Bentley Flying Spur Hybrid plugs in

UPDATED 08/07/2021 9:00am: Bentley has advised the new Flying Spur Hybrid will arrive in Australia in the second half of next year. Pricing is yet to be revealed for Bentley's first electrified model Down Under, and the Bentayga Hybrid is yet to be confirmed for Australia.

ORIGINAL ARTICLE PUBLISHED 07/07/2021: The Bentley Flying Spur Hybrid has emerged as the British prestige car-maker’s second electrified model and the next step in its drive towards a fully-electric line-up by 2030.

The plug-in hybrid version of the third-generation Bentley Flying Spur limousine, which arrived Down Under in W12 form in 2020 and can now also be had with a V8, is a key part of the brand’s Beyond100 strategy, which will see it shift away from being the world’s largest producer of 12-cylinder engines and become an EV-only car-maker by the end of this decade.

The petrol-electric Flying Spur joins the Bentayga Hybrid as Bentley’s second plug-in hybrid (PHEV) model, but its powertrain differs from the electrified SUV’s and so far neither model has been confirmed for Australian release.

The Bentley Flying Spur Hybrid employs an all-new powertrain combining a Porsche-sourced 2.9-litre twin-turbo petrol V6 with a 100kW electric motor and a 14.1kWh lithium-ion battery.

Bentley says the new drivetrain unleashes combined outputs of around 400kW of power and 750Nm of torque – 70kW/50Nm more than the Bentayga Hybrid, which uses a 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 paired with a 94kW electric motor for a combined output of 330kW/700Nm.

The big hybrid sedan is claimed to hit 100km/h in just 4.3 seconds, which is around the same at the Flying Spur V8 and beats the heavier Bentayga Hybrid’s 5.5sec.

Bentley claims a driving range of 700km for Flying Spur Hybrid with a full tank of fuel, making it “the most efficient Bentley ever”, and says it expects its pure EV driving range to be in excess of 40km (WLTP).

A full battery charge is said to take around two and half hours, depending on the type of charger used, but final emissions and economy figures are yet to be confirmed.

“Reduced CO2 values and lower fuel consumption are pending certification and will deliver the most environmentally focused powertrain of the range,” it said.

Inside the cabin, the engine stop/start button has been replaced with an ‘E Modes’ controller, which allows the driver to toggle through EV Drive, Hybrid Mode and Hold Mode.

Outside, a ‘Hybrid’ badge appears on the front guards, while quad exhaust outlets are oval-shaped and a covered charge port resides at the left rear guard.

Other features include a choice of 20-, 21- or 22-inch wheels in various designs and, as with other Bentley models, customers get an array of exterior and interior customisation options.

Stand by for local details as we get them.