Thanks to their ability to provide a smooth ride and quiet powertrain with ease, electric vehicles are a natural fit for the high-end luxury automotive segment. Rolls-Royce offers the Spectre, Cadillac’s Celestiq takes bespoke luxury to a new level, and Mercedes has given the EQS the full Maybach treatment. From Volkswagen Auto Group, Bentley is preparing to debut its 2027 Torcal, a spacious SUV sharing a platform with the electrified Porsche Cayenne.
I recently experienced a brief ride in a heavily camouflaged preproduction Torcal to familiarize myself with it ahead of its official debut later this month. Between this vehicle’s spacious interior, supple ride quality, and dedication to artisan detail in the digital age, all signs indicate it will not only compete effectively in the segment but also remain characteristically Bentley.
When I say heavily camouflaged, this applies not only to the Torcal’s exterior but to the interior as well. Thick black cloth was draped over most surfaces, to the point where engineers had to punch holes in the material for proper seatbelt routing. The exterior was equally deceptive; the team affixed false body paneling beneath the wrap to obscure its true shape and profile. At first glance, it appeared Bentley drew inspiration from Lucid’s Gravity by designing it wider at the front than at the rear—in the name of teardrop-inspired aerodynamics—but Martin Page, the Torcal’s product line director and my chauffeur for the ride, assured me that what I was seeing (or rather, trying to see) would not reflect the production model.
However, this enabled me to focus more closely on what I could feel and hear. Whether in the front or rear seats, the Torcal is generously spacious, even though it is noticeably smaller in size and footprint than Bentley’s current Bentayga. Page explained the considerable efforts engineers undertook to ensure an isolating and remarkably smooth ride. Utilizing the brand’s standard two-chamber air suspension—common across the lineup—might seem sufficient given an EV’s inherently favorable chassis balance, but engineers went further by carefully modifying the oil flow through the adaptive dampers. This results in a much more discernible distinction between Comfort and Sport modes. Regardless of the selected mode, the ride remained exceptionally smooth. Considerable attention was also devoted to the Torcal’s alignment, with steering that confidently returns to and holds center.
Delving deeper into traditional Bentley characteristics, developing the ideal simulated engine note was a high priority. The team drew inspiration from the brand’s V8-powered Turbo R of the 1980s, though the sound itself was recorded from a musician’s drum beat and mixed accordingly, rather than simply generated by a synthesizer.
“What we wanted to do throughout the car is maintain craftsmanship, not only in the materials but also in the way we execute the digital aspects,” Page shared.
“What we wanted to do throughout the car is maintain craftsmanship, not only in the materials but also in the way we execute the digital aspects.”
— Martin Page, Torcal’s product line director
The rationale behind this approach lies in hearing subtle imperfections, much like one would from an analogue internal combustion powertrain. Going further, the Torcal’s throttle tuning appeared to emulate a torquey V8 with progressive power delivery. In light of this, Page noted that with this sound enabled, occupants receive auditory cues aligned with the vehicle’s torque delivery, which can help reduce motion sickness. The sound is not yet finalized and continues to undergo fine-tuning at the time of this writing.
I caught a glimpse of the digital instrument cluster and central infotainment screen—Page had to monitor the speed limit, after all. The background image displayed across these screens is of a fine crystal decanter hand-cut by Cumbria Crystal, illuminated by light passing through it. In Page’s words, this captures the natural refractions and reflections produced by every facet. It serves as another indication of the brand’s dedication to craftsmanship in the digital age, albeit a subtle one.
It is also worth noting that Bentley takes net environmental impact seriously. “In this car we take sustainability to another level, we have clear targets for circular material and green aluminum,” Page shared. “The door cards are made with a natural fiber—not injection-molded plastic—that is fully recyclable and fully sustainable.”
Additionally, Bentley is collaborating with fellow UK company Fox Brothers to offer a Merino wool interior option, serving not only as an alternative route for comfort (Volvo has found success with wool as well) but also as a durable, renewable material suited to automotive use. Finally, the assembly plant in Crewe, England, maintains stringent requirements for green energy use (particularly solar) and other renewable practices.
Output, battery, and charging specifications are not yet finalized. Power will exceed 800 hp and 700 lb-ft of torque, with a curb weight estimated at nearly 6,000 lbs. Page remained tight-lipped regarding battery size (though expect it to mirror the Porsche’s 108 net kWh unit), and the targeted range is over 370 miles. With a peak charging rate of 400 kW, the brand is targeting a 10–80 percent top-up in under 20 minutes, adding 100 miles in as little as seven minutes.
“We’re trying to be authentic in the whole experience,” Page summarized as we headed back to the parking lot where I had met him.
The philosophy behind the Torcal is to craft an exceptional Bentley first, and in doing so, create an outstanding EV. It incorporates proven technology from the Volkswagen Group, but the brand is betting that its focus on craftsmanship and meticulous refinement will appeal to discerning, affluent potential customers seeking a luxury electric vehicle. Pricing has not yet been announced, but it will be interesting to observe how the Torcal is received following its full official unveiling.
