Bentley skipped synthetic engine noise for its first electric car. Drums, viola, and bass guitar shaped the finished soundtrack. The brand says rhythm matters more than recreating engine noise. Automakers developing EVs have all been wrestling with the same question: how do you replace the emotional engagement of a great-sounding engine? Hyundai, Porsche, BMW, Dodge, and others have turned to synthesized engine notes pumped through speakers. Bentley, however, believes it’s chasing the wrong answer. Rather than trying to replicate the sound of an actual engine, the British luxury brand thinks a drummer might be the key to making its first EV feel special. Bentley calls the soundtrack for its upcoming all-electric Torcal SUV the “Bentley Dynamic Symphony,” and unlike many of its rivals, the company insists it isn’t trying to fool drivers into thinking they’re behind the wheel of a V8. Instead, it says the goal was to capture the same emotional response that has defined its combustion-powered cars for decades. Beyond The Engine The thinking behind this choice might make more sense than it could initially seem. Bentley’s engineers recorded and analyzed its iconic V8 in a studio. What they decided in the end was that it wasn’t the exhaust note itself, but rather the rhythm that was special. That’s what led to the automaker setting up a pair of parabolic speakers. One played recordings of the V8 while a drummer performed via the other. Read: Bentley Just Named Its First EV, And It Isn’t Barnato Bentley’s first teaser for the Torcal EV. Walking between the two, engineers say they found similarities in the cadence, energy, and emotional impact of both. They also concluded that the subtle imperfections shared by drumming and combustion engines help create a more authentic, human experience. Armed with those findings, Bentley didn’t set out to recreate an engine note. Strings Rather Than Pipes At this stage, Bentley commissioned musicians to compose an original soundtrack using live instruments including drums, viola, and bass guitar. The resulting sound responds to the driver’s throttle inputs, rising and falling with acceleration while aiming to deliver the same sense of occasion buyers have come to expect from the brand’s V8-powered models. Bentley says the tempo increases under acceleration and eases back as the driver lifts off. It’s tough to say how successful it’ll be, but there’s no denying that the noise it creates will be unique. The entire approach is unique. Perhaps it’ll hit home with well-heeled buyers who love the symphony. Maybe the notes will fall flat. Only time will tell. The soundtrack is one piece of a larger puzzle Bentley is assembling for its first EV that makes its debut on September 23 in London. The Torcal will sit below the Bentayga riding on the Volkswagen Group’s PPE electric architecture, the same platform used by the Porsche Cayenne Electric. It’s expected to bring dual-motor all-wheel drive, a 113kWh battery, charging speeds of up to 390kW, and more than 300 miles of range, with Bentley prioritizing effortless real-world usability over headline numbers. Photos: Bentley
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