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Photo: The_Osco via CocheSpias forum
A single day before its premiere, the Torcal is out of the bag in all its glory. The first Bentley series-production model with all-electric muscle shows a tall grille, imposing front lights, and a broad liftgate, although the hardpoints are visibly shared with the much cheaper Porsche Cayenne Electric and its coupe-ified sibling.
Much closer to an ultra-luxury SUV than the EXP 15 design study, the Torcal is tall through the greenhouse, square through the shoulders, and relatively tidy in all respects. The roof, however, sits lower than it does on the Porsche Cayenne-twinned Bentayga. Its front end carries most of the visual weight.
The look-at-me grille is a nearly rectangular panel framed by a bright surround and filled with a tightly repeated diamond pattern. Its jewel-like grille motif traces back to the grille designs of the 1920s, creating a direct connection between past and present. The lighting is more technical than on the Bentayga.
Extremely slim elements run along the upper edges of each front corner, while the main headlamps sit lower and use multiple compact elements to create a cross-like pattern. The split design makes the front end look wider, giving the hood a clean visual break in the process.
We can also see that Bentley used the latest Winged B emblem. The hood is exceptionally long by electric vehicle standards, and it has pronounced outer creases that run toward the front fenders. EXP 15 established the so-called Endless Bonnet Line as a future design principle, namely a continuous line stretching from the hood toward the rear haunches. As you can see, the Torcal does not copy the concept literally.
Photo: The_Osco via CocheSpias forum
It does retain the strong shoulder lines, restrained side profile surfacing, and further sweetens the deal with a dark treatment for the lower body. The roofline tapers gently toward the rear, preserving cabin volume while the tall rear quarters and upright hatch reinforce the sport utility vehicle proportions.
There is very little decorative surfacing for its own sake, with Bentley leaving the major forms to do the work. Out back, slim horizontal taillights flank an oversized wing emblem and the B E N T L E Y script. Similar to the sides, the darkened lower bumper area pulls visual mass downward for a sportier aesthetic.
As far as the rear end is concerned, the cleanliness of it all happens to line up with another EXP 15 principle Bentley calls Prestigious Shield. Taken together, the Torcal is clearly less experimental than the concept because the British automaker couldn’t go crazy on Volkswagen Group underpinnings. Even so, a great deal of its underlying components are understood to be unique to the Torcal.
The fourth model in the lineup after the Continental GT, Flying Spur, and Bentayga is smaller than the Bentayga, yet promises in the ballpark of 850 ps (838 hp) from two electric drive units. Torque is expected to surpass 1,000 Nm (738 lb-ft), whereas the interior has been confirmed to include a Porsche Cayenne Electric-like Flow Display as part of the infotainment system.
When it comes to range, prospective customers should look forward to just around 600 kilometers (373 miles) in the WLTP on a full charge. Its 800-volt electric architecture, meanwhile, should enable a top-up from 10 to 80 percent in less than 20 minutes if the 113-kWh battery carries over from the Porsche division.