Bentley tests wealthy buyers' interest in going electric with first EV

Bentley unveiled its first fully electric vehicle, the Torcal SUV, on Wednesday, signaling confidence that wealthy buyers desire zero-emission motoring without abandoning the brand's distinctive design elements. The unveiling of the Torcal follows Ferrari's electric Luce, which faced criticism for its departure from the Italian brand's traditional low-slung, petrol-powered sports cars.

In contrast, Bentley's new EV maintains styling cues from its combustion-engine models, including diamond-shaped lights that mimic a traditional front grille, despite the absence of such a feature in electric vehicles.

The Torcal SUV retains the essence of a Bentley, with a starting price of £173,000 ($230,000), making it more accessible compared to Ferrari's electric Luce, which begins at €550,000 ($628,000). Bentley CEO Frank-Steffen Walliser stated that the company's intention was always to create a "Bentley first" electric vehicle, emphasizing that customers are not seeking a radically different car simply because it is electric.

Rolls-Royce, owned by BMW, and Lamborghini, a Volkswagen Group company, are the only other major ultra-luxury automakers currently selling EVs, with Lamborghini postponing its debut until the end of the decade and McLaren expressing no plans for an EV at present, citing limited customer demand.

Bentley had previously delayed the launch of its first EV until 2026 and abandoned a goal of becoming fully electric by 2030, citing a lack of customer readiness. However, strong interest from existing customers, as well as new buyers, has been noted, particularly in Europe, the Middle East, and U.S. states with high EV adoption rates.

Walliser revealed that the company has invested £350 million ($465 million) in its Crewe, northwest England plant to manufacture the Torcal. British Business Minister Jonathan Reynolds hailed Bentley's investment as evidence that the right conditions are being created for growth in the UK.