Key facts
- Bentley has unveiled its first fully electric car, the Torcal SUV.
- The Torcal is built on a new production line at Bentley's factory in Crewe.
- Bentley invested £350 million in factory upgrades for electric vehicle production.
- The Torcal SUV has a range of up to 375 miles on its 113kWh battery.
- The car can charge from 10% to 80% in under 20 minutes with a 400kW charger.
- The Torcal S model is Bentley's most powerful car, reaching 162mph.
Bentley has unveiled its first fully electric car, the Torcal SUV, following a £350 million investment to upgrade its factory in Cheshire. The new production line is housed within one of the site's original factory buildings dating from 1938, which has been reconfigured to accommodate autonomous guided vehicles for car movement.
The Torcal SUV is built on a brand-new production line at the luxury carmaker's headquarters in Crewe, which has been in operation since 1946. The investment is expected to bolster automotive supply chains, with Bentley sourcing from over 700 businesses, including 82 within a 50-mile radius of its base.
Business secretary Jonathan Reynolds stated that the investment would "support 4,000 high-value local jobs in Crewe." The Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade indicated that the Torcal would strengthen automotive supply chains.
The Torcal is equipped with a 113kWh battery, providing a range of up to 375 miles (600km). It can charge from 10% to 80% in less than 20 minutes using a 400kW charger. The Torcal S model is set to be Bentley's most powerful car, with a top speed of 162mph and acceleration to 60mph in 2.8 seconds. The standard Torcal model can reach speeds of up to 155mph and accelerates to 60mph in 3.3 seconds.
Dr Frank-Steffen Walliser, Bentley's chairman and chief executive, described the Torcal as "one of the best Bentleys ever," emphasizing its design to blend luxury with electric technology. He noted that the car was "created by hand by people who care, using the best available materials and technology to blend heritage with cutting-edge innovation."