Bentley once had grand plans for electrification, revealing at their Beyond 100 event in 2020 plans to become a “leader of sustainable luxury mobility.”

Under the initiative, the automaker was supposed to drop conventionally-powered vehicles by 2026, and only offer plug-in hybrids or EVs. The brand was then slated to go EV-only by 2030.

More: Bentley Torcal Arrives With 876 HP And 375 Miles Of Range

Needless to say, things didn’t work out, as Bentley just got around to introducing their first electric vehicle. The Bentley Torcal arrived nearly a year behind schedule and offers a range of up to 375 miles (604 km).

While reaction to the Torcal has been mixed, it will reportedly be Bentley’s only electric vehicle for years to come. According to Autocar, the firm’s next EV won’t arrive until sometime after 2030.

That stands in sharp contrast to Rolls-Royce, which introduced the Spectre in 2023 and is preparing to launch an electric crossover. The latter has been spied on multiple occasions and follows in the footsteps of the Cullinan.

However, Bentley CEO Frank-Steffan Walliser believes they were right to tap the brakes on electrification. As he told the publication, they’re simply becoming more flexible, as consumers aren’t ready to go fully electric and regulators have backed down from ambitious adoption timelines.

“In the past, you made a plan for 10 years and then you just went with it. We delivered the cars in a relatively stable environment. It’s not the case anymore.”

Walliser added the company is working on building plug-in hybrids and EVs on the same production line, so they can more easily adapt to changes in demand and requirements. He went on to say the automaker is shortening cycles and development times. Speaking of the latter, it now takes Bentley four years to create an all-new model, and the automaker eventually wants to lower that number to three years.

Getting back to the Torcal, Walliser ruled out the possibility of a plug-in hybrid variant. As he explained, the crossover rides on the EV-only PPE platform and adding an engine would only create “overlap” with the Bentayga.

After several years in the making, Bentley just unwrapped its very first EV for the world to see. Dubbed the Torcal, the new SUV packs up to 888 PS (876 hp / 653 kW), 996 lb-ft (1,350 Nm) of torque, and enough battery to travel as far as 375 miles (600 km) on the WLTP cycle. More importantly, this isn’t simply an electric Bentayga. The Torcal becomes Bentley’s fourth model line and introduces a new design language the company says will influence future models regardless of what’s under the hood. In other words, the Torcal signals a new chapter for Bentley.

The automaker will offer two versions at launch. The standard Torcal develops 821 PS (810 hp / 604 kW) and 881 lb-ft (1,194 Nm), enough to hit 60 mph (96 km/h) in 3.3 seconds before topping out at 155 mph (250 km/h). The Torcal S turns things up to 888 PS (875 hp) and 996 lb-ft when Launch Control is active.

Read: The New Maybach GLS Is Rolls-Royce’s Worst Nightmare

That drops the 0-60 mph run to 2.8 seconds and raises top speed to 162 mph (260 km/h). Curiously, Bentley could have apparently pushed things even further but deliberately chose not to. Its engineers concluded that acceleration beyond this point becomes uncomfortable for most customers. Considering there’s a certain obsession with breathtaking EV acceleration figures, that’s an interesting line to draw. Having recently driven the Porsche Cayenne Electric, we can confirm that 0-60 in 2.4 seconds is potentially uncomfortable for some.

Both versions use a pair of permanent-magnet synchronous motors and an 800-volt electrical architecture. Between them sits a 113-kWh usable battery backed by a 10-year, 100,000-mile warranty. Bentley claims as much as 375 miles (600 km) of WLTP range. Find a sufficiently powerful DC charger, and the Torcal can accept up to 400 kW, taking the battery from 10 to 80 percent in under 20 minutes. 

More impressively, Bentley says approximately 100 miles (161 km) can be added in seven minutes. Again, though, these figures require a charger that can achieve such speeds. That’s probably not a giant issue, given that most Torcal owners will charge almost exclusively at their mansion, or palace, or whatever building houses the car most nights. 

Somehow, the Torcal is actually Bentley’s shortest four-door model despite measuring five meters (196.9 inches) long. There’s 460 liters (16.2 cu-ft) of cargo capacity out back and another 90 liters (3.2 cu-ft) beneath the hood. Visually, there’s little chance of mistaking it for anything else.

An enormous illuminated diamond grille dominates the nose, but the split headlights and razor-thin daytime running lights introduce a dramatically different face. The rear is cleaner, with slim horizontal lamps and vertical elements framing the tailgate. Bentley says it deliberately reduced the number of lines across the body, instead allowing its proportions, surfaces, and muscular rear haunches to do the talking. Ultimately, though, it’s the changes under the body that are most significant about this particular Bentley.

Photos: Bentley

Bentley has spent the last few months drip-feeding us info about their upcoming Torcal EV. But the British marque has given the hype machine one last squeeze ahead of its unveiling, confirming that the new platform-shared SUV will officially be the company’s most powerful production car, as well as its quickest-accelerating.

We also got a couple of new teaser photos, which showcase a portion of the hood, front wing, and A-pillar, revealing a mini-Bentayga-esque feel to the overall design, and a shot of the trunk with the winged “B” logo.

Read: Bentley’s Torcal Is Basically A Mid-Grade Cayenne Electric With 850 HP And A British Accent

Power-wise, Autocar has already confirmed that the Torcal is set to offer 850 hp (634 kW / 862 PS), dethroning the 771-hp Continental GT Speed, although the latter remains top dog for combustion-powered machinery. That 850-hp figure isn’t surprising for those who know what underpins the car. The Bentley Torcal is based on the VW Group’s PPE (Premium Platform Electric) base, which underpins multiple electric offerings from both Audi and Porsche. It uses 800V architecture, and we’ve seen up to 1,139 hp deployed in Porsche’s Cayenne Turbo Electric.

With that in mind, their latest tidbit of info appears to be framing the Torcal’s output figures in a way that gets ahead of those wondering why it’s “only” 850 hp. Granted, the word “only” in that last sentence is doing a lot of heavy lifting, but in a world of 1000hp+ EVs, could this actually be a bother to clients?

Quick But Comfortable

Bentley says the Torcal isn’t merely chasing numbers, and while it will be the brand’s quickest-accelerating model, they reaffirm to us that it will be comfort-focused, in line with what customers expect. The distinct Bentley “feeling” is something that the company goes to great pains to reinforce.

The skeptical among us, though, will remain somewhat unconvinced. In addition to the car sharing the same platform as the Cayenne Electric, the drivetrain is a bit of a hodgepodge of other VW Group bits. The Torcel will reportedly use the front motor from the Audi Q6 e-tron, and the rear motor from the Cayenne Electric. Meanwhile, the 113 kWh battery will also be shared with the Cayenne.

Of course, we expect the interior to be one of the main differentiators, with Ombre wood trim, 100% Merino wool upholstery (a world’s first), and a curved infotainment system all confirmed for the Torcal. You can also expect a sub-3.0-second 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) time, a limited top speed of 155 mph (250 km/h), air suspension, four-wheel steering, and active anti-roll bars.

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Bentley has spent the past few months revealing minor details about the upcoming Torcal. Now, we’re starting to learn specifications ahead of the crossover’s unveiling next month.

While we already knew the model would ride on the PPE platform and share a lot in common with the Porsche Cayenne Electric, Autocar recently took a spin in a prototype. During the preview, officials confirmed the Torcal has a dual-motor all-wheel drive system that produces around 850 hp (634 kW / 862 PS).

More: Bentley’s Torcal Will Offer Something No Other Automobile Has

That’s slightly above our estimate of 800 hp (597 kW / 811 PS), but it still slots nicely between the 657 hp (490 kW / 666 PS) Cayenne S Electric and 1,139 hp (849 kW / 1,155 PS) Cayenne Turbo Electric. This likely means the crossover will rocket from 0-60 mph in the low three second range and have a limited top speed of 155 mph (250 km/h).

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The crossover uses a front motor sourced from the Audi Q6 e-tron, while the rear motor hails from the Cayenne Electric. It also borrows the latter model’s 113 kWh battery pack and this is said to give it a WLTP range of approximately 370 miles (595 km). Unsurprisingly, the crossover is expected to weigh around 5,952 lbs (2,700 kg). For comparison, the Cayenne S Electric comes in at 5,695 lbs (2,583 kg).

Other highlights are slated to include an air suspension, four-wheel steering, and active anti-roll bars. The company has also previously confirmed the model will offer a mood selector, Ombre wood trim, 100% Merino wool upholstery, and a curved infotainment system.

Bentley will unveil their fully electric Torcal a little over a month from now. As part of an effort to build excitement, the company is slowly trickling out details.

The latest update focuses on the interior and reveals the crossover will have something no other automobile offers – 100% Merino wool. As the company explained, the luxurious material is celebrated for its “softness, warmth and natural elegance,” but hasn’t been used in automotive applications due to durability concerns.

More: Bentley Showcases High-Tech Interior For New Torcal EV

Bentley wanted to address that, so they teamed up with Fox Brothers. The British firm specializes in cloth, flannel, and tweed, and they were tapped to develop a special material for the Torcal. It’s the “world’s first 100 percent Merino wool automotive fabric capable of meeting the exacting demands of a luxury vehicle” and is also the “first automotive wool fabric to achieve 100 percent certification by the Responsible Wool Standard.”

The Merino wool interior will be offered in “six carefully curated colorways” and Bentley said each “combines complementary tones from the same color family, creating depth, harmony and a contemporary sense of sophistication.”

Besides talking about wool, Bentley revealed the Torcal will usher in a new Ombre Veneer. It’s created from “sustainably sourced walnut off-cuts” and recycled paper.

Up to 1,000 individually selected layers are pressed together, before being sliced less than a millimeter thick. The company said, “Four distinct walnut shades flow naturally from deep black through dark smoke and light smoke before revealing the richness of natural walnut. The result is both contemporary and timeless: a striking expression of modern luxury rooted in traditional craftsmanship.”

Customers will also find a new option known as Sunburst Aluminum by Mulliner. It’s billed as a reinterpretation of the classic engine-turned aluminum dashboards of the past.

As for the Torcal itself, it’s essentially a Porsche Cayenne Electric that went to Oxford. This means it’s instantly recognizable, despite having unique front and rear ends. The model will also sport an ultra-luxury interior with a curved display as well as a mood selector.

Powertrain details remain a mystery, but the Cayenne has a 113 kWh battery pack, a 390 kW DC fast charging capability, and outputs of 435 hp (324 kW / 441 PS), 657 hp (490 kW / 666 PS), and 1,139 hp (849 kW / 1,155 PS). The Bentley will presumably have around 800 hp (597 kW / 811 PS), but we’ll find out for sure on September 23.

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