Bentley launches first fully electric car – with fake engine sounds to replace classic growl
News Source
•Wed, 23 Sep 2026 18:15:55 GMT
📰 What Happened
Bentley has launched its first fully electric car, an SUV called the Torcal. It is the brand's cheapest model, starting at 173,000 pounds, and it will be built in Crewe, England.
The Torcal can travel up to 375 miles on a single charge. It can top up from 10% to 80% in 20 minutes using an ultra-fast charger.
The car has a fake engine sound made from drum recordings, based on Bentley's old eight-cylinder engines. The company says it adds emotion to the car for new buyers.
🔍 The Backstory
The launch is part of a 350m pound investment in Bentley's UK business. It protects the jobs of the 4,000 workers at its Crewe factory.
In 2024 Bentley dropped plans to launch a new electric car every year from 2025 to 2030, blaming weak demand. Chief executive Frank-Steffen Walliser said there are "no plans at the moment" for a second EV.
It is the third big UK car investment in just over a week. Nissan will spend 170m pounds in Sunderland and McLaren 500m pounds on a new factory. But carmakers still face US tariffs, Chinese competition and high energy costs.
🎯 Why It Matters
Electric luxury cars cost far more than most people can pay, but they push battery technology forward. This investment also protects thousands of UK factory jobs.
Bentley has launched its first fully electric car, an SUV called the Torcal. It is the brand's cheapest model, starting at 173,000 pounds, and it will be built in Crewe, England.
The Torcal can travel up to 375 miles on a single charge. It can top up from 10% to 80% in 20 minutes using an ultra-fast charger.
The car has a fake engine sound made from drum recordings, based on Bentley's old eight-cylinder engines. The company says it adds emotion to the car for new buyers.
The launch is part of a 350m pound investment in Bentley's UK business. It protects the jobs of the 4,000 workers at its Crewe factory.
In 2024 Bentley dropped plans to launch a new electric car every year from 2025 to 2030, blaming weak demand. Chief executive Frank-Steffen Walliser said there are "no plans at the moment" for a second EV.
It is the third big UK car investment in just over a week. Nissan will spend 170m pounds in Sunderland and McLaren 500m pounds on a new factory. But carmakers still face US tariffs, Chinese competition and high energy costs.
Electric luxury cars cost far more than most people can pay, but they push battery technology forward. This investment also protects thousands of UK factory jobs.