Bentley’s first EV finally has a name: Torqal

Like most carmakers, Bentley has pushed back its ambitious goal of going all-electric. The EV-only lineup was supposed to arrive in 2030, but that’s no longer happening. Despite the change in plans, Crewe’s first model to remove the combustion engine entirely is still on track for a world premiere later this year. Ahead of its confirmed debut in London on September 23, the model finally got a name: Torcal.

To date, Bentley had referred to its first EV as an “urban SUV”, suggesting a more compact footprint. Although it will be smaller than the Bentayga, it will still be massively sized like every other car to wear the Flying Bee hood mascot. As for the production model’s Torkal name, it references a natural landmark, echoing the Bentayga, Bacalar and Batur. Specifically, the ultra-luxury automaker took inspiration from El Torcal de Antequera in Andalusia, Spain.

There’s not much to go on from this teaser, but we’ve changed up the exposure to reveal more design details. Some styling elements are likely to carry over from last year’s EXP 15, albeit in SUV shape. The concept was unconventional, involving an asymmetrical door layout with two doors on the left and only one on the right. However, the Torqal is expected to adopt a traditional four-door body style, as well as the tailgate we can already see in the preview image.

By now, you’ve probably seen the spy video and images of the camouflaged prototype at the Nürburgring. It’s easy to tell that the Torkal’s shape is somewhat boxy but the shape of a traditional SUV, not the hard-to-define segment for which the concept was designed. Still, some of the EXP 15’s more radical design elements are likely to reach Torkal and help it stand out from the Bentayga, which Bentley has been selling for more than a decade. As a result, the new EV is expected to look far more modern than the gas-powered SUV, which has its roots in the even older 2012 EXP 9 F concept.

Unlike the Bentayga, there will be no combustion engine under that hood. Bentley has made it clear that it will not re-engineer the model to accommodate ICE power. Given that the ultra-luxury British brand is part of the Volkswagen Group, the Torqal is unlikely to be developed from scratch. Instead, it will likely share some underpinnings with the Porsche Cayenne Electric, while offering a higher level of luxury to justify its badge and the premium that comes with it.

Although it’s too early for Bentley to reveal technical specifications, we can look to the Torqal’s anticipated sister model for clues. In the case of the Cayenne Electric, the Premium Platform Electric (PPE) underpinnings deliver 1,140 horsepower and a massive 1,106 pound-feet (1,500 Newton-meters) of torque. Porsche’s electric SUV also features a new 113-kWh battery with a WLTP range of up to 642 kilometers (about 400 miles) and support for 400-kW charging.

The Cayenne Electric takes less than 16 minutes to charge from 10 to 80 percent and can travel 325 kilometers (202 miles) in just 10 minutes. Whether Torkel will also offer wireless charging remains to be seen. In the Porsche, the optional inductive charging system supports up to 11 kW, so it takes little time to refill the battery.

Considering that the Cayenne Turbo Electric accelerates to 62 mph (100 km/h) in 2.5 seconds, the dual-motor setup should provide tremendous acceleration. It takes only 7.4 seconds to reach 124 mph (200 km/h) from a standstill, then reaches a maximum of 162 mph (260 km/h).

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Source: Bentley

Motor1’s Opinion: With just a few months left for the launch of Torkal, we are about to remove another name from the list of automakers without an EV in their portfolio. Although it is understandable to be skeptical about the success of the model, Bentley is confident that it will attract new buyers to the brand. Earlier this year, the company showed off the electric SUV behind closed doors in Miami and Los Angeles, and according to Bentley North America CEO Mike Rocco, 80 percent of attendees said they would buy it.

For those not willing to switch to EVs, combustion engines and plug-in hybrids will remain part of the lineup for the next decade. Since the Torkal will become the fourth model series rather than replacing an existing vehicle, the company can cater to a wider range of customer preferences.