Bentley is preparing to add a fourth model to its exclusive lineup, and today we know what it will be called: Torcal. The automaker has been working on its first electric vehicle for some time; was seen tests in the arctic circle late last year, giving us a sneak peek of the interior. A few weeks ago, another example was seen at Nürburgring.
Speculation had been mounting about what Bfully would call its first battery-electric vehicle; Although sleuths spotted a trademark application for Torcal in Europe and the UK earlier this year, the absence of a related trademark application in the US led to Car and Driver to suggest Instead, the car could be named Bentley Barnato. This was in reference to Woolf Barnato, who raced Bentleys very successfully in the pre-war period with much success, including three victories at the 24 Hours of Le Mans (1928, 1929 and 1930).
El Torcal de Antequera Nature Park in Andalusia, Spain.
Credit: Matthias Balk/Picture Alliance via Getty Images
El Torcal de Antequera Nature Park in Andalusia, Spain.
Credit: Matthias Balk/Picture Alliance via Getty Images
Instead, Bentley continues a convention it has used for Bentayga, Bacalar and Batur, taking the name from a natural landmark, in this case, El Torcal de Antequera, a spectacular collection of limestone rock formations in Spain. When the automaker noted that the name is also derived from the Latin “torquere”, the root of which also traces the modern word torque, it seems to be a hint that the Torcal will use an electrified powertrain as it provides immense amounts of effortless torque.
