Bentley has something China’s luxury cars can’t offer

Bentley has launched its first electric car, the Torcal, betting that its legacy and craftsmanship can set it apart in an increasingly technology-focused luxury market – even as the new EV marks one of the biggest departures yet from some of the brand’s traditional design cues.

As Chinese manufacturers increasingly bring sophisticated technology and equipment into the luxury market, Bentley believes its biggest point of difference is something that can't be added to a specification sheet: its legacy.

That philosophy is central to the new Torcal, with Bentley deliberately carrying familiar design cues and traditional craftsmanship into its first electric car, even as it introduces an all-new powertrain.

But that established identity is also something of a double-edged sword. At the first unveiling of the Torcal in Crewe, Head of Exterior Design and Design Operations T. Jon Mayer said one of the biggest challenges for the design team was introducing something new while ensuring it remained recognisably Bentley.

“We could make the car look like whatever, but then it wouldn't be a Bentley,” Mr Mayer said.

The design team continually returned to established elements including the Torcal's upright stance and long bonnet, with Mayer describing Bentley's heritage as “handcuffs” for designers because the creative boundaries are tighter.

“It's always [about] making sure it's a Bentley,” he said.

But Bentley isn't relying on heritage alone. The brand is also using physical craftsmanship as a point of difference, including in the Torcal's grille, which remains a key part of the car's face despite the EV no longer requiring a conventional grille for engine cooling.

Its 76 diamond elements are individually hand-assembled into the grille system, turning what could have simply been a digital design exercise into a physical demonstration of Bentley's approach to craftsmanship.

That philosophy carries through to the Torcal's digital features, with Bentley working with Cumbria Crystal in England to hand-cut and hand-etch crystal before capturing light passing through it via video recording for use in the car's digital effects.

“It's not about analogue versus digital. It's about being real,” the exterior design boss said.

The Torcal's artificial propulsion sound was similarly developed using musicians, who recreated the rhythm and imperfections associated with Bentley's V8 rather than simply playing a recording of an existing engine through the speakers.

That same philosophy extends into Bentley's manufacturing operations, where the company says technology and AI are being used to assist its craftspeople rather than replace them.

“It's part of the brand DNA, we never lose it,” Mayer said.

Bentley said its lower production volumes allow it to continue using bespoke manufacturing processes, while technology is used to improve accuracy, quality and execution.

“Using it to assist rather than replace” is how the company describes its approach to technology and AI, with skilled workers continuing to carry out the final work on each vehicle.

The strategy comes as Chinese manufacturers increasingly move into premium and luxury segments, with high levels of technology and equipment becoming a more prominent part of the offering at price points below those traditionally occupied by established European luxury brands.

For Bentley, the Torcal represents an attempt to introduce the latest electric and digital technology while maintaining the design, materials and manufacturing processes that have defined the brand.

The Torcal will begin production in the second quarter of 2027, with Bentley positioning its first EV as part of a broader strategy that will continue to offer combustion, hybrid and electric powertrains alongside its traditional focus on craftsmanship and bespoke luxury.

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