The Bentley Torcal, the automaker’s first-ever production EV, is set to make its global debut on September 23 at 7:19 p.m. BST (2:19 p.m. EDT), marking the beginning of a new chapter for Bentley Motors.
Bentley Torcal Debuts as the Brand’s First EV
Bentley has confirmed that the all-new 2028 Torcal midsize luxury SUV will be unveiled at 19:19 local time. The timing is a clear nod to 1919, the year Bentley Motors was founded by Walter Owen Bentley.
Although Bentley is keeping the Torcal’s final specifications and design under wraps until its reveal, the automaker says the electric SUV will remain a genuine Bentley, with its development, engineering and production handled by the people behind the company’s modern models.
Built by Hand at Bentley’s Crewe Headquarters
The Torcal will be handcrafted at Bentley’s headquarters in Crewe, England, inside a new purpose-built facility created within the original factory building from 1938.
The building most recently housed Bentley’s R&D workshop. It was stripped before receiving a precisely level floor required for the Autonomous Guided Vehicles (AGVs) that will move Torcal vehicles through the production facility.
The new production line is almost ready and represents an investment of more than £350 million ($468 million), including a brand-new paint shop. Bentley says the manufacturing process will combine traditional craftsmanship with advanced techniques “to set new standards in quality.”
Production will also be supported by British suppliers, including Somerset-based Fox Brothers, which provides the wool used for the Torcal’s interior.
Bentley says the Torcal’s appeal will come from combining generations of handcrafting expertise with the advanced technology offered by the electric SUV.
Porsche Cayenne Electric Platform With Bentley Tuning
The Torcal will become Bentley’s fourth model line, joining the Continental GT, Flying Spur and Bentayga, all of which are built at Crewe.
The electric SUV is based on the Premium Platform Electric (PPE) developed by Porsche and shared with the all-new Cayenne Electric. Bentley says the Torcal will be its most powerful production vehicle ever built and its quickest-accelerating model as well.
The Torcal uses an 800-volt high-voltage system and a dual-motor all-wheel-drive powertrain expected to produce more than 838 horsepower and 738 lb-ft of torque, according to MotorTrend, which rode in a pre-production Bentley Torcal prototype last month.
373-Mile Targeted Range and Fast Charging
The Torcal’s battery has a capacity of 113 kWh, giving it a targeted driving range of 373 miles on the European WLTP cycle.
Bentley also claims the SUV can charge from 10 to 80 percent state-of-charge in under 20 minutes when using a 400-kW DC fast charger. That is roughly equivalent to adding 100 miles of range in seven minutes.
Bentley Targets Luxury and Off-Road Capability
The Torcal will feature the Cayenne Electric’s active suspension with Bentley-specific tuning. Bentley’s goal is for the electric SUV to deliver the comfort of a Flying Spur while offering the dynamic capability of a Continental GT.
The company also says the Torcal will provide “compelling” off-road capability that is “unexpected of a Bentley.”
The Bentley Torcal will make its global debut on September 23 at 7:19 p.m. BST (2:19 p.m. EDT), officially introducing Bentley’s first production EV.
