Could we finally have an ultra-luxurious electric vehicle design that doesn’t generate a storm of controversy? After all the outpouring of sentiment online against Jaguar’s rebranding and Jony Ive’s Ferrari Luce, the Bentley Torcal appears to benefit from a much smoother ride.
Did Bentley get something right while others got it wrong? Or was he simply less ambitious in the design stakes?
Several factors help the Bentley Torcal avoid the controversy that has plagued electric vehicles from Jaguar and Ferrari. It boasts impressive numbers – 876 hp and 996 lb-ft of torque – but the brand of a luxury car is more about emotion than numbers, and Bentley gets it right, too.
Unlike Jaguar, the British manufacturer is not breaking with its heritage to start from scratch. There is no rebranding; it’s the same Bentley we know, it just made its first fully electric car.
Design director Robin Page said the aim was not to create a new design language, but to build “another great Bentley”. His team “decided that our best path would be to embrace our heritage and our DNA, but in a modern and progressive way”, he told Dezeen.
That’s the story, and it’s incredibly coherent.
There’s a new Bentley logo, but it’s a relatively subtle tweak to a familiar design. The Torcal follows the same philosophy. The Bentayga’s influence is evident in signature Bentley elements like the long hood, prominent grille and wide rear haunches.
This grille is probably the most controversial element. In a fully electric car, its original purpose becomes obsolete, but as a design choice, the illuminated diamond pattern provides a striking nighttime identity and a signature feature of the EV era. It’s a touch of bling that might appeal to younger drivers, but its presence also preserves instant recognition.
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(Image credit: Bentley)
Inside, physical metal controls, wool upholstery, handcrafted materials and a lack of excessive screens avoid the coldness of ultra-digital cabins. The approach to sound is also artisanal. Yes, there are fake engine noises, but they’re presented as a feature rather than a compromise. Bentley commissioned musicians to create the “Bentley Dynamic Symphony,” recreating the iconic sound of its V8 engine using drums, viola and bass guitar.
Even the car’s name is a nod to its historic reputation for precision engineering. The name of the Torcal mountain range in Andalusia comes from the Latin verb torquere, the same root as torque.
Look on it
Essentially, Bentley changed the powertrain but avoided the identity controversy seen around Jaguar or the existential questions that inevitably surround Ferrari’s Luce.
Maybe the task was easier. Ferrari brand equity is difficult to separate from engines and motorsport. People buy Bentleys for luxury, comfort and craftsmanship, characteristics that translate more easily to an electric vehicle and are not threatened by a quiet electric powertrain. Jaguar was a dead brand that needed to undergo a painful reset.
None of these approaches are inherently good or bad. Jaguar has largely succeeded in what it set out to achieve, as has Bentley. But will either be able to convince wealthy customers that they want an electric car?
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