Then to address the sticky issue of driving sound for a pure EV, instead of creating a digital replica of combustion, Bentley decided to shun electronic imitation and re-create the rhythm of a Bentley V8 using real instruments (including drums, viola, and bass guitar) to create a soundscape that, like the glass animations, had subtle variations and tiny imperfections.
Now, this sounds like it might be a terrible idea, but on the very limited demo WIRED heard, it’s actually remarkably convincing and will supposedly provide genuine aural feedback to the driver, rather than simply approximately imitating engine notes. Mercifully, for those not looking to keep things rooted in combustion, it can be turned off if you wish. Bentley even went as far as to record indicator sounds (a hammer striking a leather surface) and the digital assistant wake note (the sound of a crystal glass as you run your finger around the rim).
Bentley has thrown in more tech as well: an augmented reality head-up display; a Refresh mode that uses light and air for a “more invigorating” cabin environment; face recognition so the Torcal can set itself up for individual drivers; mobile phone keys; some 25 radars, sensors, and cameras for assisted driving systems; and space detection, where if another car is encountered on a narrow road, the Torcal can automatically reverse to a point it’s already identified to let the car pass.
None of this is, in the world of automotive, groundbreaking anymore. Chinese brands are coming for the SUV sector as well, and are offering much more for much less. Take a look at Xiaomi’s new SkyNomads. These stacked SUVs are coming to Europe next year and will massively undercut both Bentley and Range Rover. They have more range, more features, and crucially are thinking about car interiors in genuinely new ways, adding built-in projector systems and seating systems that are reconfigurable. The SkyNomad even has a heated floor, for heaven’s sake.
Walliser has a simple answer to this threat from Asia, a threat that is contributing to Bentley’s parent Volkswagen Group now cutting 50,000 jobs (though Bentley is doing well financially), and that is to lean into the one thing that Chinese brands cannot copy or improve: heritage. Bentley, founded in 1919, has bags of it. Will it be enough to secure its continued commitment to full-electric cars? Hopefully. But WIRED’s not sure that’s a winning tactic for the long term.