Bentley Torcal First Edition: The Brand's First EV Is Coming

Bentley announced the First Edition, the model's richest trim level, roughly a month after the global premiere of the first fully electric model in its history, the Torcal. Based on the S version's 876 hp powertrain, this version combines the brand's most powerful production car to date, which completes 0-100 km/h in 2.9 seconds, with carbon fiber body details, exclusive 22-inch wheels, Mulliner-sourced touches, and a Naim sound system with 28 speakers in a single package. The price has not yet been announced; expectation is above 200,000 pounds.

What is the Bentley Torcal First Edition and what does it offer?

The Torcal, unveiled by Bentley in London on September 23, 2026 and forming the brand's fourth model line, is the first fully electric model in a century of history and the first model developed from scratch in over a decade. The First Edition, which came shortly after the announcement, is a launch package based on the model's top S version, curated in the spirit of Bentley's bespoke manufacturing division. The logic is simple: Pre-selecting the options customers would most likely choose and making them standard.

For anyone who has been around this business a long time, the First Edition concept is not unfamiliar; luxury brands have been offering such special series to first buyers during launch periods for years. Bentley's approach still goes one step further: The added equipment on top of the Torcal S, which starts at 199,300 pounds in England, effectively moves the First Edition into a higher category. This is not a mere coincidence; a brand that has invested 350 million pounds in Crewe wants the most visible step of its entry into the electric era to look as brilliant as possible.

Technical data: The fastest-accelerating Bentley

The First Edition inherits the Torcal S's powertrain: 876 hp (888 PS / 653 kW) of power and 1,350 Nm of torque. 0-60 mph in 2.8 seconds with Launch Control, or 0-100 km/h in 2.9 seconds in metric terms. Top speed is limited to 251 km/h. In the past, reaching these performance figures required massive twelve-cylinder engines and consumption figures that topped fuel-consumption charts; now we see a battery-motor duo doing the same job silently, with massive torque to all four wheels. This is, in my opinion, the most tangible form of technological change.

Two different figures are circulating regarding range; According to the WLTP measurement, the value is 600 km, while EPA-based estimates on the US side point to a band of 300-325 miles. This is not a contradiction, but the natural result of two different measurement standards; The European buyer should look at the first, the American buyer at the second. The platform is built on the EV architecture shared with the new Porsche Cayenne, and on the braking side the 420 mm rotors up front show that things are taken seriously. Towing capacity is 5,952 pounds with the appropriate equipment, i.e. approximately 2,700 kg; the front trunk, meanwhile, is 3.0 cu ft.

Carbon fiber and self-aligning emblems in the exterior design

The Carbon Fibre Styling Specification defines the First Edition's exterior appearance: The front bumper, side skirts, mirror caps and rear diffuser are made of carbon fiber. The wheels are a First Edition design produced exclusively for the model, 22 inches; finished in glossy black with Liquid Silver spokes. The signature of the detail-obsessed Crewe engineers is most evident here: The Bentley emblems on the wheel hubs align themselves, and while the vehicle is moving the emblem stays still. You can only see this kind of detail in this segment.

Mulliner's contribution appears as Graphene Grey on the brake calipers; while the First Edition emblem is positioned on the front fender. Expected for a launch series chasing distinctiveness, yet still kept restrained as an exterior package. Bentley has left the exaggeration outside and saved it for the interior.

Interior: Eight accent colors, Wellness seats and a panoramic sunroof

In the interior, special seat stitching is worked in a contrast chevron pattern, and illuminated First Edition lettering on the sills greets the customer. Eight accent colors and an option for a third accent color, full leather upholstery and contrast stitching, glossy carbon fiber interior trim, deep-pile carpets and Wellness front seats are part of the package. Rear passengers are not forgotten; the comfort package is standard, and the front and rear doors operate electrically.

The most talked-about item on the list is the Frosted Diamond Switchable sunroof: A roof that can switch from frosted matte white to transparent glass with a single command. This kind of electrochromic solution had been touring concepts for years, and finding its place in series production in the luxury segment is relatively new.

What kind of experience does the 28-speaker Naim sound system offer?

The most ambitious hardware item of the First Edition is undoubtedly the sound system: A Naim setup running with 1,780 watts of power, including seat transducers and headrest speakers, with 28 speakers. The configuration is built on 25 mm tweeters, 80 and 130 mm midrange drivers and 200 mm dual subwoofers; Dolby Atmos 7.1.4 surround support is a bonus. The comparison is interesting: The Naim system in Mulliner's Batur has 20 speakers but offers 2,200 watts. The Torcal First Edition lags behind in speaker count and watts; which one listens better is something only the person sitting in that seat can say.

A sound system in an electric vehicle carries a historical irony: In a cabin where engine noise has disappeared, brands are now making music the new star. Thirty years ago, the salesperson would let you listen to the engine; now you are asked to take a demo ride where you feel the bass through a vibrating speaker in your seat. The change itself is this.

How much is the price and when will it be delivered?

No official price has been announced yet for the First Edition; nor has a production limit been declared. The Torcal is priced in the UK from £173,300, and the Torcal S from £199,300; the First Edition is expected to come in clearly above this picture, with a tag over £200,000. There is no official figure on the US side either; estimates point to a band of $218,000-258,000 and beyond. Bentley's comparatively modest pricing against rival luxury EVs is also clearly seen in an analysis' comparison with Ferrari's $640,000 model.

Timeline: Production will take place in Crewe, with first deliveries in the UK expected to begin around mid-2027. In the US, the vehicle will be in showrooms in the 2028 model year. So the customer who wants to see the First Edition in their garage will need a long year of patience.

Its place in the electric transition strategy and the market's uncertainty

Bentley's Beyond100+ strategy commits the company to being fully electric from 2035 onwards. The Torcal is the first step of this journey, and the First Edition is the showcase of that step. At the premiere on September 23, the brand's CEO stated that the first feedback had come in more positive than expected; still, the same analyses remind us that whether the wealthy buyer truly wants emission-free luxury is yet being tested. When I started in this profession, the idea of an electric Bentley was nothing more than a futuristic concept sketch; today a First Edition stands in the showroom, priced above £200,000. That is what you call change crossing the red line.

Considering it is the first new name of a century-old brand and the first all-new Bentley in a decade, it is no exaggeration to say the First Edition's role goes beyond a model launch. On the threshold of the electric era, Bentley is selling its loyal customer both familiarity and a piece of history. Whether the market will pay for this, time will tell; mid-2027, when the first deliveries are made, will be the day that brings the first real answer.

Sources

• Torcal First Edition: Carefully curated, colourfully crafted
• The all-new Bentley Torcal makes global debut
• Torcal Range | Models - Bentley Motors
• Bentley's 876HP Torcal 'First Edition' Revealed
• Bentley's First Electric SUV Gets an 876-HP First Edition
• Bentley's first electric car, the Torcal, to be built in Crewe
• Bentley tests wealthy buyers' interest in going electric with first EV
• The Bentley Torcal's Launch Spec Bundles Naim 28-Speaker Audio
• Bentley Torcal EV Packs 28 Naim Speakers
• Naim for Bentley Models - Naim Audio
• Behold: the new Bentley Torcal
• Bentley Torcal revealed - electrifying.com
• Bentley Torcal Emerges as Brand's First EV
• 2028 Bentley Torcal: What We Know So Far
• Torcal EV arrives as one of Bentley's lowest-cost models
• Bentley Torcal First Edition Arrives With No Price or Production Cap
• Bentley Torcal First Edition: 876 HP Specs & Price
• Bentley Torcal | Bentley San Francisco