Bentley Believes Drums Are the Best Natural Substitute for V8 Sounds in Electric Vehicles.
Bentley
The most significant car news and reviews, no nonsense
Our complimentary daily newsletter delivers the stories that truly matter straight to your inbox every weekday.
As Bentley gears up to launch its first electric vehicle (EV), it encounters a challenge similar to many other manufacturers with appealing internal-combustion engines. While a near-silent operation may suit a luxury vehicle like the Bentley Torcal, customers are likely to miss the distinctive sounds of the V8 engines that power other Bentleys, often likened to a NASCAR experience post-education. Thus, the automaker has proposed a solution it's optimistic will be both familiar and innovative.
The V8 engine has been integral to Bentley’s history, from the Rolls-Royce 6.7-liter V8, which operated from the 1930s until 2020, to the current VW Group engines, serving as the inspiration for the Torcal’s signature sound. However, unlike some manufacturers that have resorted to synthetically creating engine noises or mixing them with advanced sound effects, leading to generally unsatisfactory outcomes, Bentley opted for a different route. It recognizes that artificial background noise cannot substitute for the authentic sound of engine airflow.
Torcal | The sound of Bentley, designed for emotional connection
This is why I'm pleased with Bentley’s choice to forgo replicating the sound of its combustion engines. Rather, the Torcal will incorporate sounds recorded by actual musicians, “utilizing real instruments such as drums, viola, and bass guitar,” as stated in a press release. The soundtrack “reacts to the driver’s inputs, enhancing the driving experience,” Bentley asserts.
Particularly, the use of drums is intended to evoke the emotions associated with driving V8s, as they closely resemble the rhythm of a throaty eight-cylinder engine, according to Bentley. To verify this, engineers conducted an experiment where individuals walked between parabolic speakers playing V8 and drum sounds for comparison. The image here isn’t a still from a dystopian student science fiction film, but rather a sound-related experiment.
Bentley
We'll find out how effective this experiment is when the Torcal is unveiled. The debut is set for September 23, and CEO Mike Rocco informed The Drive in April that sales are anticipated to commence in the third quarter of 2027. The recent announcement of Bentley's first EV name, Torcal, derives from El Torcal de Antequera, a region in Andalusia, Spain, recognized for its striking limestone rock formations.
Bentley first revealed the yet-to-be-named Torcal in November 2024, describing it then as a “luxury urban SUV” that would be smaller than the Bentayga. Rocco indicated that it would still be priced similarly to the Bentayga and, like the larger Bentley SUV, it would share a platform with other VW Group vehicles. This time, it's expected to utilize an upgraded version of the Premium Platform Electric found in the Porsche Cayenne Electric.
Other articles
Alonso states that his decision for 2027 depends on the rules, not on Aston's decline.
Formula 1 | Fernando Alonso states that Aston Martin's poor beginning to 2026 will not determine his continuation in Formula 1 next year, emphasizing that the regulations (…)
Red Bull targets Mercedes junior program head Lagrue.
Formula 1 | Red Bull is said to be attempting to lure away the individual responsible for Mercedes' very successful young driver program as it restructures the framework that was previously dominated (...)
Why Hagerty Is the Preferred Insurance Choice for Classic Car Collectors
You dedicate time, money, and passion to your collector car. Your car insurance should reflect that commitment at every stage.
Red Bull makes a move for Mercedes' junior team leader Lagrue.
Formula 1 | Red Bull is allegedly attempting to recruit the individual responsible for Mercedes' very effective young driver program as it seeks to restructure the framework that was once in its control.
F1 Is Offering Its Wealthiest Fans an Upscale Dinner on a Flatbed While Racing Around a Track
Would you be willing to spend a lot of money for dinner in a container as it moves along a track, while a former F1 champion shares their stories with you?
Red Bull rejects the Racing Bulls offer backed by Abu Dhabi.
Formula 1 | It has been reported that Red Bull declined an offer that could reach $3 billion for its second Formula 1 team, Racing Bulls. Red Bull turns down $3bn from Abu (…)
Bentley Believes Drums Are the Best Natural Substitute for V8 Sounds in Electric Vehicles.
A fantastic exhaust note is frequently likened to music. The Torcal's audio will be, quite literally, musical.