Between the wheels sits a 113kWh (gross) battery, good for up to 375 miles or 600km of range. “We talked to our customers and they said that was the sweet spot,” Page told us at a  sneak preview of the Torcal in central London. The co-efficient of drag is 0.269 – not bad for a bluff SUV eschewing the optimal teardrop shape. A smooth underbody, air curtains smoothing flow around the wheels and a rear that chops off the air help maximise the miles. 

Critically, the Torcal can be refuelled quickly: 15 minutes on a 400kW DC charger will replenish 249 miles. And Bentley reckons the battery, which is covered by a 10-year warranty, will still be good for 90 per cent of its total energy after 62,000 miles or eight years.   

Overall, the fourth Bentley model is 120mm shorter than its Bentayga big brother, with the roofline 50mm lower over the rear occupants. “But the interior package is comparable,” says Page. The boot capacity is a modest 460 litres, supplemented by another 90 litres in the nose. There’s also a glass sunroof with electrochromic shading at the touch of a button – with a diamond pattern, naturally. 

The Bentley Torcal will cost from £173,330, with full production beginning in Crewe in early 2027. Bentley has invested £350 million to modernise the site, with a new paintshop, woodshop and a separate electric assembly line. “And we invested way more money to develop the car, the tools, the supply chain behind it and the R&D work that has been done,” Bentley CEO Frank Steffen Walliser told us. “The Torcal is one of the most important car launches in our 107-year history. It represents something very new. Yes, it’s electric, but it's a Bentley first – and a blueprint for future cars too.”