Bentley debuts the Torcal, its first EV — an 876-hp SUV estimated at $250,000

Bentley's ( VWAGY ) first electric car has been a long time coming, but it's finally here.

Bentley revealed the Torcal today at an event in London, with the all-electric SUV becoming the British luxury brand's fourth model line, and the first EV in its 107-year history.

While it originally aimed to launch its first EV in 2025, Bentley pushed the date back as the luxury EV market waned. This led CEO Frank-Steffen Walliser to push Bentley's full-electrification target from 2030 to 2035.

"There's a lot of excitement at the moment," he said to Yahoo Finance last month during Monterey Car Week . "All the feedback we've received so far, from people who could see it — we set up some behind-the-scenes previews for media, but also for some of our customers — it's all very positive. And I'm not saying this because we want to have success — that's the honest feedback. And to be very honest, it's surprising to us how positive the feedback is."

Calling it an SUV doesn't do the car much justice, as the Torcal has a more swooping, fastback design - especially in the rear. Up front is all Bentley — almost Rolls-Royce-like — with its imposing front end and horizontal slit lights, framing an imposing front grille.

Inside is pure Bentley, from the artisan-like embroidery and fit and finish to the fine leathers and wood veneers and limited use of touchscreens (though they are present). Bentley claims the Torcal uses the world's first 100% Merino wool automotive fabric, an Ombré Walnut veneer pressed from up to 1,000 wafer-thin layers of sustainable off-cuts, and fully active suspension promising a "magic carpet" ride.

Underneath the hood, if you will, are serious numbers, but not surprising for an EV. The Torcal core model comes with 810 horsepower, while a sportier S version pumps out 876 hp and 996 lb-ft of torque — the most of any Bentley ever built — good for 0-60 mph in 2.8 seconds.

The Torcal's 113 kWh, 800-volt battery delivers up to 375 miles (600 km) of WLTP range, and fast charging adds roughly 100 miles in seven minutes. Bentley deliberately capped the acceleration, noting that most of its customers find anything more violent somewhat uncomfortable.

Bentley also has a solution for the missing ingredient in EVs: the engine sound. Rather than fake a V8, Bentley had musicians record real drums, viola, and bass guitar, inspired by the rhythm of its 6¾-litre engine, to build a "Dynamic Symphony" that rises and falls with the driver's throttle. It can be turned up in Sport mode or switched off entirely.