2028 Bentley Torcal First Impressions: A Luxury Electric Vehicle That Dances to Its Own Rhythm

      **Bentley**

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      Regardless of how you look at it, this is quite a challenging time to introduce an electric vehicle (EV). There are significant political challenges; federal subsidies have ended, and public opinion is likely at one of its lowest points regarding EVs in nearly ten years. This is unfortunate because EVs are starting to become genuinely intriguing. Enter the Bentley Torcal.

      You might think that the phrase “Interesting EV” contradicts itself, and you're entitled to that view. However, there are some uncomfortable truths we need to acknowledge. First, EVs make for excellent luxury vehicles. They are inherently quiet, exceptionally smooth, and remarkably capable of delivering intense performance bursts that attract envious glances from onlookers. Second, whether you love or dislike them, EVs signify something new and different. The appeal of novelty should not be underestimated, especially among millennials with newfound wealth.

      However, these characteristics are common in luxury EVs, and even extend to less luxurious models. This overlap presents a challenge because nothing diminishes the charm of the new and unique quite like it becoming commonplace. Oh, your Mercedes can accelerate from 0 to 60 in 3.5 seconds? So can my electric Kia. For many automakers, the first major challenge of electrification was creating a workable electric vehicle; the second challenge is designing one that stands out. Arriving a bit later to the scene, Bentley faces the difficult task of achieving both objectives simultaneously.

      Bentley is acutely aware of its delicate situation. If you stayed in Monterey after this year’s Car Week, you might have seen some camouflaged prototypes roaming the coastal area. One of these was the Torcal prototype, which was being used to transport journalists (including me) to provide a preview of the company’s first electric SUV.

      While Bentley asserts that its goal is merely to create an interesting EV, the company has its own standards to meet, primarily centered around the car's quintessential Bentley quality. After all, Bentley dealers must market these vehicles to discerning Bentley clientele, who are known to be quite particular, as confirmed by sources dedicated to maintaining Bentley’s prestigious brand image. This raises the essential question: How do we define Bentley-ness?

      A thorough exploration of that question would require more space than I can allocate here, so I’ll summarize it based on the two words product line manager Martin Page frequently used to describe what his engineering team envisioned when tuning the Torcal’s powertrain response: “effortless progression.”

      Bentley certainly addresses this aspect. The Torcal is built on a platform shared with the electric Porsche Cayenne, mirroring nearly all (though not entirely) of its capabilities. We already know that Porsche’s version performs exceptionally, and the Bentley is expected to fall between the Cayenne S and Turbo in terms of power (over 840 hp) and weight. Both vehicles are designed for somewhat similar purposes; however, unlike Porsche, Bentley is not prioritizing peak performance, but rather the ultimate expression of luxury.

      Where the Cayenne’s steering is designed to react to the road’s feedback, Bentley’s is crafted to absorb those influences. A Bentley masters the road instead of being guided by it. The Torcal’s initial steering response is intentionally muted, evolving as the driver turns the wheel, assisting in the perception that the vehicle can glide over obstacles with mere inertia.

      Yet, this sensation of control isn't intended to seem artificial, which poses a significant challenge for electric vehicles since much of a traditional combustion car's personality stems from the engine. Nowadays, discussions around the authenticity of engine sounds are complex, but generally, the auditory experience of an EV lacks organic quality. With few exceptions, EV sounds are largely superficial.

      Rather than mimicking the sounds of a combustion engine, Bentley opted to draw inspiration from the sensations typically associated with natural engine noises, if not the sounds themselves. Imperfect engines produce imperfect sounds, which led Bentley to explore real-life sounds rather than synthetic ones. The outcome? An instrumental soundtrack.

      Consider the rhythm of a highly cammed V8—each tiny explosion against the piston heads creates an imperfect beat. This idle rhythm is echoed in Bentley’s propulsion sound by drums. The audio is enhanced with additional instruments, including the viola and bass guitar. Just like a traditional combustion engine, the Torcal's sound correlates not with the vehicle’s speed, but with the actual workload required by its motors. As the load increases, the sound gets richer and more resonant, even to the extent of being felt in your chest. Accelerate and the rhythm quickens, introducing higher frequencies. It feels right and fitting.

      And when I mentioned that Bentley chose to forgo some of Porsche’s technology, I was referencing Porsche's Active Ride. While it's an impressive feature, it does not contribute to an organic driving experience. The 800-volt electrical system that supports the chassis technology is present in the Torcal, so its suspension is