Bentley Torcal Debuts as its First All-Electric Luxury SUV

McLaren W1 First Drive: Ferocious Hypercar Transcends the Track

You know things are getting serious when McLaren rolls-out the ‘1’ suffix. The origin story is, of course, the very first road car McLaren ever built, the F1. Designed by visionary Formula 1 aerodynamicist and engineer Gordon Murray, it arrived in 1992 and rendered all other supercars obsolete. The tiny, lightweight F1 embraced carbon-fibre material technology, adopted a radical centre seat driving position with two passengers set back and either side and was powered by a 6.1-litre V12 engine from BMW that might as well have been passed down directly from the Gods. Game-changer? That doesn’t even come close to describing its impact, even if at the time sales didn’t come easy… The P1 was very different. Rather than a unique side project from the Formula 1 team, it was instead a statement piece for McLaren Automotive, a new road car division still in its infancy. It arrived in 2013 and was a wild-eyed showstopper. It traded the long-legged gait and supple suspension of the F1 for a weaponized hybrid system capable of delivering 903bhp and huge blue flames from its drainpipe exhaust. In Race mode, it lowered by 2-inches and its massive concave rear wing extended into the sky. The P1 was all about aerodynamic downforce, crazed acceleration and a snorting, angry soundtrack that mixed venomous twin-turbocharged V8 with the manic whirr of electric motors. Not so much a car as a force of nature. And now there’s this: The W1. It’s a true successor to the P1 with a similar brief and, on the face of it, it evolves rather than radically reinvents McLaren’s vision for the ultimate hypercar. This is not a criticism. How could it be when the result is this dramatic and has such staggering, other-worldly potential? The W1 has 1258bhp delivered to the rear wheels. It’s capable of 0-124 mph in 5.8-seconds, the quarter mile in 9.6-seconds at 167 mph and produces 2205lbs of downforce at 174 mph. The active aerodynamics – particularly a rear wing that extends way out beyond the rear of the car – are pure performance art and deliver massive aerodynamic efficiency. The result, aside from looking extremely cool, is that the W1 is McLaren’s fastest road car around a racetrack. Ever. Their benchmark circuit is the breath-taking Handling Track at the Nardo proving ground in southern Italy, where the W1 beats their previous benchmark, the flyweight McLaren Senna, by three seconds per lap. Or “a lifetime” as they call it in racing. Maybe two lifetimes! Core to the W1’s performance is the new ‘Aerocell’ carbon fibre tub. With integrated seats and a raised footwell to allow for inboard pushrod-operated front suspension – which in turn gives air a clean path to the huge underbody diffuser – it’s light, stiff, space efficient and has been instrumental in McLaren realising a full ground-effect concept. Just like last year’s F1 cars, which were the fastest ever made. There is also an active front wing and the aforementioned complex rear wing dubbed ‘Active Long Tail’. All of which is very admirable. But the ‘anhedral’ or gullwing doors and the fantastically shirnked-wrapped feel to the minimalist, highly-focussed interior are a pretty good side effect. The W1 feels special. Those fixed seats are perhaps a shade more upright than expected, and the driving position is less obviously racecar than, for example, the Aston Martin Valhalla or Ferrari F80. However, once you’ve adjusted the pedals (they move on a slider) and the delicate, slim-rimmed and alcantara-trimmed steering wheel, there’s an overwhelming sense of purpose. The cabin is so tightly tailored and imparts a sense of lightness and agility before you so much as start the all-new 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine, which makes 916bhp all on its own and revs to 9200rpm. Reach up to a roof-mounted control panel to find the starter button. Maybe this fighter plane trope is a little corny, but somehow you feel thrilled rather than manipulated. The W1 has a sense of humour as well as all that motorsport-derived sophistication. There’s a short delay, but when the engine does fire it’s instant – as the high-powered hybrid system negates the need for an old-school starter motor. A sharp flare of revs tells you that this engine is hyper-responsive and angry. On some deep level your brain and body have been sent all the signals required to prepare for something new and intense. Ahead of us, an empty Mugello racetrack, so press and hold the blue button next to the red starter to select Race mode. The centre display graphic shows the W1’s transformation in real time as it lowers by 37mm at the front and 17mm at the rear whilst simultaneously undocking all that active aero goodness. Race mode is not road legal and is geo-locked. You can show your friends and neighbours the aero dance, but it won’t allow you to select a gear to actually drive unless you’re at a circuit. Incidentally, the rocker switches either side of the display binnacle allow further options now: Toggle up the Handling control on the left for Race+ (for F1-spec super smooth tracks) or stick to Race for gnarlier ones. On the right toggle select ‘GP’ for sustained performance over a stint or ‘Sprint’ to unleash all 1258bhp for a time attack. There’s also a DRS and Boost function on the steering wheel. But I guarantee you won’t have the mental capacity to use them… Exit the pitlane, pin the throttle and W1 takes maybe a millisecond or two to gather its might (the gearing stretches to around 60mph in first, nearly 100mph in second, primarily to aid traction), but then lunges at the first turn with incredible ferocity. It instantly feels light, almost like inertia is no longer a thing. McLaren really does prize lightweight engineering, and at 3084lbs (dry) the W1 has a 278lbs advantage over the Ferrari F80. Plus, Ferrari uses figures for cars fitted with every single carbon fibre option. In reality, the gap is probably wider still. The impression of agility and stunning control continues as the track is unravelled at startling pace. The electric motor mounted to the side of the new 8-speed dual-clutch transmission is good for 342bhp and 324lb ft and it boosts any low rev lethargy the new flat-plane crank V8 might have (spoiler alert: It doesn’t appear to have any), so the W1 just feels massively, almost impossibly powerful at any revs. Even so, there’s real reward for wringing it out to 9200rpm and the power curve feels superheated but organic, too. In Race mode the steering – still hydraulically powered – has less assistance and it is noticeably heavier than other McLarens. However, that resistance is welcome as it gives you something to push against and imparts so much information about the front grip level. New Pirelli Trofeo RS tyres with a bigger front footprint than P1 or Senna really help. The front-end feels incredibly secure and the rear-axle follows with perfectly-aligned precision. The whole car feels super-stiff, completely locked into the surface and inspires confidence, but there’s an inherent agility and adjustability that means you’re quickly confident to push at its limits and really impose yourself on the chassis. It’s such a complex car but the driving experience is intuitive, and the driver feels a key contributor rather than just amazed (or terrified) observer, holding on for dear life. Every dynamic ingredient really is shockingly effective and yet has a subtlety and lightness of touch. From that delicious steering to the incredible brakes, the W1 just feels so mission-focussed, so hooked-up. Only the new 8-speed gearbox is a slightly disappointment. It’s fast and punchy, but after the scintillating energy of the Ferrari F80 ’box it feels competent rather than inspired. Other quibbles – it’s okay to quibble when the starting price is $2.1-million before tax and destination charge. Well, that new twin-turbocharged V8 sounds tightly wound and aggressive but if you have a P1 tucked in the garage you’ll miss the snorting, Darth Vader-style soundscape and all the drama that goes with it. Ferrari does this better, too. The F80 sounds deathly dull from the outside but is a riot of turbochargers, electric motors and all sorts of mechanical fury within the cockpit. Even so, the W1 is wildly entertaining on track, and the rear-drive configuration makes it more of a challenge and more satisfying than the F80 when chasing lap times or just sliding around for fun. In the Ferrari, you must second-guess what the front e-axle might do, whereas in the W1 it’s all on you. There are plenty of tools to help, including the ingenious Variable Drift Control, but somehow the W1 is more heroic. Or at least fools you into feeling more heroic – which is surely the point! On the road? Nimble, loaded with feel and sublime response. The ride is noticeably tougher than, say, a 750S but the control is ramped-up too, and with a bit more speed the whole car finds a delicious rhythm. Sport mode for the drivetrain brings some nice turbo whooshes and chirps, but the noise remains high-quality rather than extreme excitement. It is perhaps the one area the W1 feels just a little too tame. Of course, there’s nothing tame about the raw performance… which is genuinely shocking and literally hurts your neck muscles after a few hours. How McLaren has given the W1 such immense traction through just two driven wheels is beyond me. So, is it worthy of that ‘1’? I think so. Perhaps we won’t be talking about $25-million auction results for the W1 in 30 years from now, as we are for the F1. Perhaps it doesn’t quite have the amazing presence and jaw-dropping star quality of the simply gorgeous P1. But it is such an intense experience and the way it marries stunning track performance with delicate poise and entertainment on normal roads is something akin to magic. Maybe not ‘the one’ but definitely a searing, outrageous addition to McLaren’s fiercest family line. Just 399 W1’s will be built and they’re all sold. I’m not surprised at all. View All McLarens For Sale Images: McLaren Automotive

Bentley Torcal Debuts as its First All-Electric Luxury SUV

Bentley’s fourth model line combines 888 PS, a 375-mile range and a handcrafted interior with the brand’s most advanced chassis technology to date.

by Charles Bradley – September 23, 2026

Bentley has revealed the Torcal, its fourth model line and the first with a fully electric powertrain, introducing a new interpretation of luxury that blends handcrafted materials, advanced technology and effortless performance. Making its global debut in London, England, the Torcal is positioned as a template for future Bentleys, regardless of powertrain. Designed, engineered and built in Crewe, the new SUV represents a significant investment in British manufacturing while expanding the brand’s model portfolio into a new era of electrification.

“The Torcal is a Bentley first and foremost, created by hand by people who care, using the best available materials and technology to blend heritage with cutting-edge innovation. I believe this is one of the best Bentleys ever,” said Dr. Frank-Steffen Walliser, Bentley’s chairman and CEO.

Available at launch in both core and more sporting S specifications, the Torcal delivers up to 888 PS and 1,350 Nm of torque. The Torcal S can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 2.8 seconds and reach 162 mph, while the core model produces 821 PS and 1,194 Nm and reaches 60 mph in 3.3 seconds.

But Bentley has approached the Torcal as something more than a high-performance electric SUV. Its brief is to deliver the sense of effortless performance, craftsmanship and comfort expected of the marque while introducing technology designed around how occupants experience the car.

A New Expression of Bentley Luxury

Led by design director Robin Page, Bentley’s in-house design team has created an imposing yet low-slung SUV with a long wheelbase, an ‘endless bonnet’, short overhangs and what the brand describes as an “upright elegance.”

The exterior introduces a new design language while drawing on Bentley’s heritage. A distinctive illuminated diamond grille, advanced lighting technology and clean rear graphics are combined with powerful rear haunches and a tapering cabin. Bentley describes the resulting form as the “resting beast,” intended to convey contained strength and energy. The diamond pattern continues throughout the vehicle, appearing in different forms across the exterior and interior.

Inside, the Bentley wings inspire the dashboard architecture, while leather, wool, veneer and aluminum are integrated into a cabin designed to emphasize authentic materials. Knurled controls and reinterpreted bullseye air vents provide physical points of interaction, with traditional craftsmanship paired with modern technology.

The standard seats offer 16-way adjustment, heating, ventilation, adjustable bolsters, and a new massage function. Bentley’s Postural Adjust and Smart Seat Climate systems are available as options, while the Wellness Seat Specification extends the massage function into the cushion to include the legs as well as the back and shoulders.

For the first time in a Bentley, the three-occupant rear seat can power fold.

Sustainable Materials Meet Craftsmanship

The Torcal also expands Bentley’s approach to sustainable luxury. In collaboration with Somerset-based Fox Brothers, Bentley has developed what it describes as the world's first 100% Merino wool automotive fabric. The material is certified by the Responsible Wool Standard and brings the softness and warmth associated with fine wool into an automotive interior.

Another new finish, Ombré Walnut by Mulliner, uses up to 1,000 individually selected layers of sustainably sourced walnut off-cuts and craft recycled paper. The layers are pressed together and sliced to less than a millimeter thick, creating a finish that moves through four shades of walnut.

Sunburst Aluminum by Mulliner takes inspiration from the engine-turned aluminum dashboards of historic Bentleys, while customers can choose from an extensive palette of leather, Dinamica, Merino wool, wood veneer and technical finishes. The result is an interior that combines Bentley’s traditional emphasis on natural materials with a more contemporary interpretation of sustainable luxury.

888 PS and a 375-Mile Range

The Torcal’s fully electric powertrain uses two permanent-magnet synchronous motors, supported by an 800-volt, 113-kWh lithium-ion battery. With up to 888 PS and 1,350 Nm, the Torcal S delivers the highest torque of any Bentley ever made. Yet Bentley says the performance has been deliberately calibrated to remain accessible, progressive and sophisticated.

The chassis is equally significant. The Torcal introduces Bentley’s first fully active suspension, using independently controlled dampers that can react to road and driver inputs while eliminating the need for conventional anti-roll bars. Electronic all-wheel steering is standard, with up to five degrees of rear-steering angle helping reduce the turning circle to 11.1 meters.

The result, Bentley says, is a car capable of combining long-distance comfort with agile handling and off-road composure. Its five-meter length also contributes to a spacious cabin, with 460 liters of luggage capacity supplemented by a 90-liter front storage area.

Range is rated at up to 375 miles, or 600 kilometers, on the WLTP cycle. At a 400-kW charger, the battery can charge from 10 to 80 percent in just under 20 minutes, adding approximately 100 miles of range in seven minutes.

A Soundtrack Made by Musicians

Perhaps the most unusual expression of Bentley’s approach to electrification is the Torcal’s sound. Rather than simply reproducing an artificial engine note, the development team looked to the rhythm of Bentley’s historic 6¾-liter V8 for inspiration. Musicians used real instruments, including drums, viola and bass guitar, to create what Bentley calls the Bentley Dynamic Symphony.

The sound varies with torque demand and vehicle speed and becomes more immersive in Sport mode. It can also be switched off when silence is preferred.

Even smaller details have been given a handcrafted interpretation. The sound of the turn indicators comes from a recording made in Bentley’s upholstery workshops of a hammer striking leather, while the touchscreen and digital assistant sounds are derived from the sound of a crystal glass.

For those who want a more immersive audio experience, Bentley offers a 1,780-watt, 28-speaker Naim system with Dolby Atmos 7.1, kinaesthetic seat shakers and front headrest speakers.

Luxury That Adapts to the Journey

The Torcal introduces four Experience Modes that go beyond conventional powertrain and chassis settings. Bentley Mode, Comfort, Sport and Refresh coordinate lighting, sound, climate, airflow and digital information to alter the character of the cabin. Comfort Mode can minimize distractions and offer a digital detox by hiding all but essential information. Refresh increases fresh-air circulation and brightens the lighting, while Sport creates a more focused environment with a more immersive soundtrack.

Technology is similarly integrated into the driving experience. Curved OLED displays, facial recognition and mobile-device key functionality are joined by an augmented-reality head-up display that projects navigation and driver-assistance information into the driver’s field of view.

The Torcal also features 25 radar, sensor and camera systems supporting advanced driving, parking and towing functions. Its four radar-controlled powered doors can automatically open and close, with door closing initiated by fastening a seat belt, using the central touchscreen or, for the driver, applying pressure to the brake pedal.

A Frosted Diamond switchable-glass sunroof adds another layer of customization, allowing occupants to alter the light and atmosphere of the cabin.

The Torcal S

The more performance-focused Torcal S distinguishes itself visually as well as mechanically. Its 888 PS and 1,350 Nm are accompanied by black exterior brightware and mirror caps, dark rear lamps, a rear diffuser, sports sills and front bumper strakes.

Red brake calipers, S fender badges, black Bentley wing badges and a dedicated S interior color split, quilt and stitch pattern reinforce the sporting character. Piano black veneer, illuminated treadplates and dynamic “waterfall” mood lighting complete the S specification.

As Bentley’s first fully electric model and the brand’s fourth model line, the Torcal represents a significant transition without abandoning the qualities that have defined the marque.

Martin Page, Torcal’s product line director, summarized its philosophy: “The Torcal represents something new, and I think unique. It has been engineered with great care to ensure it remains a Bentley to its core, enhanced rather than dominated by technology – from luxury, to refinement and effortless performance – the Torcal has taken the elements that define a Bentley to extraordinary new levels.”

For Bentley, the Torcal is not simply its first all-electric SUV. It sets the baseline for the brand’s future, balancing cutting-edge EV hardware with the bespoke coachbuilding that defined the marque in the first place.