Bentley Motors unveiled its first fully electric model, the Torcal, in London on Wednesday — a luxury SUV that becomes the brand’s fourth model line alongside the Continental GT, Flying Spur and Bentayga.
The model has up to 888 PS and a WLTP range of up to 600 km (373 miles).
Two versions will be offered at launch: a core Torcal and the Torcal S. Bentley calls the S the most powerful production Bentley ever, with the highest torque of any Bentley.
A core Torcal produces 821 PS and 1,194 Nm of peak torque. Bentley quotes 0-60 mph in 3.3 seconds (0-100 km/h in 3.4 seconds) and a top speed of 155 mph (250 km/h).
A Torcal S delivers 888 PS (653 kW) and 1,350 Nm with Launch Control active. Its 0-60 mph time falls to 2.8 seconds (0-100 km/h in 2.9 seconds), with a top speed of 162 mph (260 km/h).
“I believe this is one of the best Bentleys ever,” Chairman and Chief Executive Frank-Steffen Walliser said in a statement.
Bentley did not publish prices in its release.
UK outlets including Top Gear and Auto Express reported a starting price of £173,300 ($229,700).
Customer deliveries are expected during 2027, according to Bentley’s November 2025 update to its Beyond100+ strategy.
Battery, Range and Charging
Two permanent magnet synchronous motors drive the Torcal, one on each axle. Both use dry sump designs and are filled with oil for life.
An open differential sits at the front, while the rear motor carries a locking differential with a multi-plate clutch on each output shaft.
A battery of 192 lithium-ion pouch cells in series runs at 800V nominal, with a net capacity of 113 kWh. Bentley covers the pack with a 10-year, 100,000-mile warranty.
WLTP range reaches up to 600 km (373 miles).
Bentley’s summary gives a 10-80% charge time of 16 minutes at 400 kW, while the body of the same release states just under 20 minutes.
Both sections say 100 miles (161 km) of range can be added in seven minutes.
At five metres long, the Torcal is the shortest four-door car in Bentley’s line-up.
Chassis, Assistance and Sound
Fully active suspension appears on a Bentley for the first time.
Each adaptive two-valve damper can be raised or lowered independently, removing the need for anti-roll bars.
Electronic all-wheel steering comes as standard, turning the rear wheels up to five degrees and cutting the turning circle to 11.1 metres.
Iron brakes use 420 mm front and 370 mm rear discs. An optional carbon silicon carbide system raises disc sizes to 440 mm and 410 mm.
A network of 25 radars, sensors and cameras supports driver assistance.
Features include towing, garage and parallel parking assistance, remote parking via an app, and parking manoeuvres drivers can “train” into the car.
All four doors are powered and radar-controlled.
Built in Crewe
Bentley designs, engineers and builds the Torcal in Crewe, supported by UK suppliers.
The car is built on a new production line at Crewe, part of a £350 million ($463.8 million) programme that Bentley has described as “the largest self-funded site investment programme in Bentley’s history.”
Standard Torcal models carry satin silver brightware and walnut veneer.
Torcal S models add black exterior trim, dark rear lamps, a rear diffuser, red calipers and piano black veneer.
A Delayed Electric Plan
Bentley’s 2020 Beyond100 strategy promised a first electric car in 2025 and an all-electric range by 2030.
In January 2022, Bentley committed £2.5 billion ($3.3 billion) over a decade to electrification, new models and manufacturing.
A revised Beyond100+ strategy later pushed the all-electric target to 2035.
In November 2025, Bentley set the first electric car’s launch for the end of 2026, with deliveries during 2027.
It said hybridised models would stay on sale until at least 2035, and that the 2035 all-electric target “could extend” if demand for plug-in hybrids stays strong.
Bentley has since retired its 6.0-litre W12.
Continental GT, GTC and Flying Spur models are now sold only as plug-in hybrids.
“No one today who prefers a Bentayga with a V8 will be forced into a new car… Choice is the strategy,” Walliser told Forbes Australia in August.
Rivals in ultra-luxury electric vehicles include Rolls-Royce‘s Spectre coupe and the Range Rover Electric.
Parent Group Under Pressure
Bentley’s debut comes as parent Volkswagen Group responds to a faster shift toward electric cars in Europe.
Volkswagen Group cut its forecast operating return on sales to at most 1% for this year, from 4% to 5.5%.
Volkswagen expects about €10 billion ($11.4 billion) in special charges, including a goodwill impairment of about €6 billion ($6.8 billion) on Porsche.
Among its reasons for Audi and the Volkswagen brand missing earlier expectations, the group cited an accelerated shift in demand toward battery-electric vehicles.
Volkswagen is dropping planned extra shifts at its combustion-only Wolfsburg plant and adding shifts at electric-car plants in Emden and Zwickau, trade publication Automobilwoche reported on Tuesday.
In Germany, Volkswagen’s orders for battery-electric cars now exceed those for combustion models.
Fully electric vehicles made up a record 32.4% of German new registrations in August, with 68,930 units, up 75.1% from a year earlier, Federal Motor Transport Authority data showed.
Volkswagen’s supervisory board approved on September 3 a restructuring plan that includes a group-wide reduction of about 50,000 jobs.
