2027 Bentley Torcal: First EV will be brand's quickest car ever

Bentley has teased its first-ever electric vehicle (EV) once again, confirming it will be both the most powerful and fastest-accelerating car the marque has ever made.

The 2027 Bentley Torcal is due to be revealed in London on September 23, and the drip-feed of teasers has given us some strong hints of what to expect.

According to the British marque, the Torcal will be "Bentley's most powerful production car ever", and "the fastest-accelerating Bentley from standstill within the marque's history".

That indicates peak power of around 600kW and a 0-100km/h claim of around 3.0 seconds, given the plug-in hybrid Continental GT Speed already makes 575kW/1000Nm and can dash from 0-100 in 3.2 seconds.

Bentley maintains that despite its monstrous acceleration, the Torcal "has been engineered to remain within the limits of comfort, carefully designed to meet the requirements of Bentley’s customers".

The Torcal is expected to share its platform and electrical architecture with the Porsche Cayenne Electric, given the two high-end VW Group subsidiaries often share vehicle architectures and powertrans.

For reference, the Cayenne Turbo Electric makes 630kW from its dual-motor electric powertrain, which is bumped up to a whopping 850kW/1500Nm using the Overboost function.

With all systems going, the flagship Porsche SUV can scoot from 0-100km/h in just 2.5 seconds, which puts it on par with the 911 Turbo S supercar.

In addition to lofty claims of the Torcal's performance, the Crewe-based automaker has confirmed a number of details about materials and craftsmanship, to retain Bentley's signature bespoke feel as it moves into a more digitised and electrified space.

The Bentley Diamond motif will continue, with a floating diamond grille to feature outside – presumably illuminated based on the photos – while the interior displays will feature projections of light passing through real hand-cut crystal glass, crafted in collaboration with Cumbria Crystal in England's Lake District.

"Rather than relying solely on computer-generated graphics to create the Torcal's digital displays, Bentley's design team sought the authenticity and character of handcrafted materials," the company says in its media release.

"The subtle variations and natural imperfections inherent in hand craftsmanship bring an unexpected sense of warmth and humanity to an otherwise ultra-modern digital experience."

Bentley will also expand its wide palette of interior materials and textures with the Torcal, including some industry firsts.

Among these new innovations is the first application of Merino wool in an automotive interior, developed in partnership with renowned Somerset clothmaker, Fox Brothers.

Made specifically for the new Torcal, Bentley says the material is "soft to the touch, naturally breathable and unmistakably authentic".

It's also the first automotive wool fabric to achieve 100 per cent certification by the Responsible Wool Standard (RWS) – the Textile Exchange's globally recognised program.

Six "carefully curated" colourways have been created to accompany the new Merino wool, each combining "complementary tones from the same colour family, creating depth, harmony and a contemporary sense of sophistication".

There will also be the option of a new 'Ombre Veneer', created from sustainably sourced off-cuts of walnut and recycled paper.

Bentley says the veneer is formed from "up to 1000 individually selected layers that are carefully pressed together before being sliced to less than a millimetre in thickness".

The result is a striking textured material that the company says complements the geometry of the cabin, creating "a seamless transition of tone across each surface".

Bentley's Mulliner coachbuilding division has also created a Sunburst Aluminium trim insert that is said to reinterpret " engine-turned aluminium dashboards that graced Bentley models of the past".

Stay tuned to CarExpert for our coverage of the Bentley Torcal's reveal later this month.

MORE: Bentley's first EV now has a name
MORE: Explore the Bentley showroom