The upcoming electric Bentley Torcal will adopt a drum-forward, orchestral-based soundtrack, as it takes inspiration from its “incredible engines” from its past.
Instead of adopting a synthesised engine note akin to the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N and 6 N, or amplifying the sound of its electric motors like the Ferrari Luce, the luxury British carmaker has taken a leaf out of Fleetwood Mac’s book and gone its own way.
Riffing on engines such as the Le Mans-winning supercharged units from the 1930s, the long-standing 6.75-litre V8, and the W12, Bentley seeks to provide the electric Torcal with the same “immersive and emotional experience” as its petrol-powered predecessors.
Comparing the Torcal’s backing track to “listening to a grand orchestral performance”, Bentley put a V8 in a studio and analysed its aural characteristics. It found that “Rhythm, rather than pure mechanical tone, was central to its emotional appeal”.
Pairing the V8 with a live drummer in the studio, Bentley discovered “striking similarities in energy, cadence and impact” between the two. It also found that the sound produced by a combustion engine is “not perfectly uniform”, and its subtle variations “introduce a distinctly human quality”.
Bentley added in viola and bass guitar to create a “powerful and emotive” feeling while on the move. The soundtrack will respond to driver inputs, suggesting that its intensity will depend on acceleration, deceleration, and braking.
Named the ‘Bentley Dynamic Symphony’, the soundtrack is “not designed to replicate an engine, but to evoke the same feelings”.
The Torcal SUV is Bentley’s first attempt at a fully electric car, and will be fully unveiled on September 23 this year. While details are scant for now, the Crewe-based manufacturer has confirmed that it will measure around five metres long and have a range of over 300 miles.
The design is still under wraps, but we do know that it will take design cues from its EXP 15 concept, which arrived last year. This suggests that the Torcal will come with a light-up grille and a contemporary aesthetic that blends elements from Bentley’s back catalogue with the usual futuristic design cues associated with EVs.
