[Auto] 771-HP Bentley Flying Spur with Hybrid V-8 Debuts on September 10

[7aMoDi]

• The Bentley Flying Spur is getting a facelift that includes a heart transplant.
• The Flying Spur is adding the same plug-in-hybrid V-8 powertrain as the refreshed Continental GT.
• The new unit pairs the combustion engine with an electric motor and 25.9-kWh battery to produce 771 horsepower and 738 pound-feet of torque.

 

UPDATE 9/3/2024: Bentley today released a new teaser photo of the upcoming Flying Spur, which the company also announced will be revealed on Tuesday, September 10. This news comes after Bentley confirmed back in July that the new Flying Spur will feature its 771-hp plug-in-hybrid V-8 powertrain.

We've known about Bentley's plans to kill off the W-12 for a while now, but we haven't known how those plans would affect the Flying Spur—until now. The automaker has announced a facelifted version of the extravagant sedan that includes the new plug-in-hybrid V-8 from the refreshed Continental GT.

 

The powertrain, which Bentley calls the "Ultra Performance Hybrid," combines a twin-turbo 4.0-liter V-8 that peaks at 584 horsepower with a 187-hp electric motor squashed between the engine and the eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. The two combine for a total output of 771 horsepower and 738 pound-feet of torque.

 

The electric motor sources its power from a 25.9-kWh battery, which is claimed to provide up to 51 miles of EV-only driving range based on the rather optimistic European WLTP test cycle. That's likely closer to 40 miles using the EPA's methodology. In the Conti, the electric motor can propel the car at speeds up to 87 mph using electricity alone, though that may change for the Flying Spur. If all of these figures seem familiar to you, that's because they are. On top of powering the refreshed Continental GT, the mighty PHEV powertrain has been making the rounds throughout the greater Volkswagen Group's production facilities. The recently announced plug-in-hybrid Lamborghini Urus SE uses a slightly more powerful version of the same setup, while Porsche just announced a new Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid with the same system.

 

Not much else is known about the facelifted Flying Spur beyond the powertrain. The manufacturer released a single teaser image of the new car showcasing a slightly revised front end. Bentley promises to reveal more information "in due course," so we'll have to sit tight until then.

 

https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a61639146/2025-bentley-flying-spur-plug-in-hybrid-revealed/