Behold: the new Bentley Torcal, the most powerful Flying B ever built

Big news for affluent moths: this is the new Bentley Torcal. Visible, eh? You certainly won’t miss it coming up the back of you on the motorway at night. But don’t be fooled by that luminescent schnozz - behind it is an EV at great pains to make as little fuss as possible about the fact it’s electric.

In what we’re coining the “Anti-Luce approach”, Bentley has designed the Torcal to blend seamlessly into its existing lineup, presumably in the hope you might buy one quite by accident, and only realise months later that it’s electric when you can’t find a hole to put the petrol in.

More on that later - first some numbers. Such is the nature of EVs, the Torcal is the most powerful and torquey Bentley ever, boasting 875bhp and 996lb ft. Bentley describes these figures as “sufficient”. Quite. The EV platform is shared with the new Cayenne, so the Torcal gets the same whopping 113kWh pack, for an ample range figure of 360 miles. This, combined with 400kW charging, should make for a capable transcontinental cruiser - but if you’re going somewhere with limited charging infrastructure, just take your Conti GT.

Interestingly, the Torcal’s NMCA (Nickel-Manganese-Cobalt-Aluminium) pack is designed not just for big range and fast charging, but longevity. Bentley regards its cars as heirlooms, intended to be passed down through generations along with cygnet rings and crumbly castles.

And so to ensure the grandkids aren’t just inheriting a giant paperweight, the Crewe marque has ensured the Torcal’s battery retains 90 per cent of its original capacity after 100,000 miles of driving. We were too polite to point out that most EVs do that these days.

Onto the design. Measuring just under five metres, the Torcal slots in just underneath a SWB Bentayga. Bentley says the Torcal represents “the most considered design process” it has ever undertaken and the result… looks like a Bentley SUV. The proportions and surfacing are unmistakable - flat, imposing front, long bonnet, muscular haunches and general air of “get out my way” all present and correct - it’s the detailing where the Bentley design team has let its hair down a little.

In the headlights, the iconic Bentley twin circle signature is replaced by two vertical lines, and the illuminated grille is strikingly three dimensional up close, as if luminescent crystals are organically sprouting out of the fascia. It won’t be for everyone, but it needs to be seen up close to be properly appreciated. All in all the Torcal feels a fairly safe design, light up gnashers notwithstanding.

There’s a sense that Bentley, not unlike VW with the new ID. Polo, is endeavouring to make its new EV as familiar as possible to existing customers, to make the notion of switching to electric (or indeed adding an EV to the stable) as seamless and fuss-free as possible. Like we said: the anti-Luce approach.

Inside, there’s a new dash design with a shape inspired by the flying B badge, the centrepiece of which is a new curved infotainment screen. The idea here is that with your elbow resting on the centre console, the screen is always equidistant from your prodding finger as you move your wrist, making it less fiddly to operate. Makes sense, but we can’t hide our sadness that there’s no button to rotate the screen away entirely and replace it with analogue clocks as in its combustion powered siblings.

Still, Bentley remains vigilant about not overstimulating its occupants - a big button labelled 'Detox' invites you to reduce the centre screen to a minimalist setting, physical (knurled, obvs) controls still serve the climate control, and you won’t find a passenger infotainment screen anywhere on the options list. Nature is healing!

In place of a second screen to fiddle with, your passenger will have an array of gorgeous materials to admire and caress. Bentley has worked with Fox Brothers & Co to develop a soft but robust merino wool which is offered as an upholstery option, and we’re delighted to see a new wood trim option on the menu in 2026. Crewe’s finest tree whisperers have innovated a new finish by pressing lots of thin slats together to create a gorgeous hombre effect. 

Elsewhere, sound and light have also been carefully utilised to make things feel all lovely and expensive. The indicator sound is a recording of a leather hammer in action, the noise when you trigger the voice command is of someone blowing on the rim of a crystal glass.

There’s even fake V8 rumble - nothing too rorty of course, that would be uncouth. Bentley says this is as much for the benefit of passengers as the driver, as the lack of aural context is often what causes people to feel unusually queasy in EVs. Smart!

As for how it drives, we’ll have to wait a few more months to find out for ourselves, but Bentley is especially proud of the active suspension system, which it says enables wildly different personalities in various driving modes. In comfort, it boasts a “magic carpet” ride while, in its pointiest setting, we’re assured this is the most dynamically capable four door Bentley ever created, aided of course by the huge battery in the floor and resulting low centre of gravity.

Prices start at £173,300 for the Torcal or £199,300 for the Torcal S, and first deliveries are expected in Summer 2027. What do we reckon, time to cancel that Bentayga order?