Bentley names its most important car
The Bentley Torcal will lead the British marque into the electric age, sharing its underpinnings with the Porsche Macan and Audi Q6 e-tron.
British luxury car brand Bentley has announced the name of its first EV, with the Torcal set to make its debut in September.
Named after the El Torcal de Antequera limestone landscape in Andalusia, Spain, the Torcal name is also derived from the Latin word “torquere”, which ‘torque’ is derived from – something which will be crucial in this new EV.
“For 107 years Bentleys have been the most incredibly complete cars – effortless performance, outstanding comfort, exquisite British handcraftsmanship using the best natural materials and a soundtrack with soul,” said Bentley chairman and CEO, Dr. Frank-Steffen Walliser.
“Our new Torcal sets extraordinary benchmarks in every area that matters, and may just be the most considered car in our history.”
Set to be underpinned by the Volkswagen Group’s Premium Platform Electric (PPE) architecture, it’ll share most of its hardware and technology with the Porsche Macan and Audi Q6 e-tron.
In terms of size, it’s expected to slot underneath the flagship Bentayga SUV, though it’s yet to be confirmed if it’ll roll down the production line at Bentley’s UK headquarters in Crewe, or be made in Germany like the Porsche and Audi.
Jordan Mulach
As previously reported, Bentley has walked back its plans to go EV-only twice, having first planned to go electric by 2030, later 2035 and now with no end date for petrol power.
“There is a dip in demand for luxury electric vehicles, and customer demand is not yet strong enough to support an all-electric strategy,” Walliser told Autocar last year.
“The luxury market is a lot different today than when we announced Beyond100. Electrification is still our goal, but we need to take our customers with us.”
