Bentley Torcal to become marque’s most powerful production car
Words: Kyle Cassidy
Bentley’s first electric vehicle, the Torcal, will become the most powerful and fastest-accelerating production model in the company’s history.
The British marque has released another teaser ahead of the Torcal’s full unveiling in London on September 23, although the figures behind those claims remain under wraps.
Bentley has yet to disclose the electric SUV’s power, torque, battery capacity, driving range or acceleration time. It has, however, confirmed that the Torcal’s performance will eclipse that of every previous road-going Bentley.
That means it will surpass the current Continental GT Speed, whose Ultra Performance Hybrid powertrain combines a twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V8 with an electric motor to produce 575kW and 1000Nm. The coupe can reach 100km/h in 3.2 seconds and has a top speed of 335km/h.
The Torcal will therefore need to better both its output and acceleration time, although Bentley says it isn’t chasing numbers at the expense of comfort.
Instead, the company says its engineers have concentrated on delivering the effortless acceleration that has characterised its grand tourers for more than a century. While electric performance cars can deliver a rather violent initial hit, the Torcal’s response has reportedly been calibrated to remain within what Bentley describes as “the boundaries of comfort”.
The result should be an immediate but progressive surge rather than the neck-snapping launch found in some high-performance EVs.
Instant electric torque lends itself rather nicely to Bentley’s traditional performance philosophy. From the Speed Six and supercharged 4½ Litre Blower to the long-running 6.75-litre V8 and twin-turbocharged W12, its engines have generally relied on large reserves of torque rather than frantic revs.
Electric motors should allow the Torcal to take that character further, delivering maximum response from a standstill without gear changes or waiting for an engine to build speed.
The Torcal will be Bentley’s fourth model line, joining the Continental GT, Flying Spur and Bentayga. Bentley describes it as an “urban luxury SUV”, although at just under five metres long, urban is a relative term here.
It will sit below the Bentayga in size and will be designed, developed and built at Bentley’s headquarters in Crewe.
The Torcal name comes from El Torcal de Antequera, an area of distinctive limestone formations in Andalusia, Spain. It also shares its linguistic roots with torque, making it an appropriate choice for a high-output electric Bentley.
Its styling has only been shown in fragments so far, with teasers revealing a bluff SUV profile, slim diamond-pattern rear lights and Bentley’s latest winged badge. Further previews have focused on the materials, craftsmanship and configurable cabin environments that will distinguish it from more mainstream electric SUVs.
We won’t have to wait long to find out exactly what Bentley means by its most powerful and quickest production car. The Torcal will make its world premiere on September 23.
New Zealand pricing, availability and delivery timing have yet to be announced.
