Bentley Reveals Its First Electric Car's Name: Torcal
Bentley has announced the name of its first fully electric vehicle—Torcal—a 5-meter SUV with over 300 miles of range, to be fully unveiled on September 23, 2026. The article delves into the challenging luxury EV market that Bentley is entering.
British automaker Bentley has confirmed the name of its first all-electric car: Torcal. Along with a teaser image of the vehicle's rear, the company promises a full reveal on September 23, 2026. While detailed specifications remain under wraps, Bentley has disclosed that the Torcal will be a 5-meter-long SUV with a range exceeding 300 miles.
The name Torcal was already anticipated after Bentley filed trademarks for “Torcal” and “Barnato” in Europe and the UK earlier this year, covering motor vehicles, charging cables, and stations. Torcal is derived from El Torcal de Antequera, a natural limestone formation in Andalusia, Spain, and also relates to the Latin word “torquere” meaning to twist—the root of “torque.”
WIRED was invited to a private preview near Bentley's UK headquarters. The Torcal resembles the Bentayga but is slightly smaller, with a long hood, upright front, and familiar rear haunches. Its roofline slopes at the back, a common EV design feature for reduced drag and increased range. The most striking front element is a grille consisting of illuminated crystals, inspired by the Continental T. Inside, physical buttons for essential functions accompany OLED screens; the central display curves downward like in the new Cayenne. Bentley has opted not to offer a separate passenger screen.
Bentley chairman and CEO Frank-Steffen Walliser calls the Torcal “the most considered car” in Bentley's history. However, it arrives at a time of declining demand for premium EVs. Lamborghini shelved its Lanzador, Ferrari's first EV wiped billions off its market value, Mercedes sold only 1,450 electric G Wagons in Europe by April 2025, and Audi discontinued the Q8 E-tron. Porsche's Taycan has suffered massive depreciation, and Porsche's 2025 operating profit dropped 93% to €413 million. Rolls-Royce Spectre sales are down 44%.
Despite the bleak market, Bentley remains relatively healthy. In March, it reported its seventh consecutive year of profitability: €216 million operating profit on €2.6 billion revenue, though this was a 42% decline year-over-year. Bentley is self-funding the conversion of its Crewe plant for EV assembly and has cut 275 non-manufacturing roles to finance the transition. The company has also pushed back its full EV target from 2030 to 2035 under the Beyond100 Plus strategy, with a second all-electric Bentley not expected before 2030.
Walliser believes the timing is right for Bentley, noting that “technology seekers” who wanted flashy EVs have given way to customers who simply want a car. He emphasizes that the Torcal is an evolution, not a revolution. There may be hope in China, where Ferrari's Luce—despite Western criticism—sold its entire first-year allocation of 88 units almost instantly. Bentley and Walliser are hoping for a similar reception for the Torcal.
