Bentley has just revealed the brand new fourth generation Flying Spur, the latest iteration of a vehicle that almost two decades ago effectively reestablished the concept of a luxury performance sedan. Now Bentley is looking to further establish its lead within the category, declaring this new Flying Spur as its first four-door supercar.
The crux of this new Bentley Flying Spur — which is first being launched as the performance-focused Speed variant — is that it is built around Bentley’s new Ultra Performance Hybrid engine, giving the vehicle an impressive range of capabilities. At one point it could be cruising around a city’s low-emission zone in absolute silence, utilizing only its electric motor, but as soon as it’s out on the open road the full 782hp of the Bentley V8 comes into play, creating an entirely new beast.
At maximum performance, the new Bentley Flying Spur is capable of traveling 0-60 mph in just 3.3 seconds, half a second quicker than the previous iteration.
In the looks department, the new Flying Spur remains similar to its predecessor: it’s muscley and will certainly have presence on the road while retaining its refined elegant design. It’s under the skin where the biggest changes have been made. The brand-new powertrain, combined with the also new electrical architecture, ensures that this new Bentley resides within the upper echelons of the modern luxury sedan world.
Looking to the interior, there are new stitch options and a luxurious 3D diamond hide that extends to doors and pillars, in addition to wellness features like intelligent air ionization and the option of postural adjustment on all four seats. These wellness features are a savvy addition for Bentley, capitalizing on a trend that looks set to be a stalwart of the luxury sedan world for some time.
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The engine
In the brand-new Bentley Flying Spur Speed, the most definitive upgrade the classic British marque has made lies under the hood; it’s what makes this impressive bit of kit go, the engine. The Ultra Performance Hybrid all-wheel drive powertrain is a blend of the 600hp 4-liter twin-turbo V8 engine and a 190 hp electric motor.
When the vehicle is placed in sport mode, these two work together at full capability, producing 782 hp and 1000 Nm of torque. This gives the vehicle the best of both: the instant torque of the electric motor, and the raw power of the internal combustion engine. The power generated from the powertrain is 19% greater than the outgoing model, ensuring this is the most powerful Bentley sedan ever.
There are numerous benefits to having an electric motor make up a significant part of the powertrain, for example, the e-motor helps to negate turbo lag. Capitalizing on this, Bentley has used twin single-scroll turbochargers, reducing the complexity and minimizing emissions.
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In pure EV mode, the car has a range of 47 miles (more than enough for most city trips) with the electric motor capable of propelling the new Bentley Flying Spur to 87 mph. While the battery can be fully replenished in under 3 hours, due to improvements in both the charger and battery.
The driver can select pure EV, electric boost and regenerative braking modes and in this new Bentley Flying Spur there is also a charge mode. This new mode means the engine will both drive the wheels and charge the battery, extending the potential of pure EV mode.
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Looking at the exterior of the new Bentley Flying Spur, brightware is finished in a dark tint, delivering a sporty edge, while the new Speed variant features a specific grille, front bumper and rear diffuser. Owners can also choose if they want the styling specification aero package to be finished in either body color or a carbon fiber finish.
As owners approach the vehicle and open the door, an animated version of the Bentley logo is projected onto the ground, a feature that was pinched from the coachbuilt Batur coupe by Mulliner. The wheels are a 22-inch Ten Swept Spoke and come in either gray painted and bright machined or black painted.
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Inside there is an all-new seat design that features 3D diamond quilting and a revised perforation pattern to improve airflow. Of course, the iconic Bentley Rotating Display makes a return allowing the driver to change between a 12.3-inch high-definition display, three analog dials or an unbroken side of handcrafted veneer.
For the exterior, there are a range of 101 colors to choose from in addition to any previous Bentley color, or owners can get creative with bespoke paint matching. On the inside there are 22 main hide colors and 11 secondary shades, in addition to contrast stitching and piping, giving the interior an impressive personal edge.
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