REUTERS: LONDON, Sept 23) - Bentley on Wednesday unveiled its first fully electric vehicle, betting that wealthy buyers want zero-emission motoring without sacrificing the design cues ‌that have defined the British luxury carmaker for more than a century.

The launch of the Torcal SUV comes just months after Ferrari's (RACE.MI) first EV drew criticism from some enthusiasts for bearing little resemblance to the Italian brand's traditional low-slung, petrol-powered sports cars.

Bentley's debut EV, by contrast, is unmistakably part of the family. It retains styling cues from the company's combustion-engine models, right down to diamond-shaped lights designed to evoke a traditional front ⁠grille, even though EVs do not require one for engine cooling.

The car also recreates the feel of a V8 engine through a soundtrack based on orchestral timpani, or kettledrums, supported by smaller drums that quicken as the vehicle accelerates.

A 'MORE AFFORDABLE BENTLEY'
"Our intention was always to make a Bentley first," Bentley CEO Frank‑Steffen Walliser told Reuters. "We feel people are not asking for a completely different car just because it's electric."

Beyond Ferrari, Rolls-Royce, owned by BMW (BMWG.DE), is the only other major ultra-luxury carmaker currently selling an EV.

Lamborghini, which like Bentley is owned by the Volkswagen Group , has delayed its first EV until the end of the decade. Britain's McLaren said last week it had no plans for an EV, ‌with both ⁠citing limited customer demand.

Bentley previously delayed the launch of its first EV until 2026 and abandoned a target of becoming fully electric by 2030, saying customers were not ready to make the shift.

Unlike Ferrari's electric Luce, which starts at €550,000 ($628,000), the Torcal sits at the lower end of Bentley's range, with a starting price of £173,000 ($230,000).

Walliser said the model represents a "more affordable Bentley ... that definitely opens ⁠new markets".

Bentley has been showcasing the vehicle to existing and prospective customers, with strong interest from Europe, the Middle East and US states where EV adoption is high. A launch campaign in China will begin next year.

"Half of the interest comes from ⁠existing customers," looking for a new EV or to replace a car in their fleets, while "approximately 50% are new to the brand," Walliser said.

Bentley said it has invested £350 million ($465 million) in its plant in Crewe, northwest England, to ⁠build the Torcal.

The news comes days after McLaren unveiled a £500-million investment in Britain and Nissan (7203.T) said it would invest £170 million to build a new model there.

British business minister Jonathan Reynolds said Bentley's investment was "proof once again that we're creating the right conditions for good growth".

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