LONDON: Bentley’s first electric car, the upcoming Torcal SUV (sport utility vehicle), will feature a jewel-like floating diamond grille and innovative digital displays created using real handcrafted artefacts.
The Torcal will be revealed in London on September 23, and will usher in a new chapter for Bentley.
It will be the fourth model line alongside the Continental GT, Flying Spur and Bentayga.
Like the Bentayga, Bacalar and Batur before it, the Torcal takes its name from a remarkable natural landmark.
El Torcal de Antequera in Andalusia, Spain, is a dramatic limestone landscape of stacked rock formations, cliffs and labyrinths, shaped by nature over millions of years yet continuing to evolve.
Meanwhile, the diamond pattern has also been a hallmark of Bentley design since the 1920s, when wire mesh was used to protect tall radiators from stones and road debris.
The pattern soon moved inside the car too, with cross-hatched switches and controls; several Bentleys from this era featured brass switchgear with controls meticulously machined in a diamond pattern to improve grip.
Bentley says in the new Torcal, this heritage is reimagined for a new generation.
According to Bentley, the floating diamond grille transforms a functional necessity into a captivating design statement.
The story continues inside. Rather than relying solely on computer-generated graphics to create the Torcal's digital displays, Bentley's design team sought the authenticity and character of handcrafted materials.
Working with Cumbria Crystal in England's Lake District, they commissioned bespoke hand-cut crystal objects designed specifically for the project.
By capturing light passing through the crystal, designers created a distinctive visual signature rich in depth, movement and texture.
The subtle variations and natural imperfections inherent in hand craftsmanship bring an unexpected sense of warmth and humanity to an otherwise ultra-modern digital experience.
