2028 Bentley Torcal S: Manhattan Buyers Guide

What the S changes, and what it leaves alone

Bentley builds the Torcal in two versions, and the S sits above the standard car in every number that involves speed. The standard Torcal makes 810 bhp and reaches 60 mph in 3.3 seconds on 21-inch wheels. The S raises output to 876 bhp (888 PS, 653 kW), lifts torque to 1,350 Nm, trims the sprint to 2.8 seconds and moves to 22-inch wheels as standard. Top speed is 162 mph on a track, against 155 for the standard car. What the S does not touch is the part of an electric car that people worry about most: both versions use the same 113 kWh battery, and Bentley lists the same range figure and the same 400 kW peak charging rate for each. In practice, you are paying for response and presence, not giving up range on paper. The standard Torcal is a separate model guide, so this page stays with the S.

The look follows the numbers. Mirror caps, badges and the strip running down the flank to the bonnet are all finished in black, the tail-lamp lenses are tinted a darker grey, and the bumper carries sport mouldings, sill extensions and a rear diffuser. The brake calipers are red. Even the grille behaves differently: each time you unlock an S, the Floating Diamond grille plays a welcome sequence that Bentley reserves for this model.

S and First Edition: which one is permanent

Coverage of the car sometimes blurs these two names together, so it helps to separate them. The S is the sporting model in the Torcal range, in the same way Bentley uses the S badge elsewhere in its line-up, and Bentley's own pages describe features such as the two-tone cabin as exclusive to its S models. The First Edition is something narrower: Bentley created it, in its own words, to celebrate the arrival of the Torcal, and it bundles wheels, badges, treadplates and seat quilting that would normally be commissioned one by one. Bentley's configurator treats the two as separate choices. What Bentley has not said is whether an S without the First Edition content will be orderable alongside it from the first allocation, so that is a question worth putting to the sales team directly.

876 horsepower on 11th Avenue

Nobody drives 2.8 seconds in Manhattan, and Bentley itself attaches the figure to Launch Control and asks drivers to obey local speed laws. The more useful measure of the S in this city is how little of it feels excessive at 25 miles per hour. At roughly 197 inches, the Torcal is the shortest four-door Bentley, and the rear wheels steer up to five degrees against the fronts at low speed, which shrinks the turning circle to 36.4 feet. That is the number that matters at the mouth of a West Side garage or on a block where a delivery van has claimed half the street. Bentley Active Ride, with a two-valve damper and its own hydraulic pump at each corner, manages body roll without conventional anti-roll bars, which should help the car deal with the expansion joints and patched asphalt that make up much of the island.

The wheels deserve a second look before ordering. Twenty-two-inch rims look right on the S, but a low-profile tire has little sidewall to absorb a pothole, so ask the team how the standard wheel and tire package behaves on city streets, and whether winter tires suit your plans. Anyone driving below 60th Street will also meet Manhattan's congestion toll, currently $9 at peak hours for a passenger car with E-ZPass, and electric cars pay it like any other. Bentley Manhattan's own address sits inside that zone.

Charging is the other practical half of owning an S here. Bentley says a 10 to 80 percent DC fast charge takes about 16 minutes on a charger able to deliver its 400 kW peak rate. Overnight, the usual answer is a Level 2 charger where the car is parked, so the first conversation for a New York buyer is often with the building or garage rather than the dealer. Range itself is a Bentley figure of up to 373 miles; wheel size, speed, temperature and heating all move it, and Manhattan winters move it more than most.

Inside the S

The S cabin trades the standard car's warm walnut for hand-finished carbon-fibre veneers, and dark chrome brightware picked out with bronze highlights. Upholstery is two-tone, leather low in the cabin and Dinamica on the seat cushions, seat backs, doors and roof lining, a layout Bentley says is exclusive to its S models. The central screen is a vertically curved 12.25-inch OLED, the first in any Bentley, and the drive modes (Comfort, Sport, Bentley and Refresh) are chosen with a glowing glass controller on the console that changes the seat settings, sound, lighting and on-screen graphics along with the suspension. Standard audio is a 16-speaker, 620-watt system, with the 28-speaker, 1,780-watt Naim for Bentley system available on the S with dark chrome speaker grilles. Dynamic Waterfall Lighting, more than 450 LEDs across the doors and lower dashboard, runs in warm white and can be upgraded to full color.

Want the full story in Bentley's own words? Download the Bentley Torcal brochure (PDF), then bring your questions to Bentley Manhattan.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Bentley Torcal S?

It is the higher-output version of the Torcal, Bentley's first fully electric production car, with 876 bhp, 1,350 Nm (996 lb-ft) of torque, 22-inch wheels and a darker, sportier design than the standard Torcal. Bentley describes it as the most powerful production Bentley ever made.

Is the Torcal S a 2027 or a 2028 model?

Both labels appear. Production begins in 2027 and early launch coverage used that year, but Bentley's U.S. launch materials and the major U.S. car publications list it as the 2028 Bentley Torcal S, so that is the designation to expect on U.S. paperwork.

How fast is the Torcal S?

Bentley states 0-60 mph in 2.8 seconds (0-100 km/h in 2.9) with Launch Control active, and a track top speed of 162 mph. The 876 bhp figure is likewise quoted with Launch Control active.

How much does the Torcal S cost?

Bentley has given $258,000 as the starting MSRP for the Torcal S in the United States, before destination, taxes and options, while Bentley has given $218,000 for the standard Torcal. The pricing & leasing guide explains what shapes the final number for a New York buyer.

Is the S a permanent trim, or only the First Edition?

Bentley's own wording points to the S as a lasting part of the Torcal range and to the First Edition as a launch celebration built on it, but Bentley has not published whether a standard-specification S will be offered at the same time as the First Edition, so the sales team can confirm what is orderable.

How far will it go on a charge?

Bentley quotes up to 373 miles for the Torcal S. Actual range depends on wheels, speed, outside temperature and cabin heating, and the official EPA rating has not been posted on fueleconomy.gov yet.

When can I see a Torcal S at Bentley Manhattan?

Bentley has opened orders and production starts in 2027, with first customer deliveries reported for the second quarter. The sales team at 711 11th Avenue can talk through ordering and timing, and current new inventory shows what is on the floor today.

Where to go from here

The First Edition guide goes deeper on the launch specification, the service & repair guide covers how an electric Bentley is looked after in the city, and the pricing & leasing guide sets out the numbers. For a wider look at the dealership's line-up, the Bentley trim levels page compares the models on sale now.