Bentley’s first EV, the Torcal, hasn’t been a secret for quite some time. What it was capable of, though, was rather more shrouded in mystery, given that the luxury automaker only teased its EV in July this year. There’s no more mystery remaining, with Bentley showing off both the vehicle and its specs over the weekend.
In fact, the only thing missing from the Torcal’s announcement is the price tag. Being Bentley, it’s sure to be ruinously expensive for almost everyone on the planet. But it’s also, based on the reveal, something just about every driver would love to experience. At least once.
A lot of Torcal here
There are two versions of the Torcal coming — one that Bentley describes as “basic”, while there’s also an S model on the way. The most impressive stats apply to the Torcal S. Those include power output of 888 horsepower and torque of 1,350Nm, “more than any Bentley before it.” The listed zero to 100km/h time of 2.9 seconds probably also applies there.
The five-metre vehicle has a range of 600km, helped along by a 113kWh battery setup. Bentley reckons it recharges at up to 400W, with a seven-minute charge adding 161km to the ‘tank’. Those mechanical figures are available all over the place, probably at far less of a price tag. That’s not what makes this a Bentley.
The Torcal is “as comfortable as a Flying Spur and as dynamic as a Continental GT Speed,” according to its creators. The base version rides on 21in rims (the S goes for 22in). While those are turning, folks outside the car are treated to the Bentley Dynamic Symphony. This is a “sonic experience”, using “real instruments such as drums, violas, and bass guitars…complete with subtle variations and minor human imperfections.” In other words, there’s still an engine noise, so folks will look your way.
There are two audio system options. The first is a 620W, sixteen-speaker setup. The larger one is a 28-speaker, 1,780W arrangement made with the assistance of Naim, complete with “kinesthetic seat shakers, front headrest speakers, and Dolby Atmos 7.1.” The Torcal interior includes curved OLED displays, facial recognition “allowing seamless and quick access to personal settings such as seat and steering wheel positions, driver assistance preferences, and many other configurations,” and an augmented reality heads-up display. There are, as you might expect, a selection of luxury interior finishes that we’re not going to get into here.
Mostly because we’ll never afford them. Bentley hasn’t revealed the Torcal’s price yet, but if you have to ask…
