Following the footsteps (or should we say tyre marks) of the Bentayga Hybrid SUV, the Flying Spur sedan has also gone greener. The new Flying Spur Hybrid sedan is part of Bentley’s plan to shift to hybrid and fully electric cars by 2026. The second hybrid vehicle by the British automaker also happens to be the third powertrain option in the Flying Spur family that already includes a W12 and V8 model. The Volkswagen Group owned brand claims its new hybrid offering to be the most environment-friendly Bentley to date.
The new powertrain combines a 2.9-litre V6 petrol engine with an advanced electric motor, which churns out a combined output of 536 bhp (544 PS) and 750 Nm (553 lb.ft) of torque. This is 95 bhp more in comparison to the Bentayga Hybrid. Bentley even claims that this engine delivers over 150 bhp per litre, which is even higher than the Flying Spur V8.
The advanced electronic motor is located between the transmission and the engine and provides up to 134 bhp (136 PS) and 400 Nm (295 lb.ft) of torque. The E-motor is powered by a 14.1 kWh lithium-ion battery and the claimed 0 to 100 per cent charging time is as little as two and a half hours. The 14.1kWh battery offers an expected all-electric range of around 40 km (25 miles), however, it is yet to be certified.
The combined powertrain can do a 0-100 km/h sprint in just 4.3 seconds, which is just a second shy of its V8 twin. The new Flying Spur Hybrid can go as fast as 285 kmph (177mph) and has a claimed driving range of over 700 km (435 miles) when fully fuelled. The luxury sedan also offers three dedicated drive modes – EV Drive, Hybrid, and Hold, with the latter balancing engine and electric power to conserve battery energy for later use.
Dropping down the huge sculpted hood of the Bentley Flying Spur Hybrid, the most noticeable feature on the front is the familiar massive blacked-out grille which features vertical slats. Right below it sits a wide air dam, which encases the fog lights. On the top, towards the edges of the bonnet are the matrix LED headlights that come with High Beam Assist.
The sides of the Flying Spur features sharp lines, with a prominent lower one running between the two wheels, while the higher ones run across the whole length of the sedan from headlights to backlights. The ORVMs are door mounted for better visibility.
There isn’t much differentiating the Flying Spur Hybrid from its petroleum twins in terms of design, but a few subtle elements here and there, over the body. One of them is a charging port on the left rear wing, while another distinctive element includes a ‘Hybrid’ badge right on the inner bottom edges of the front wheel arches. Talking of wheels, the whole frame sits on 20-inch multi-spoke alloys, meanwhile, there are also 21 & 22-inch units available as options.
The rear flaunting the LED taillights is also a carbon copy of the standard Flying Spur, except for the quad oval-shaped tailpipes. The sedan is offered in seven colour options, as standard. In addition, Bentley is also giving an option of an extended paint range of over 60 colours, including Mulliner and personal commission.
Stepping inside the Flying Spur Hybrid’s luxurious cabin, there’s a similar layout to its other twins, however, there are additional features to complement the new hybrid system. The automatic Start-Stop switch, for instance, has been replaced with a control for the three E driving modes – EV Drive, Hybrid Mode and Hold Mode. It enables to manually manage the battery usage during a journey, however, this can also be managed automatically by the car. EV Drive mode is engaged as default, as soon as the car is switched on.
The dash area packs in a usual setup of a digital instrument cluster and a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment console with support for the latest connectivity facilities. However, the infotainment screen now shows statistics related to energy flow and also allows for setting timers for charging. The instrument panel, the centre screen and the heads up display provide additional e-motion information, including range, battery level and charging information.
Other standard interior features include a sunroof, a 10-speaker audio system, a 3-spoke multifunctional steering wheel and a centre console that divides the driver and passenger areas.
Bentley has also armoured up the Flying Spur Hybrid with usual safety features including multiple airbags, rear crossing traffic warning, park assist and more.
The pricing details of the Bentley Flying Spur Hybrid are yet to be revealed, however, bookings will begin later this month with deliveries expected to start by the end of 2021.
