Bentley tests wealthy buyers' interest in going electric with first EV

Bentley has unveiled the Torcal, its first fully electric vehicle, aiming to prove wealthy buyers still want zero-emission motoring without losing the design identity that defines the British brand. CEO Frank-Steffen Walliser told Reuters the goal is “to make a Bentley first,” arguing customers don’t want a completely different car just because it’s electric. The Torcal keeps Bentley-like diamond-shaped lights and uses a sound system that recreates a V8 feel. Prices start at £173,000 ($230,000). Bentley says it invested £350 million in its Crewe plant for production and is seeing strong early interest in Europe, the Middle East, and the US, with a China launch campaign planned for next year.