Bentley’s first all-electric model, the Torcal, is set to make its global debut in September. Despite the official unveiling being a few months away, the British luxury marque has already begun teasing details about the ultra-premium crossover SUV. While Bentley has yet to disclose specifics about the electric SUV’s powertrain configuration, the company has started revealing how the vehicle will sound. Unlike most electric vehicles that emit a soft whir, the Torcal aims to deliver a distinctive “sonic identity” inspired by Bentley’s legacy of powerful V-8 engines, or so the company suggests.

Bentley explains that its engineers wanted to infuse a sense of familiarity into the Torcal by introducing a simulated exhaust note. Although the brand’s iconic W-12 engines hold a special place among enthusiasts, it’s the eight-cylinder motor that remains most deeply connected to Bentley’s heritage. From the classic 6 3⁄4-litre V-8 to the more modern twin-turbocharged versions, that unmistakable rumble forms a cornerstone of the marque’s personality. Rather than simply replaying engine recordings through the speakers, Bentley collaborated with globally acclaimed musicians to create what it calls the Bentley Dynamic Symphony.

While studying what makes the sound of a V-8 so captivating, Bentley’s engineers discovered that rhythm plays a more significant role than pure mechanical tones. To achieve this, the team employed two large parabolic speakers to generate movement and depth between channels. They also found that the natural irregularities in an engine’s firing order mirrored the organic timing of a live drummer, which became a key influence in the project. By focusing on rhythm rather than synthetic engine tones, Bentley believes the Torcal’s innovative sound system will evoke the same emotional resonance as a traditional combustion engine without relying on artificial exhaust noise.

I’m intrigued to see how this new approach works in practice. Automotive enthusiasts can be particularly sensitive to the absence of a genuine exhaust note, which undeniably contributes to the driving experience. Dodge’s Mopar division has attempted to address this with its Fratzonic Chambered Exhaust, which uses external speakers to project V-8-like sounds—though the result has often been met with amusement rather than admiration. With a few weeks remaining before we can hear the Bentley Dynamic Symphony in full, it’s safe to assume that the Torcal’s interpretation of electric vehicle sound design will be unlike anything else currently available—whether that’s a good or bad thing remains to be seen.