It had to happen at some point. In a move that is guaranteed to generate a billion angry Facebook comments, Bentley has joined the BEV market with its all-new Torcal. Having dipped a toe in the electrification waters with a range of well-received plug-in hybrids, the VW Group-owned luxury brand is now going one step further with a full electric model. So, just in case you’re looking to blow the kids’ inheritance on something to cheer yourself up, here’s everything you need to know about the new Bentley Torcal.

What's that name about? 

According to Bentley, the Torcal takes its name from the El Torcal de Antequera – a limestone nature reserve in Spain. It might sound random, but Bentley does have a history of naming its cars after natural landmarks. The Rogue Bentayga in Gran Canaria and Batur – a volcanic crater in Bali – are two recent examples that might get you a few extra points in the next pub quiz.

What is it? 

The Torcal is a luxury SUV. Of course it is. We might get sniffy (and a little tired) of the endless stream of SUVs, but the bottom line is that they still sell extremely well in parts of the world where people with pots of money live. If you want a formerly British-owned luxury car that isn't an SUV, Rolls-Royce will happily sell you a Spectre. 

Being part of the vast Volkswagen Group has allowed Bentley to borrow some of the best bits from its sister brands. The Torcal’s platform is based on the group’s Premium Platform Electric underpinnings, so shares the same bits and bobs that underpin the new Porsche Cayenne electric. Which is promising. 

There are two versions available from launch: the standard Torcal and a fancier and more powerful Torcal S First Edition.

How far will it go, and how fast is it?

The Torcal gets the same 108kWh battery that appears in the Porsche Cayenne electric. In standard form, Bentley claims a 375-mile WLTP range - which seems rather good given the cereal box aerodynamics and what appears to be a large flat-screen television that’s been tacked to the front end.

Both models come with all-wheel drive as standard, with the entry model delivering 821hp and the S First Edition a pleasing-on-the-eye 888hp. The platform is capable of harnessing more than 1,000hp (as it does in the Porsche Cayenne), so expect a range-topping Speed version to follow. 

Expect a 0-62mph time of 3.4 seconds for the standard model and 2.9 seconds for the S First Edition. Bentley has tuned the power delivery to make it more Bentley-ey than the Cayenne, so buyers can expect a more wafty driving experience. Sounds lovely. 

The Torcal features 800-volt architecture and Bentley claims a charging peak of 400kW. On a suitably speedy charger, the brand claims a 10-80% charge can be dispatched in just 16 minutes. Which is barely enough time to undo the buckles on the Fortnum and Mason hamper. 

How much will it cost?

A lot. Which will come as a surprise to nobody. The entry-level car will set you back around £160,000 without options. That’s a solid £30k more than the range-topping Porsche Cayenne Turbo Electric, so you really will be paying quite a premium for the Bentley experience. Expect the Torcal S First Edition to weigh in at around the £200,000 mark. First deliveries are expect in Spring 2027 if you need to clear some garage space. 

I’m in. Tell me more…

Being the helpful chap he is, Tom Wookie Ford has been to have a close look at the Torcal in Bentley’s studio. You can enjoy his comprehensive full first look here. If the written word is more your thing, check out our full review here.