Photo Credit: Bentley MotorsBentley's launch of the Torcal, the brand's first fully electric vehicle, also marked a formal reset of a major promise. The company used the opportunity to expand on why it backed away from the plan it once promoted to go all-electric by 2030.Here's what to knowBentley CEO Frank-Steffan Walliser confirmed the change and explained why Bentley revised its 2020 target, as Autocar reported. Under the updated Beyond100+ plan, the company now tentatively aims to make its lineup fully electric by 2035 instead of 2030.Walliser was transparent about the shift."This predictable planning is honestly gone, and I do not think it will come back," he said, according to the outlet. Walliser linked the reversal to changing regulations and softer demand for high-end EVs, saying Bentley no longer considers the earlier deadline realistic.Bentley says the Torcal starts at 810 horsepower, while the Torcal S is claimed to hit 60 miles per hour in 2.8 seconds, as Motor1 noted. The SUV also uses a 113-kilowatt-hour pack, an 800-volt electrical setup, and fast DC charging.Bentley is keeping gasoline and plug-in hybrid vehicles in the picture. Rather than commit to another hard cutoff publicly, Walliser said the company is pursuing a different path, per Autocar."We are trying to bring together EVs and plug-in hybrids on the same line in future, so we have full flexibility – also to meet market demand and regulations," he explained.More backgroundBentley's first EV is due as a 2028 model, which is unaffected by the executive's comments. The updated road map points to additional electric vehicles not arriving until the early 2030s.The shift also raises questions about corporate messaging. When brands tout green ambitions and later pull back, it can be harder for consumers to tell the difference between meaningful progress and marketing spin.It also makes revised promises a little harder to believe. The refreshed Beyond100+ strategy still targets a fully electric portfolio by 2035, with plug-in hybrids staying on sale alongside battery models longer than originally planned. Whether Bentley opts to move the goalposts again before 2034 remains uncertain.What's being done?The Torcal is scheduled to reach the United States in early 2027 after its September 2026 reveal, and the company says it still plans to add battery-powered models over time.The automaker also said the Torcal will remain a true EV rather than later being reworked into a gas or hybrid model. Walliser said there are no plans for a hybrid Torcal because the SUV sits on a dedicated electric platform, per Autocar.Bentley expects combustion and hybrid vehicles to keep rolling off those lines well into the 2030s. Walliser justified the approach as a response to an unstable market."In the past, you made a plan for 10 years and then you just went with it," he said. "We delivered the cars in a relatively stable environment. It's not the case any more."Get TCD's free newsletters for easy tips, smart advice, and a chance to earn $5,000 toward home upgrades. To see more stories like this one, change your Google preferences here.
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