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You may already have seen Volvo using wool in its production models, but Bentley is taking the idea further with a new 100 per cent Merino wool option for the cabin of its upcoming first EV, the Torcal.

For a bit of background, Merino wool, which comes from Merino sheep, has traditionally been used in clothing. It is especially soft and breathable, which is why it works so well in socks, shirts and plenty more. Carmakers, however, have not previously embraced the use of 100 per cent Merino wool in vehicle interiors, and Bentley says that is mainly because of durability concerns. And before Volvo is raised as an example, it is worth noting that its wool seat option is actually made up of only 30 per cent wool, while the remaining 70 per cent is recycled polyester. In the Torcal, by contrast, the wool is pure Merino.

So how has Bentley managed it? The company says it worked with Fox Brothers, a cloth manufacturer that has been operating since the 1700s, to develop a wool material strong enough to satisfy Bentley’s durability requirements. The catch is that both companies are keeping the technical details under wraps, so exactly what has been changed or engineered differently in this Merino wool has not been disclosed. Bentley is also being fairly restrained with the images it has released, offering only a partial look at how the wool appears on the Torcal’s door panel and lower dashboard. We have not been able to feel it yet, but it certainly looks soft. Bentley has also confirmed that, although it is being shown here in a natural, sheep-like white shade, buyers will be able to choose from six different colours.

Alongside the wool, Bentley has also previewed a new wood trim finish called Ombre Veneer. This material is made using walnut wood and recycled paper, while its texture and layered visual effect come from the way it is constructed. The process involves pressing together around 1000 separate layers, each of them less than a millimetre thick.

There is also one more trim finish being introduced for the Torcal, known as Sunburst Aluminum. Bentley describes it as a reinterpretation of the engine-turned aluminium dashboards the brand used in the past. The idea is to evoke that classic look while giving it a more contemporary edge.

This latest cabin design teaser is another step in Bentley’s gradual reveal strategy for its first EV. We heard the vehicle last month, and the company’s American boss had already shared some early details at the New York Auto Show earlier this year. The full unveiling is scheduled for the end of September, so expect more information and additional images before this electric model makes its official debut.