Bentley has launched its first fully electric car, an SUV named the Torcal, which includes a drum soundtrack designed to replace the sound of a combustion engine. This launch is part of a £350m investment into the luxury carmaker's UK business.
The Torcal, Bentley’s most affordable model, starts at £173,000 and will be manufactured at its Crewe factory, securing 4,000 jobs. Bentley's chief executive, Frank-Steffen Walliser, stated that the synthetic engine noise, based on old eight-cylinder engines, aims to add "emotion to the car" and attract a younger clientele.
The vehicle can achieve up to 375 miles on a single charge and can be charged from 10% to 80% in 20 minutes using an ultra-fast charger. The Torcal is the fourth model in Bentley's lineup, joining the Continental, Flying Spur, and Bentayga.
Walliser acknowledged that while early demand indications are strong in the UK, Europe, and the Middle East, the exact level of demand remains uncertain. He also noted that there are currently no plans for a second EV launch.