Battery size: 108kWh
Max charge rate: 400kW
WLTP range: 375 miles
Introduction
Bentley’s first ever pure electric vehicle, and it’s an SUV only slightly smaller than the Bentayga. Why? Well because it’s based on the Premium Platform Electric architecture that’s shared across the VW Group - so it’s the same bones as the rather excellent Porsche Cayenne Electric, which isn’t exactly dainty. Still, it’s a modern interpretation of the traditional Bentley aesthetic, all deep-sided and bluff with excellent feature lines, and a big grille. Except it’s not a grille, but a large clear plastic cover over a phalanx of diamond-shaped lights. The internet will be glowing red hot with this one.
The rest is less contentious. Two motors, all-wheel drive, dual-chamber suspension for excellent ride quality. Nearly as much internal space as a Bentayga thanks to that specific EV platform (plus a frunk), a 108kWh (useable) battery with excellent thermal management for 375miles of range from the standard Torcal. That’s an 800-volt architecture too, so you’re looking at a charging peak of 400kW and 10-80% SoC in 16 minutes. Interestingly, Bentley didn’t just go for the headline power and torque figures, instead paring back the Torcal to 821bhp/1,194Nm and 0-60mph in 3.4 seconds for the standard car and 888bhp/1,350Nm in the Torcal S First Edition. Mind you, 0-60mph in under 3 seconds (2.9) is what Bentley deems ‘sufficient’. Still sounds pretty rapid. The best bit is the interior though; modern, thoughtful, interesting and high-end. It’s a highlight.
Range, battery and charging
A big battery for a big car is the order of the day here, so the Torcal gets the familiar 113kWh (108 useable) from the VW Group Premium Platform Electric. That equates to 375-miles (600km) of range from the standard car, a bit less for the more powerful Torcal S. That’s roughly five hours of driving. Plug it into a big enough charger and the 800-volt architecture can provide a peak DC charge of 400kW, meaning 10 to 80% state-of-charge in 16 minutes - which offers some futureproofing in the face of improving architecture. It’s also plug’n’charge ready for extra convenience. There is no vehicle-to-load available at launch, though the platform does support inductive charging, so that’s a possibility at some point.
Interestingly, though Bentley deems the Torcal S’s power output sufficient at the moment, the battery and platform can support up to 1,200bhp (as it does in the Porsche Cayenne Turbo Electric), so that leaves some headroom for a possible Torcal ‘Speed’ variant in the future.
Practicality and boot space
There are no exact measurements in terms of litreage at the time of writing, though in terms of practicality, the Torcal feels like an excellent balance. It may only be 161mm shorter than a Bentayga, but because it’s notably lower (1,674mm high vs 1,728mm), it feels smaller. Not so much inside though - it’s positively spacious. Headroom is good, there’s excellent space in the front and the back seats get decent head and knee-room, even with the standard, mighty - and photochromic - twin sunroof arrangement. There’s a big, if quite high, rear loadbay - though you can make the car ‘squat’ on it’s suspension for loading via a button in the boot - and a really quite generous frunk. A frunk which you can open via the key, which is an excellent and often overlooked element of convenience.
Interior, styling and technology
The best bit of the Torcal is undoubtedly the interior. Still recognisably Bentley, but with a more modern twist. Obviously there are hundreds of thousands of customisation options before you even get into completely bespoke ‘Mulliner’ commissions, but even with the basic pallette, there are stunning combinations. Upon entry, doors are electric - and you can open all four at once, a pointless but amusing party piece. Sill lights and puddle illumination are animated, which feels a bit bouji, but looks good. The seats styles are myriad, all beautifully stitched, arranged and designed, with top-tier comfort, heating and ventilation. And ‘postural adjustment’ for all you slouchers. You can have woollen inserts in trim panels via Fox Brothers Wool - a first for a production vehicle - wool that meets all automotive standards and adds a glorious warmth. Leather is perfect across all the elements, and that’s before you even get to the wood or stone inlays for the dash and centre console. It’s genuinely lovely.
Tech is obviously on the cards, but it’s been pared back and edited for the Torcal. There is no passenger screen, but the curved central OLED touchscreen is generously encapsulated in the dash - it doesn’t look stuck on. Graphics are sharp and operation fast, and Bentley has even worked with Cumbria Crystal in the Lake District to create artistic reflections in the screens - basically making them imperfectly perfect and a little more human. Weirdly, all the slightly odd elements work - even the noise of the indicator is the sound of a leather hammer tapping leather on a shaping buck. There’s a massive head-up display, and a wing arrangement behind the steering wheel (in front of the driver’s display) that features lots of oft-used functions. Feels odd, but one suspects you’ll get used to it quickly. But there’s the old-school Bentley ’T’-shape to the dash that reminds you of Bentleys past without being pastiche - it really is brilliant. Oh, and you can specify a 1,780- Watt sound system with seat shakers and headrest speakers, as well as Dolby Atmos 7.1. If you like music, then a Torcal will be the place to listen to it. Perhaps the only issue is that the old organ stop air vents are now electric, digital and controlled by the touchscreen, which is a shame.
And yes, there’s a full suite of advanced driver assistance systems, from that augmented-reality HUD to a ‘Curation Engine’ that takes care of the mood inside the car, altering air-con, noise, response and the like. Apparently neuroscience was involved in working out what combinations do what to your brain, and the Torcal responds accordingly in the right setting.
Motors and performance
As you might expect, the Torcal gets the latest generation of electric motors, one on each axle, to give all-wheel drive. There are various modes for the suspension and transmission, from ‘Sport’ through ‘Comfort’ and even off-road settings - no matter how unlikely. Suspension is fully active with two-valve damping to bring what Bentley calls ‘magic carpet’ ride quality. But that’s not at the expense of control; the Torcal is apparently capable of cornering more aggressively than any four-door Bentley in history - and that’s all without the use of traditional anti-roll bars.
As far as performance goes, Bentley could have optioned to use anything up to the 1,200bhp the platform can provide, but talked to customers to figure out what they actually need. The result was 821bhp for the Torcal and 888bhp for the Torcal S, enough for 0-60mph of 3.4 seconds for the standard car and 2.9 for the S. That’s what Bentley determined to be optimal, or ‘sufficient’. Top speeds are 155mph and 162 respectively. The performance is also accompanied by the Bentley ‘Drums’ soundtrack. It’s not a synthesised V8, nor a science fiction whoosh-fest, but a V8 noise recorded by an actual orchestra. It sounds oddly brilliant - though we need to try it on a moving car before passing judgement. Feels innovative and appropriate though.
Pricing and on sale date
You can specify a Torcal on the Bentley configurator - a great way to waste an afternoon - from September 23rd 2026. The standard Torcal should cost in the region of £165,000, with the Torcal S First Edition weighing in at the £200,000 mark. Production starts in Q2 of 2027, with deliveries after that.
Verdict
Bentley wanted to make an authentic and brilliant Bentley that just happens to be an electric vehicle. On first appraisal, the company is 97-percent there. The performance and drive should be spot on, given the bones on which it is based. The interior is a triumph. The styling clear, crisp and stylish. Until that is, you get to the grille, which just doesn’t seem an ‘authentic’ piece of design on a Bentley. It’s a clear plastic cover over a flock of diamond-shaped lights. Even though a Bentley EV doesn’t need a grille with holes, the big miss is having something metallic in the middle of the face of the car - it might be popular in other markets, but Europeans will likely find it more than a bit chintzy. There’s a lot to like here, though - we just need to drive it. And thankfully, if you’re behind the wheel, you don’t have to look at the grille.
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