active suspension
- 2,700kg maximum braked towing capacity
- Genuine everyday usability features
Cons
- First deliveries are not expected until summer 2027
- Nearly £200,000 for the Torcal S before options
- Real-world range and charging performance are still unproven
- The synthetic engine soundtrack will not appeal to everyone
- EU range and efficiency figures remain subject to type approval
Bentley Torcal verdict
The Torcal is a bold way for Bentley to enter the electric car market. The numbers are huge, the cabin looks properly special and the charging claims suggest Bentley has taken long-distance usability seriously.
I also think the decision to retain physical controls and concentrate on materials, comfort and craftsmanship is the right one for this kind of car. There is enough technology here to impress without turning the cabin into a rolling games console.
The big question is what happens when the Torcal reaches British roads. We know what Bentley claims it can do. We do not yet know how convincing it will be to drive, how close the range will come to its headline figure or how well the charging system performs in everyday conditions.
For now, though, the Torcal looks like a convincing first chapter in Bentley's electric story. At £173,300 before options, it certainly feels like a Bentley in more ways than one.