Bentley Reveals the Name of Its First EV and a Teaser Photo

In November of 2020, Robb Report shared the news that Bentley aimed to have all of its model portfolio either plug-in-hybrid or fully battery powered by this year. What was even more ambitious about its “Beyond 100” plan was the automaker’s intent to be completely electrified by 2030. As demand and infrastructure proved to lack the same cadence, the British marque adjusted with its “Beyond 100+” mandate in 2024, moving the timeline for being solely battery reliant to 2035, while assuring, to quote the press release from two years ago, “that its first fully electric car to be revealed in 2026 promises to create an entirely new segment, the world’s first true Luxury Urban SUV.”

Today, Bentley has released its first teaser image of the aforementioned vehicle and revealed its name, which is Torcal. The official announcement cites the inspiration for the moniker as the breathtaking region of “El Torcal de Antequera in Andalusia, Spain,” but mentions that it’s “also derived from the latin ‘torquere,’ meaning to twist, and is the root from which the modern word torque also traces its foundation. Torcal therefore also implies effortless progression . . .” At least that’s the association Bentley hopes is made.

Last month, Robb Report was invited to Crewe, England, for a special preview of Bentley’s new milestone, which has a length of 16.4 feet and an estimated range touted to be greater than 300 miles. We also had the opportunity to meet with members of the design team and the marque’s global C.E.O, Dr. Frank-Steffen Walliser, to gain their insights on the EV. After seeing the Torcal firsthand, we can safely opine that when it finally sees the light of day, it will not be, in any way, as controversial as Ferrari’s Luce.

Unlike Maranello’s intention to redefine and disrupt with its entry into the all-electric fray, Bentley has taken a different approach. When the zero-emissions Rolls-Royce Spectre was ready for the road, the automaker’s then C.E.O Torsten Müller-Ötvös mentioned how the first EV to wear the Spirit of Ecstasy was developed on the “promise that it’s a Rolls-Royce first, and an electric car second.” From all appearances, Bentley has taken a page from Goodwood’s playbook.

This observation is based solely on the visual and tactile impact of the Torcal’s styling and sybaritic appointments, though it should be noted that what we were privy to was a near-production prototype. We asked Walliser if there was an element of the car that he thought would stand out to those new to the Flying B.

“I think it attracts technology seekers that look for a different expression of their car,” Walliser tells Robb Report. “It’s clearly a Bentley, but it really develops it in a new stage, and modernizes everything.” Walliser then answers his own intriguing question, “What would have happened if this has a V-8, [what] would the car look like?” His response: “It would look exactly the same . . . there’s not an ‘EV design’ behind it.”

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When asked if some of the new design language and materials are elements that will eventually be rolled out through the other models, which include the Bentayga, Flying Spur, and Continental GT, Walliser responds before the query can be completed. “Definitely, definitely. It feels right for Bentley,” he notes, mentioning the investment of time in research, specifically with regard to the materials.

While we cannot go into detail yet on what was seen at Bentley’s headquarters, and specifics on the EV’s engineering have not been released, the Torcal is definitely a Bentley first and last when it comes to aesthetics. As to whether its performance will match, or even overshadow, its visual presentation is a question that will hopefully be answered soon after the Torcal is unveiled in September.