Bentley names first EV 'Torcal', hints at electric torque

Bentley is preparing to launch its first battery-electric vehicle, which will be named the Torcal. This model will expand the British luxury carmaker's current lineup, which currently consists of the Continental GT, Flying Spur, and Bentayga.

The Torcal has been undergoing development and testing for some time. Prototypes have been spotted during cold-weather testing in the Arctic Circle late last year, and more recently at the Nürburgring racetrack. Spy shots have offered glimpses of the interior design.

Bentley has chosen the name Torcal, continuing a naming convention that draws from natural landmarks, such as the Bentayga SUV and the limited-edition Bacalar and Batur models. Torcal refers to El Torcal de Antequera, a geological site in Andalusia, Spain known for its unique limestone formations. The company also noted the name's Latin root "torquere," from which "torque" is derived, directly hinting at the electric powertrain's delivery of immediate and substantial torque.

The name emerged after speculation earlier this year, with some suggesting the car might be named Barnato, after the historic Bentley Boy Woolf Barnato. The company has now confirmed Torcal as the official designation.