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New electric Jaguar primed and ready? Bentley says “hold our beer”
Bentley Torcal revealed with monster power, imposing looks and beguiling blend of new tech and trad luxury
Words by: Dan Trent
Last updated on 23 September 2026 | 0 min read
The Jaguar Type 01 makes its formal debut in a matter of days and – having had a sneak preview already – our first thoughts were ‘your move, Bentley’. Well, in one of those spooky coincidences Bentley has just confirmed details of its all-electric Torcal, the week before the covers come off the Jaguar. Funny, that. As you’ll see, the comparisons are irresistible, not just because the Type 01 shows clear aspirations to park Jaguar on Bentley’s lawn. It may find the Torcal there already, though. Here’s what we now know.
- The Torcal joins the existing Bentley line-up as a fourth model line alongside the Continental GT, Bentayga and Flying Spur
- Two models coming, the ‘core’ with 821 horsepower and the Sport with 888 horsepower, the latter hitting 0-62mph in just 2.9 seconds on the way to a 162mph top speed
- Massive 113kWh battery good for 375 miles by official WLTP test figures
- Engine noise replaced by dedicated Dynamic Symphony of musicians recording sound effects inspired by classic Bentley V8 engines
- Inventive blend of luxury and sustainability includes world’s first 100 per cent Merino wool upholstery for a car and neat walnut veneer from recycled offcuts
- Cost? Probably lots…
Design and models available
Ferrari has courted controversy with its electric Luce but it has at least seized the opportunity of electric propulsion to do something radical, Jaguar and now Bentley seemingly chained to the proportions of traditional combustion-engined cars. This at least draws a visual link to what’s gone before and has a level of familiarity and continuity. But, in both cases, has resulted in gigantic cars where a good proportion of their five-metre length is wasted on a long bonnet you could reasonably argue is, literally, a waste of space. One for the social media discussions, perhaps, but the Torcal is undeniably imposing and instantly recognisable as a Bentley, the range comprising ‘core’ and Sport versions with the inevitable encouragement to customisation through Bentley’s bespoke Mulliner programme. Under the skin given Bentley shares tech within the wider VW group with Porsche – and its new boss is a former Porsche R&D chief we’d speculate it will likely share some DNA with the all-electric Cayenne and Cayenne Coupe we’ve been driving recently.
Interior and tech
Bentley interiors are among the best in the business, and the Torcal strikes a neat blend between tradition and innovation. Sure, there are lots of technical titbits like curved OLED displays and suchlike. But the more interesting things come in the choice of materials, including the world’s first automotive upholstery made 100 per cent from Merino wool in collaboration with a Somerset-based firm called Fox Brothers. Traditional walnut veneer is also given a sustainable twist, this comprising scraps of offcuts and recycled paper pressed into a stylish material less than a millimetre in thickness while retaining the look of polished wood seen in older Bentleys. There are some genuine LOLs in the level of detail in the interactions with the car as well, the touch-screen chinking with the sound of actual crystal glass as your finger hits the screen while the sound of the indicators ticking is in fact a recording of a hammer hitting a leather surface. We kid not.
Batteries/range or engines
If you’re really obsessing over the numbers the fact the Torcal has less than 1,000 horsepower might appear disappointing in comparison with the Jaguar and Ferrari. If that’s what keeps you awake at night take comfort in the torque figures of 1,194Nm for the core version and 1,350Nm for the Sport. In plain English that means the effortless waft Bentleys have always been associated with is present and correct, now just delivered by electric motors. With sound effects recorded by musicians creating a ‘Dynamic Symphony’ inspired by the beat of traditional petrol engines rising and falling according to how hard you press the accelerator. Really.
Price and release
We have a lot of numbers for the Torcal, just not any relating to cost as yet. We’d expect it to be more than the Jaguar, though.
What other cars from Bentley are due this year?
The Torcal is likely the talk of the town, at least in Bentley terms!
What other cars that are upcoming will this compete with?
We may already have mentioned but the Ferrari Luce and Jaguar Type 01 are very much going to be on the same shopping list, McLaren rumoured to be finally considering a luxury SUV of its own having always said it wouldn’t follow the herd.
