Bentley’s Electric Future Uses Real Instruments Instead of Fake Engine Sounds

To address the thorny issue of road noise in pure electric vehicles, Bentley has taken an unusual approach. Rather than create a digital imitation of a combustion engine, the company recreated the rhythms of the Bentley V8 using real instruments, including drums, viola and bass guitar.

The result is a soundscape featuring subtle variations and small imperfections, similar to the effect produced by a glass instrument. The goal is to give drivers a more natural form of auditory feedback without simply simulating an engine.

Bentley’s EV Soundscape Uses Real Instruments

The idea may sound questionable, but in the limited demonstration heard by WIRED, the system appeared surprisingly convincing. Drivers who prefer a quieter cabin can turn it off. Bentley has also recorded other vehicle sounds, including the indicator tone—a hammer striking leather—and the digital assistant’s wake note, created by running a finger around the rim of a crystal glass.

Advanced Technology and Driver Assistance Features

Bentley is adding plenty of technology to the vehicle, including an augmented-reality head-up display. Refresh mode uses light and air to create a more invigorating interior environment, while facial recognition allows Torcal to be tailored to the individual driver.

Other features include a mobile phone key and approximately 25 radars, sensors and cameras supporting the driver-assistance systems. With Space Detection, if the vehicle encounters another car on a narrow road, Torcal can automatically reverse to a previously identified point, allowing the other vehicle to pass.

Chinese Electric SUVs Are Raising the Stakes

Bentley’s approach is no longer groundbreaking across the automotive industry. Chinese brands are also expanding into the SUV market, often offering more technology at substantially lower prices.

Xiaomi’s new SkyNomads, for example, are expected to arrive in Europe next year and significantly undercut both Bentley and Range Rover. They offer greater range and more features while taking a distinctly different approach to interior design, with built-in projectors and reconfigurable seating. The SkyNomad also includes underfloor heating.

Can Bentley’s Heritage Protect Its Electric Future?

Walliser has a straightforward response to the growing threat from Asia. As Bentley’s parent company, Volkswagen Group, cuts 50,000 jobs despite Bentley’s strong financial performance, the luxury automaker is relying on the one advantage Chinese brands cannot easily imitate or improve upon: tradition.

Founded in 1919, Bentley has decades of heritage to draw on. Whether that will be enough to maintain its commitment to fully electric vehicles remains uncertain. For now, however, WIRED is not convinced that tradition alone will prove to be a winning long-term strategy.