Bentley launches its first electric vehicle as luxury rivals pull back

Bentley Motors has introduced the Torcal, its first fully electric vehicle, in a move aimed at testing demand among wealthy buyers for highend EVs. The British automaker unveiled the model in London and said it was designed and engineered at its Crewe factory in northwest England. The Torcal is Bentley’s fourth model and has a range of up to 600 kilometers, with a 060 mph time of just under three seconds. Its starting price is about $229,000, placing it below Ferrari’s recent electric model, the Luce, which drew mixed reactions after its launch. Bentley CEO FrankSteffen Walliser said interest in luxury electric cars is continuing to grow, even as other performance brands such as Porsche and Lamborghini have reduced some of their EV plans. He said Bentley focused on making the Torcal feel like a traditional Bentley in terms of design, driving character, and sound.