Bentley Torcal arrives to CHALLENGE the Range Rover Electric

The electric Bentley Torcal is revealed as Bentley’s first EV, boasting up to 872bhp and range of up to 375 miles.

Bentley, just like almost every other car maker, has backtracked on its plans to go big on EVs, taking the pragmatic route of electrification to aid ICE rather than outright BEVs.

But now it’s time, despite the EV backtrack, to deliver Bentley’s first production EV – the Bentley Torcal – to make sure all bases are covered on the powertrain front, and although the Torcal is a new design, it’s really the first of a new design direction for upcoming Bentleys, rather than an EV-only look.

Much of the powertrain and underpinnings for the Torcal come from the Porsche Cayenne Electric, and in the Torcal there’s 811bhp on offer, with the Torcal S boasting 872bhp and 995lb/ft of torque, enough for 0-62mph in 2.9 seconds and on to 162mph.

Power for the Torcal’s twin electric motors comes from a 113kWh battery (108kWh usable), promising range of up to 375 miles and charging rates up to 400kW.

In the looks department, the Torcal takes a new direction but still conspires to look like a Bentley SUV, with big haunches and familiar surfacing, long, sculpted bonnet, a big grille illuminated with ‘diamonds’, and a new light signature, sitting lower than the Bentayga (and a bit shorter too) but with more space inside.

Inside, there’s a new dash design and a curved infotainment, but there are still knurled Bentley knobs, a welcome absence of the passenger screen (even as an option), clever ambient lighting, automatic doors and fine materials including Merino wool.

Martin Page, Bentley Product Line Director, Torcal, said:

The Torcal represents something new, and I think unique. It has been engineered with great care to ensure it remains a Bentley to its core, enhanced rather than dominated by technology – from luxury, to refinement and effortless performance – the Torcal has taken the elements that define a Bentley to extraordinary new levels.

The Bentley Torcal starts at £173,300 and the Torcal S £199,300, pitching it right in the firing line of the new Range Rover Electric.