Bentley has unveiled the new Flying Spur in range-topping Speed form, heralding the updated limousine as the first four-door supercar to leave the company’s factory in Crewe, north-west England. That’s because the big saloon is being fitted with the same 4.0-litre V8 plug-in hybrid system found on the latest Bentley Continental GT Speed, as well as a lightly updated exterior and interior design.
How powerful is it?
Bentley calls this hybrid system its ‘Ultra Performance Hybrid’, which is no surprise when there’s 782hp and 1,000Nm of torque at the disposal of the driver’s right foot. That comes partly from the 190hp electric motor, which is connected to a 25.9kWh plug-in battery, allowing the car to achieve speeds of up to 140km/h without the help of the petrol engine. But when the 600hp twin-turbocharged V8 joins the party, the car gets its full 782hp might, taking it from 0-100km/h in 3.5 seconds - half a second faster than the outgoing Flying Spur Speed.
And it’s more economical, too?
Yes, but that’s hardly likely to be a key reason for many Bentley customers to choose this new Flying Spur. While official economy figures haven’t been confirmed by the powers that be, Bentley says the car can drive in fully electric mode for up to 76km, and the battery can be charged in two-and-three-quarter hours thanks to a 11kW maximum charging speed.
But it doesn’t look much different...
Even Bentley admits exterior tweaks are subtle, with a dark tint for the brightwork around the car, and a Speed-specific grille, as well as a new front bumper and rear diffuser. There’s an optional Styling Specification aero package, too, available in body colour or carbon fibre, and there are new 22-inch alloy wheel designs.
Inside, meanwhile, there are still diamond-quilted seats, albeit with a new perforation pattern, and customers can choose to have darkened brightwork in there, too. New driver instrumentation graphics have been implemented, as well, and buyers can specify Bentley’s rotating display that can hide behind the wood veneer.
This is a very minor update, then?
Powertrain aside, yes, but don’t think Bentley hasn’t been hard at work on the bits you can’t see. The Speed version comes with Bentley’s Performance Active Chassis technology as standard, including all-wheel steering and an adjustable suspension system so the car can be set up for comfort or handling. There’s a new electronic stability control system, too, built to work with the hybrid system, and there are new suspension components to improve comfort without sacrificing body control in the Sport setting.
Bentley has also moved the Flying Spur’s electrical architecture forward, improving the driver assistance technology and infotainment systems as a result. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto tech is now standard, and the car can take advantage of over-the-air updates, while there’s a new self-parking system, as well as some other new driver assistance features.
There’s clever climate control, too, with new air ionisers, a particulate matter filter and displays showing air quality inside the vehicle. The car even uses navigation data to set the climate control, improving cabin air quality when it detects the car is somewhere with low exterior air quality, such as in a tunnel.
As an option, customers can also specify the Wellness Seating Specification for all four seats, including postural adjustment and seat climate settings, allowing the car to automatically maintain the occupant’s temperature through heating and ventilation, and varying the pressure on their muscles throughout the journey to reduce fatigue.
Will the Speed be the only version available?
We highly doubt it. While this high-performance, high-powered Speed model will likely be the flagship, we’re expecting other models to sit beneath it in the range. If we were into gambling, we’d put money on there being less powerful hybrid versions - possibly with V6 or V8 power - and perhaps some V8 petrol versions.
When can I have one?
With no official presence for Bentley in the Republic of Ireland, the Flying Spur Speed will only be available to those who import one from elsewhere. But there is a dealer in Belfast, so at least that’s accessible. Customers will be able to specify their car soon, and we’re expecting the first production cars to arrive later this year.