Electric Bentleys: the sound of the V8 will be replaced by a symphony performed by real musicians

Bentley has chosen an unusual path to give personality to its first production electric car. The upcoming Bentley Torcal EV, the electric heir to the Bentayga, will not use a simple synthetic noise to simulate the thermal engine: the SUV will adopt an original soundtrack performed by real musicians, composed of drums, viola, and electric bass.

The project is named Bentley Dynamic Symphony and arises from an in-depth study of the brand's famous 6.75-liter V8 engine. Engineers recorded the engine in the studio, analyzing its acoustic behavior and reaching an unexpected conclusion: what makes a V8 exciting is not so much the mechanical timbre but its rhythm, cadence, and the small imperfections that give it a quality perceived as human.

To verify this theory, Bentley organized a particular test: on one side, the recorded sound of the V8 was played through parabolic speakers, while on the other, a drummer performed a rhythmic sequence live. Walking between the two sound sources, the team found surprising similarities in energy, impact, and rhythmic variations.

From this, the idea to replace the classic artificial noise of electric vehicles with an authentic musical composition was born. The Dynamic Symphony does not reproduce the sound of a combustion engine and does not amplify the noise of the electric motor: it is original music designed to evoke the emotions associated with historical Bentleys, from the supercharged sports cars of the 1930s to the modern V8.

The system will be integrated into the powertrain of the Torcal EV and will react in real-time to the driver's inputs. Acceleration, speed, and variations in pace will modify the intensity and flow of the composition, creating a dynamic sound experience that will accompany driving as a traditional engine would.

The Bentley Torcal EV represents the brand's first series electric model and will replace the best-selling SUV of the British company. Bentley has not yet announced the official price, but has indicated that the positioning will be comparable to that of the Bentayga, which starts at approximately 218,000 euros.

In conclusion, while most manufacturers attempt to reproduce the sound of a real engine through speakers and systems that emulate the roar of a combustion engine or amplify that of the electric powertrain, Bentley has chosen a solution that will undoubtedly set it apart from any other offering in the industry. The English company will bet on craftsmanship and real music, in an effort to make the Torcal EV recognizable not only for its design and performance but also for a completely new sound identity.