Bentley names its new EV SUV
Since 2020, Bentley has been hard at work preparing to go full EV as part of its Beyond100 strategy. The EXP 100 GT concept previewed what an electric Bentley could look like, but as a centenary show car, it was never destined for production.
Roughly six years later, the Bentley EV finally has its name. Meet the Torcal, Bentley’s first luxury urban SUV, set to create an entirely new segment just as the Continental GT did more than two decades ago. The name references El Torcal de Antequera, which is a protected natural park in Málaga, just south of Antequera in Spain.
The Torcal will become Bentley’s fourth model in the current range, after the Continental GT, Flying Spur and Bentayga. While the luxury marque plans to reveal every detail in the days leading up to its official reveal set for 23 September, early reports state that it will be shorter than existing Bentley models, making it the brand’s smallest car to date, positioned just below the Bentayga.
Looking at the teaser image, it’s difficult to figure out the actual design and what the Torcal looks like, but we can see a new take on the rear design with slim taillights and a large, uncluttered boot. Unfortunately, that’s all we can see.
What we know is that there won’t be an ICE-powered version of the Torcal; Bentley CEO Frank-Steffen Walliser has made that clear. It likely sits on the same PPE underpinnings as the Porsche Cayenne Electric since they both come from the same VW Group family. It’s also still early to figure out how much power the Torcal makes, but for reference, the Cayenne Turbo Electric offers some useful context. It produces 630kW in normal driving, rising to 850kW and 1,500Nm with Launch Control activated. If the Torcal draws from the same well, expect something similarly eye-watering, but we’re just speculating here. We’ll all have to wait for the official reveal.
The Torcal marks a significant move for the brand and the luxury segment as a whole. It’s Bentley’s next bold step into unchartered territory. We’ll see it in the flesh on 23 September. Bentley SA expects the car to arrive on SA shores towards the third quarter of 2027.
