Bentley Reveals Its First All-Electric Model. Here’s Everything You Need to Know.

One of the most important days in Bentley's 107-year history has arrived, a milestone owed to the global unveiling of the British luxury marque's first all-electric vehicle, the Bentley Torcal. Up until now, time-released teasers and vague references from executives have kept anticipation piqued, much the same as Ferrari's game plan prior to the reveal of its zero-emissions Luce . Yet unlike Maranello's divisive outlier, the Torcal carries on the aesthetic traditions of the Crewe-based automaker while adding a hefty dose of stylistic and engineering innovations to a lineup of which it is now the fourth model. Related Stories This New Electric Airliner Can Fly up to 36 Passengers Between Regional Airports Rolls-Royce Has Started Drive-Testing Its Project Nightingale Convertible This New 123-Foot Superyacht Has a Whimsical Candy-Inspired Interior

In June, Robb Report was given a preview of the S.U.V. in its uncovered entirety, promising to keep most of what we saw secret until permission was granted. "I would say the future of Bentley starts today, in this moment, as this is the very first public showing of our new car," said Dr. Frank-Steffen Walliser, chairman and C.E.O. of Bentley, just prior to our sneak peek. "Launching electric cars these days, we call it a challenge because we have to fulfill a lot of requirements . . . we had to make a very, very clear strategic decision about Bentley first, about the car first, and then about the platform."

Far from simply a battery-powered take on the Bentayga, Bentley's new S.U.V. is built on a new platform for the marque. At the heart of this baronial vehicle is a pair of permanent magnet synchronous motors delivering nearly 876 hp in Torcal’s most athletic spec. The duo is juiced by a 113 kWh battery comprising 192 lithium-ion cells. The official press release states that this setup provides "the highest torque of any Bentley ever made," which translates to 995.7 ft lbs. That also explains the vehicle’s name. As we covered when reporting on the moniker in July , the inspiration was the region of "El Torcal de Antequera in Andalusia, Spain," at least according to Bentley’s announcement at the time, but it added that the name is "also derived from the Latin 'torquere,' where we get the word "torque." WATCH

With a range touted to be 375 miles, the Torcal is claimed to be capable of replenishing from 10 percent to 80 percent in as little as 16 minutes, depending on the charger. More impressive is the hefty (the exact weight has yet to be disclosed) family hauler's overall quickness, as it can reach 60 mph from a standstill in 2.8 seconds and reach a top speed of 162 mph. That rate of acceleration is just .1 seconds slower than the McLaren 750S supercar. For more perspective, the most powerful Bentayga to date boasts 641 hp and covers the same ground in 3.4 seconds.

"It’s a different proportion. It’s a lower-riding car. It’s maybe a slightly more sporting intent . . . that's why we've positioned this car in the Sports S.U.V. segment," mentions Martin Page, Torcal's product line director, while we rode as a passenger with him in the camouflaged version last month. Page also noted that "the overall behavior and physics of the car feel naturally different," from its Bentayga sibling.