Bentley has launched the Torcal, its first fully electric SUV, as part of a £350m investment in its Crewe factory that will secure jobs for 4,000 workers. The vehicle, priced from £173,000, represents the brand's most affordable model and features synthetic engine noise designed to appeal to younger customers and those sceptical of electric vehicles. This launch is part of a broader investment wave in Britain's automotive sector, with Nissan and McLaren also announcing major funding commitments this week.

The Torcal can travel up to 375 miles on a single charge and competes in a limited market for electric luxury SUVs; Rolls-Royce's Spectre starts at approximately £330,000, whilst the Range Rover Electric begins at £154,070. However, the launch represents a more cautious approach to electrification than Bentley previously envisaged—the company abandoned plans to release new electric vehicles annually from 2025 onwards due to weak demand. Bentley faces headwinds alongside the broader sector: the company cut 245 jobs earlier this year and sales have fallen by a third since a 2022 peak of 15,200 vehicles, whilst parent company Volkswagen is cutting 100,000 jobs globally by 2030.