Bentley is set to add a fourth model to its discontinued lineup, and today we know what it’ll be called: the Torcal. The automaker has been working on its first electric car for some time; was seen Testing in the Arctic Circle Late last year, it gave us a sneak peek of the interior. Another example happened a few weeks ago Recorded at the Nürburgring.
Speculation has been growing that Bently will call its first battery EV – although scouts spotted a European and UK trademark application for Torcal earlier this year, the lack of a corresponding US trademark application led to it. Car and driver offered the car may have a Bentley Barnato badge instead. This referred to Wulf Barnato, who raced Bentleys with great success in the pre-war period, including three wins at the 24 Hours of Le Mans (1928, 1929 and 1930).
El Torcal de Antequera Natural Park, Andalusia, Spain.
Credit: Matthias Balk / Image alliance via Getty Images
El Torcal de Antequera Natural Park, Andalusia, Spain.
Credit: Matthias Balk / Image alliance via Getty Images
Instead, Bentley continues the convention it uses for the Bentayga, Chimneys and Batur, and takes a name from a natural landmark – in this case, El Torcal de Antequera, a spectacular collection of limestone rock formations in Spain. With the automaker noting that the name is also derived from the Latin “torquere” – a root from which the modern word torque is also traced – this seems to be a hint that the Torcal will use an electrified powertrain, as these provide massive amounts of effortless torque.
