New Delhi, Sept. 24 -- What should a Bentley sound like when it no longer has an engine?

The Torcal, Bentley's first fully electric SUV, answers with a soundtrack designed to bring some of the character of a V8 into an electric vehicle.

Called Dynamic Symphony, the system uses recordings of real musical instruments. Orchestral kettledrums provide the deeper tones, while smaller drums quicken as the Torcal accelerates. The sound responds to the drive, but the SUV has no combustion engine. Its propulsion is entirely electric.

For Bentley, sound is part of a larger challenge. Electric motors can deliver strong acceleration, yet they change the familiar sensations that drivers associate with a performance car. The Torcal's soundtrack gives...