Bentley Unveils Torcal, Its First Electric SUV With 821 hp

Bentley unveiled the Torcal in London as the first fully electric car in the company's history. The SUV was developed and built in Crewe, England, and comes in two versions: the standard Torcal and the performance-focused Torcal S. The name comes from El Torcal de Antequera, a natural park in Spain's Andalusia region. The model is Bentley's fourth model family, following the Continental GT, Flying Spur and Bentayga.

Bentley Torcal performance

Both versions use twin electric motors and four-wheel drive. The standard Torcal produces 821 bhp (604 kW), completes the 0-100 km/h sprint in 3.4 seconds and reaches a top speed of 250 km/h. The Torcal S produces 888 bhp (653 kW), accelerates in 2.9 seconds and tops out at 260 km/h. Its peak torque is 1,350 Nm. Bentley says the power, torque and acceleration figures for the S were achieved with Launch Control engaged. Auto Express reported the standard model's torque as 1,194 Nm.

Battery, range and charging

The Torcal family uses an 800-volt electrical architecture and a battery with roughly 113 kWh of usable capacity. Bentley quotes a range of up to 600 km for the standard Torcal. Under suitable conditions, a 400 kW DC charger can take the battery from 10 to 80 percent in 16 minutes. Type approval for range and energy consumption figures in the European Union has not yet been completed, so the range figure will be confirmed after approval.

Dimensions, suspension and interior

The Torcal is 5,008 mm long, with a wheelbase of 3,023 mm. Luggage capacity is 460 litres at the rear and 90 litres at the front. Bentley Active Ride, an active suspension system, controls the dampers at each wheel individually. With four-wheel steering, the rear wheels turn up to five degrees opposite the front wheels at low speeds and in the same direction at high speeds.

The cabin features a 12.25-inch curved OLED multimedia screen, and the centre console and steering wheel retain physical controls. Upholstery options include leather, Merino wool and Dinamica. Four modes, Comfort, Sport and Refresh among them, change the cabin lighting, ventilation and screen displays alongside the driving settings. The Bentley Dynamic Symphony sound system takes its inspiration from the V8 engine's rhythm and can be switched off by the driver.

First Edition and pricing

Bentley also announced the First Edition, based on the Torcal S. It comes standard with carbon fibre trim, 22-inch wheels, Graphene Grey brake calipers, Wellness front seats and a 28-speaker Naim for Bentley audio system. According to Auto Express, the standard Torcal starts at just over 170,000 pounds sterling. The First Edition is expected to be priced above 200,000 pounds.