Bentley has revealed the fourth generation of its four-door Flying Spur luxury sedan which has ditched the W12 engine, instead picking up a high-performance twin-turbo V8 plug-in hybrid (PHEV) drivetrain.
Initially revealed in performance-focussed Speed guise, the new Bentley Flying Spur PHEV is more powerful, quicker, and also more efficient than the outgoing W12 Speed.
The flagship Flying Spur is powered by a Bentley’s ‘Ultra Performance Hybrid’ drivetrain, which combines a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 engine producing 441kW and 800Nm with an 140kW/450Nm electric motor integrated into the eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.
Total system outputs are 575kW and 1000Nm, up a staggering 108kW and 100Nm on the previous Flying Spur’s twin-turbo 6.0-litre W12 engine.
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It’s worth noting this new plug-in hybrid powertrain also features in the new flagship Porsche Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid.
Bentley claims the new Flying Spur Speed can sprint from 0-100km/h in 3.5 seconds, which is about half a second faster than its predecessor.
The electric motor is fed by a 25.9kWh battery pack which allows for an electric-only driving range of 76km on the WLTP lab test cycle.
The Flying Spur PHEV can be driven exclusively on electric power at speeds up to 140km/h with throttle applications of up to 75 per cent.
Its battery can be charged at up to 11kW, which Bentley claims can produce a full recharge in 2.75 hours.
This new plug-in hybrid Flying Spur is also claimed to have 90 per cent lower CO2 emissions than the outgoing Flying Spur W12 Speed.
Bentley’s Dynamic Ride system is fitted as standard to the Flying Spur Speed, bringing twin-valve dampers, all-wheel steering system, electronically controlled limited-slip differential, torque vectoring, as well as a new generation of electronic stability control.
While the exterior design remains largely the same as the third-generation model launched back in 2019, Bentley claims additional changes under the skin include its new electrical architecture.
Minor exterior tweaks include a Speed-specific grille, front and rear diffusers, new 22-inch alloy wheels, as well as LED puddle lights.
Inside there are new seat designs which feature a 3D diamond quilting and revised perforation, as well as revised cabin trimmings.
Other new features include wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, over-the-air satellite navigation map updates and the My Bentley App Studio which allows third-party apps to be downloaded to the infotainment system.
There’s also remote connected services available through a mobile phone app which includes charging status, park assist, and cabin pre-conditioning.
The new Bentley Flying Spur is available in 101 exterior paint colours, though this can be expanded to include any paint colour from Bentley’s past. There’s also bespoke paint-matching available.
Inside there are 22 primary hide colours available, 11 secondary shades, and four colour splits. This means there are more than 700 colour combinations for the interior.
All new Bentley Flying Spurs are still hand-built at the company’s factory in Crewe, England.
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