Bentley’s first electric car, the Torcal, to be built in Crewe

Bentley has unveiled its first fully electric car after investing £350m to upgrade its factory in Cheshire.

The Torcal SUV will be built on a brand-new production line at the site, which has been the luxury carmaker’s headquarters since 1946.

Business secretary Jonathan Reynolds said the investment would “support 4,000 high-value local jobs in Crewe”.

The Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade said the Torcal would strengthen automotive supply chains, as Bentley is supplied by more than 700 businesses including 82 within a 50-mile radius of its base.

The announcement comes as the UK motor industry is facing strong headwinds, with JLR recently announcing large-scale job cuts and manufacturers looking for new avenues to grow their businesses.

Despite announcements of new electric models to future-proof the industry, there have been calls to slow the switch to a fully EV future.

Bentley said the Torcal’s 113kWh battery gave it a range of up to 375 miles (600km), adding that it could charge from 10% to 80% in less than 20 minutes using a 400kW charger.

The company said the Torcal S model would also be its most powerful car yet with a top speed of 162mph, and the fastest-accelerating from standstill, reaching 60mph in 2.8 seconds.

The standard Torcal model can travel at up to 155mph and takes 3.3 seconds to accelerate to 60mph.