Bentley unveiled its first electric car, priced at $230,000. It is the company's least expensive model.

British luxury automaker Bentley has unveiled its first all-electric vehicle—the Torcal urban SUV, priced starting at 173,000 pounds ($230,000) in the U.K. The automaker, which is owned by Germany’s Volkswagen AG, is seeking to boost profitability and attract younger buyers amid volatile demand for luxury electric vehicles, Bloomberg notes.

The Torcal will be Bentley’s fourth model and the first major test of the brand’s more cautious electrification strategy after the company postponed its plan to transition exclusively to electric vehicles by 2035, according to Bloomberg. The new model will be the most affordable in Bentley’s lineup, and the company expects its buyers to include more young people and those who have not previously owned a Bentley.

"We made a conscious decision that this isn't just an electric car design—it's a Bentley," said the company's CEO, Frank-Steffen Walliser, noting that buyers generally prefer traditional designs regardless of the type of engine, according to Bloomberg.

Torcal is built on the same platform as the electric Porsche Cayenne and utilizes other technologies from the Volkswagen Group, Walliser said. The five-meter-long car accelerates to 60 miles per hour (about 97 km/h) in 2.8 seconds, and its range reaches 375 miles (about 604 km) under test conditions. Charging to 80% takes about 16 minutes at 400 kW.

Bentley focuses not only on performance but also on materials and comfort. According to the company, the Torcal features the first automotive fabric made entirely from merino wool, developed in collaboration with the British manufacturer Fox Brothers. The interior also features trim made from 1,000 layers of walnut wood and recycled paper, foot massage in the seats, a digital detox mode, and a Refresh function with enhanced airflow, the company said in a press release.

The Torcal’s debut comes at a time when luxury automakers are facing mixed demand for electric vehicles. Sales of the Rolls-Royce Spectre in the first half of 2026 fell by nearly a third year-over-year. At the same time, Chinese companies, including BYD and Geely brands, are making greater inroads into higher-end segments traditionally dominated by European manufacturers, according to Bloomberg.

For Volkswagen, increasing the profitability of its luxury brands is of particular importance. Bentley is part of Audi’s premium group, along with Lamborghini and Ducati. The group needs revenue from high-end cars to finance restructuring, software development, and investments in electric vehicles, Bloomberg notes. The new Bentley model was unveiled following the approval of a plan to cut 50,000 jobs across the entire Volkswagen Group. As part of the restructuring, Volkswagen aims to bring its operating margin to 9% by 2030, with annual sales of about 9 million vehicles.

Torcal has also become a central component of Bentley’s £350 million investment program in its Crewe plant. The model will be manufactured in the UK, which should provide a boost to the local auto industry, which is facing high costs and trade barriers in the wake of Brexit, Bloomberg concludes.

This article was AI-translated and verified by a human editor