Bentley Launches Torcal Electric SUV With £350 Million UK Investment

Bentley Motors unveiled the Torcal, its first fully electric production vehicle, at an event in London on Wednesday. The luxury SUV is the brand's fourth model line and is available in two trims: a core model starting at £173,300 and a high-performance S version priced at £199,300. The Torcal S is the company's most powerful vehicle to date, delivering up to 888bhp and accelerating from 0 to 60 mph in 2.8 seconds.

To support the launch, the company invested £350 million to upgrade its headquarters and factory in Crewe, Cheshire. The investment secures 4,000 jobs and introduces a new production line featuring autonomous guided vehicles. The vehicle utilizes the Volkswagen Group's Premium Platform Electric architecture and features a 113kWh battery providing a range of up to 375 miles.

To appeal to traditional luxury buyers, Bentley implemented the Bentley Dynamic Symphony, a synthetic engine soundtrack created from real instrument recordings of V8 engines. The interior emphasizes sustainability with recycled walnut and the brand's first 100 percent Merino wool automotive fabric.

Chairman and CEO Frank-Steffen Walliser stated that the Torcal is "one of the best Bentleys ever," noting that its four-year development cycle meant the strategy remained unchanged despite recent market volatility and competition from the Ferrari Luce. UK Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds characterized the investment as a sign of business confidence in Britain, noting it contributes to a broader £7.5 billion government initiative to transition the automotive industry to electric vehicles by 2030.