Bentley's New Diamond Is Made of Light

To create the digital displays for the new Torcal, Bentley commissioned a series of bespoke, hand-cut crystal objects. The work was done in collaboration with Cumbria Crystal, a workshop in England's Lake District. Designers then captured the light passing through the finished crystal pieces.

The recordings became the foundation for the Torcal’s digital interface. This process was chosen to give the graphics a visual signature with depth, movement, and texture. The subtle variations and natural imperfections inherent in the hand-cut material bring a sense of warmth to the car's screens.

The same attention to a core motif defines the car's exterior. The Torcal features a floating diamond grille, a sculptural and jewel-like form that marks a new interpretation of a century-old design signature.

The diamond pattern has been a part of the Bentley identity since the 1920s. It began as a purely functional component. Wire mesh was stretched across tall radiators to protect them from stones and other road debris.

The pattern soon moved inside the car. In several models from that era, brass switchgear was meticulously machined with a cross-hatched diamond design. The practical purpose was to improve grip, but the process also created a distinctive aesthetic that became woven into the brand’s design language.

Over the following decades, the motif appeared on diamond-stitched seat upholstery, the mesh grille of the Brooklands coupé, and the intricate headlamps of the Bentayga. It became a core element of the 'embedded diamond' design language seen throughout the Continental GT’s interior.

The new Bentley Torcal will be revealed in London on September 23. Its character, however, has already been shaped by a detail started in Crewe nearly a century ago.

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