Bentley has pulled the covers off the most significant car in its 107-year history. The Bentley Torcal, unveiled in London on 23 September 2026, is the Crewe marque's first-ever fully electric vehicle — a luxury SUV that becomes the fourth model line in the range alongside the Continental GT, Flying Spur and Bentayga, and that the company insists is "a Bentley first" and an electric car second.
Priced from £173,000, the Torcal sits towards the lower end of Bentley's model range. Chief executive Frank-Steffen Walliser described it as a "more affordable Bentley" that "definitely opens new markets", with roughly half of early interest coming from buyers new to the brand. A high-performance Torcal S tops the range at £199,300, with sales and deliveries beginning in early 2027.
Performance: 888hp, the most powerful Bentley ever
Despite the modest (by Bentley standards) price, the Torcal makes no compromises on pace. A pair of permanent-magnet synchronous motors delivers up to 888hp and 1,350Nm of torque in the S — the highest output of any Bentley to date — and the SUV sprints from 0-60mph in as little as 2.8 seconds, with a 162mph top speed. The 120mm-shorter, 50mm-lower body than the conventional Bentayga gives it a swept-back "resting beast" silhouette.
The 113kWh battery uses an 800-volt architecture, delivering up to 375 miles of WLTP range and 10-80% charging in just 16 minutes. Bentley backs the battery with a 10-year, 100,000-mile warranty.
The Torcal takes its name from the limestone outcrops of El Torcal in Andalusia, Spain, derived from a Latin root meaning "twisted" — the same root engineers use for "torque". Fitting, given the headline figure.
An orchestra under the bonnet
Bentley has worked hard to make the Torcal feel like the cars loyal customers already know. The illuminated diamond-patterned crystal grille evokes the brand's classic matrix grille, and the car recreates the feel of a V8 engine through a soundtrack — "Dynamic Symphony" — performed by real musicians on drums, viola and bass guitar, quickening as the vehicle accelerates. The indicator tick was recorded from a hammer striking leather, and the touchscreen confirmation note from a crystal glass.
"Our intention was always to make a Bentley first," Walliser told Reuters. "We feel people are not asking for a completely different car just because it's electric."
£350 million invested in Crewe
The Torcal will be built at Bentley's historic Pyms Lane factory in Crewe, Cheshire, following a £350 million investment in the plant that sustains 4,000 jobs. The arrival comes after Bentley delayed its first EV until 2026 and abandoned its earlier target of becoming fully electric by 2030, conceding that customers were not ready for the transition.
That caution is shared across the ultra-luxury segment. Rolls-Royce's electric Spectre arrived at Goodwood in 2023, but Lamborghini has delayed its first EV until the end of the decade, and McLaren recently confirmed it has no plans for one — even as it unveiled a £500 million investment in Britain.
What it means for UK buyers
The Torcal's arrival matters beyond the showroom. It signals that even the most tradition-bound luxury marques now see a viable electric market among wealthy buyers — and it anchors high-value EV manufacturing in Britain at a moment when the UK is fighting to keep car production onshore. Business minister Jonathan Reynolds called the Crewe investment "proof once again that we're creating the right conditions for good growth".
For buyers weighing the switch to electric at more attainable prices, the used market and premium mainstream EVs remain the sensible entry point — models like the Audi Q4 e-tron show how far electric SUVs have come, while the BMW i4 proves EVs can still stir the soul. Before committing, it is worth running the numbers on our True Cost calculator to compare five-year ownership costs against a petrol equivalent.
Frequently asked questions
How much does the Bentley Torcal cost?
The Bentley Torcal starts at £173,000 in the UK, with the high-performance Torcal S priced at £199,300. Both are towards the lower end of the Bentley range.
What is the range of the Bentley Torcal?
The Torcal's 113kWh battery delivers up to 375 miles of WLTP range, and 10-80% fast charging takes just 16 minutes on a high-power DC charger.
How fast is the Bentley Torcal?
The Torcal S produces 888hp and 1,350Nm of torque, reaching 60mph in as little as 2.8 seconds with a 162mph top speed — making it the most powerful Bentley ever produced.
Where is the Bentley Torcal built?
The Torcal is built at Bentley's Pyms Lane factory in Crewe, Cheshire, following a £350 million investment in the plant.
When can UK buyers get the Torcal?
Sales and deliveries of the Bentley Torcal begin in early 2027; Bentley has been showcasing the car to existing and prospective customers ahead of order books opening.
Sources: Fleet World, The Sun, Reuters