Automakers developing EVs have all been wrestling with the same question: how do you replace the emotional engagement of a great-sounding engine? Hyundai, Porsche, BMW, Dodge, and others have turned to synthesized engine notes pumped through speakers. Bentley, however, believes it’s chasing the wrong answer. Rather than trying to replicate the sound of an actual engine, the British luxury brand thinks a drummer might be the key to making its first EV feel special.

Bentley calls the soundtrack for its upcoming all-electric Torcal SUV the “Bentley Dynamic Symphony,” and unlike many of its rivals, the company insists it isn’t trying to fool drivers into thinking they’re behind the wheel of a V8. Instead, it says the goal was to capture the same emotional response that has defined its combustion-powered cars for decades.

Beyond The Engine

The thinking behind this choice might make more sense than it could initially seem. Bentley’s engineers recorded and analyzed its iconic V8 in a studio. What they decided in the end was that it wasn’t the exhaust note itself, but rather the rhythm that was special. That’s what led to the automaker setting up a pair of parabolic speakers. One played recordings of the V8 while a drummer performed via the other.

Read: Bentley Just Named Its First EV, And It Isn’t Barnato

Walking between the two, engineers say they found similarities in the cadence, energy, and emotional impact of both. They also concluded that the subtle imperfections shared by drumming and combustion engines help create a more authentic, human experience. Armed with those findings, Bentley didn’t set out to recreate an engine note.

Strings Rather Than Pipes

At this stage, Bentley commissioned musicians to compose an original soundtrack using live instruments including drums, viola, and bass guitar. The resulting sound responds to the driver’s throttle inputs, rising and falling with acceleration while aiming to deliver the same sense of occasion buyers have come to expect from the brand’s V8-powered models. Bentley says the tempo increases under acceleration and eases back as the driver lifts off.

It’s tough to say how successful it’ll be, but there’s no denying that the noise it creates will be unique. The entire approach is unique. Perhaps it’ll hit home with well-heeled buyers who love the symphony. Maybe the notes will fall flat. Only time will tell.

The soundtrack is one piece of a larger puzzle Bentley is assembling for its first EV that makes its debut on September 23 in London. The Torcal will sit below the Bentayga riding on the Volkswagen Group’s PPE electric architecture, the same platform used by the Porsche Cayenne Electric. It’s expected to bring dual-motor all-wheel drive, a 113kWh battery, charging speeds of up to 390kW, and more than 300 miles of range, with Bentley prioritizing effortless real-world usability over headline numbers.

After years of concepts, spy shots and shifting electrification plans, Bentley has finally put a name to its first production EV. Meet the Torcal, a new electric luxury SUV that will make its public debut in London on September 23 and will open an entirely new chapter for the British luxury brand.

Like the Bentayga, Bacalar and Batur, the Torcal – not Barnato, as some had predicted – gets its name from a famous natural landmark. In this case, it’s El Torcal de Antequera in southern Spain, a landscape known for its dramatic limestone formations. Bentley also points out that the name traces back to the Latin word torquere, linking it to the modern word torque.

Related: Mansory Charges Bentley Owners To Do This, Bentley Now Does It In-House

What’s more important than the name, though, is what the Torcal represents. It’s Bentley’s fourth standalone model line, joining the Continental GT, Flying Spur and Bentayga, and its only fully electric offering.

Company boss Frank Steffen Walliser claims it “sets extraordinary benchmarks in every area that matters” and “may just be the most considered car in our history,” though he could just mean he considered axing it every time he saw tumbling EV sales figures for the US market.

Last Year’s EXP 15 Dropped Big Clues

Bentley is still keeping most of the important details under wraps, but a confirmed length of under 5 m (197 inches) means it sits below the Bentayga in the lineup in terms of size. We also know it will feature Bentley’s next design language, which debuted on last year’s EXP 15 fastback SUV concept (seen above) and introduced a monolithic look and a return to upright grilles. And the interior will mix traditional Bentley luxury with unusual curved displays and an Audi multifunction column stalk.

Under the skin, it shares its hardware and platform with the Porsche Cayenne Electric. That means an 800 volt architecture that can add 100 miles (160 km) of range in seven minutes, and probably 108 kWh net of battery capacity. Design boss Robin Paige told Autocar to expect 300-350 miles (483-563 km) of range.

Could Have Up To 1,139 HP

Bentley hasn’t revealed power outputs yet – it says we’ll find out more in the weeks ahead – but we can be sure that dual motors and all-wheel drive will be standard. If it lifts its motors directly from the Cayenne Electric, the Torcal could start with 402 hp (408 PS / 300 kW) and top out at 1,139 hp (1,156 PS / 850 kW).

The Torcal won’t replace the Bentayga, but will be sold alongside it. Bentley has already confirmed the gasoline SUV will live on with another generation later this decade as the company embraces a slower transition toward electrification. Instead, the Torcal is designed to broaden the lineup, giving the brand’s SUV buyers another choice rather than forcing them into an EV.

Bentley

Bentley is gearing up to introduce their “urban SUV” later this year and spy photographers have snapped new pictures of a prototype near the Nürburgring. While the exterior is hardly a surprise at this point, there are a couple of revealing interior images.

Drivers will sit behind a new three-spoke steering wheel, which has wing-like stalks similar to the Audi Q3. The right side has a shifter, while the left side has an assortment of light and wiper controls.

More: Bentley’s New Urban SUV Copies A Controversial Feature From Audi’s Q3

SHProshots

While an ultra-luxury SUV shouldn’t be rummaging around in the parts bin of a $44,000 crossover, Bentley did spruce things up a bit. We can see real metal accents as well as a knurled shifter surround. They’re joined by a unique steering wheel with a two-tone design, gloss black accents, and knurled thumb wheels.

More notably, the latest pictures give us a better look at the dashboard. The steering wheel resides in front of a curved digital instrument cluster, which reveals an undisguised look at the crossover’s rear end.

The infotainment system really stands out as it features a curved display with a portrait orientation. It’s a unique design and we can see the system will have a home button as well as HomeLink connectivity built-in.

SHProshots

There’s also a bottom row dedicated to climate controls and seat settings. However, occupants won’t have to fiddle with the display to adjust some preferences as the center console has dedicated climate control switchgear.

The front passenger side dashboard is also uncovered for the first time and it sports a sizable piece of wood trim. This is a nice departure from the onslaught of front passenger displays we’ve been seeing recently.

Other highlights include thick metal trim and circular air vents. We can also see contrast stitching and metal pedals.

SHProshots

On the styling front, the Barnato closely echoes the Porsche Cayenne Electric. The similarities are most notable in profile, but the Bentley has a unique front end with a fully enclosed grille that is expected to mirror the one found on the EXP 15 concept. It’s flanked by circular lights that will likely resemble those found on the Continental and Flying Spur.

Below, there are wide intakes with a diamond mesh insert. They’re accompanied by a sensor pod that is mounted in the middle.

The rest of the design is pretty unremarkable, but we can see front fender badges, pronounced wheel arches, and a rear side charging port. The rump is partially covered by cladding, but the aforementioned interior image suggests the crossover will have a curvaceous butt with taillights that echo the rest of the lineup.

SHProshots / Porsche

Bentley hasn’t said much about the crossover, but it will ride on the PPE platform that underpins an assortment of models including the Audi A6 and Q6 e-trons as well as the Porsche Macan and Cayenne Electric. The latter 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 Barnato, or whatever it’s called, will likely fall somewhere in between the latter two figures. Bentley has also said the model will be capable of getting 100 miles (161 km) of range in as little as seven minutes.

Bentley Americas CEO Mike Rocco has previously revealed the model will arrive in the United States in the third quarter of 2027 and likely be priced on the “lower end.” This suggests the crossover could cost around $200,000 to $250,000.

SHProshots