The Bentley Flying Spur is a fantastic luxury sedan based on the Bentley Continental. It features the same interior as the Continental except there are some small differences. The Flying Spur also has usually had the same engine choices as the Continental, until now.
Bentley a few months ago launched the Bentayga Hybrid facelift, and now they’ve launched the Flying Spur hybrid. It features the same 2.9 liters twin-turbo V6 as the Bentayga Hybrid. The Flying Spur Hybrid pushes out 536hp and 553 lb-ft of torque from its electric motor and V6 engine. Not too shabby at all, and it can hit 60 in just 4.3 seconds which is pretty decent indeed.
The Bentayga hybrid though was a very disappointing car. The range wasn’t great, on the electric mode the car felt slow and it wasn’t all that economical. So what’s the Flying Spur like then? Is it a proper Bentley or is it like the Bentayga really just something you buy to save company car tax?
So, should you buy one of these? Or stick to a W12 or V8 model instead? Let’s find out.
picture via: topgear.com
What’s The Hybrid System Like?
The Flying Spur will start up in electric mode, which in a Bentley, is rather nice and luxurious. It really exposes you to the outside elements and makes everything feel so much calmer. The Flying Spur then is similar to a Prius which also starts up in electric mode. You don’t really feel the car starting up at all. the only indication it has done is when the driver’s display states “ready.”
The electric motor pushes out 134hp which is quite a lot of power. This means that the electric motor can run the car on its own up to speeds of just over 80 mph but the range is around say up to 40 miles if you’re lucky. Not the best by any means but it is what it is. The electric motor’s main purpose is to fill in the gaps. For example driving in a city, driving at low speeds, etc. Not only does this rest the engine but also increases MPG.
The transition from petrol mode to electric mode (or vice versa) is just so effortlessly smooth. You don’t notice it whatsoever. The computers on board are also very smart. If you have a destination plugged into the sat-nav system, the car will analyze your route journey and will determine when to use and when not to use the electric motor.
Furthermore, you get three electric drive modes. None of this is new technology at all, but it does work very well in the Flying Spur. As a result, you can hit figures of say 30 mpg and that figure is a mixture of highway and twisty road driving.
What’s The Car Like To Drive?
Most hybrid versions of a normal petrol-powered car (for example the BMW 530e) are pretty disappointing to drive. The Flying Spur Hybrid is no driver’s car, but it packs supercar power. Almost as much as the V8 twin-turbo Flying Spur.
The Flying Spur Hybrid though is a heavy car at 2.5 tonnes. Round the bends, it can feel very heavy and it isn’t as nimble as its V8 equivalent. However, overall for a car of this size body control isn’t too shabby at all. At higher speeds, though just like any Bentley should, the Flying Spur Hybrid wafts along with ease. Like a proper GT then.
The power delivery thanks to the hybrid system is instant. However, it’s not brutal like say a Tesla or Taycan Porsche. It’s linear which means the power truly is effortless and always there when you need it. This car is only one-tenth of a second slower to 60 than the V8 model. You couldn’t even measure that sort of time even if you tried. This car then is as fast as the V8 model in the real world.
The noise though isn’t as nice as the V8. The V6 isn’t a bad-sounding engine, but it just isn’t as well composed or as fiesty as the V8 twin-turbo. It is similar to the W12 in sound, in that it is just more elegant. Relaxing, which in a large luxury sedan is a huge win.
The dual-clutch gearbox is silky smooth just as you would expect. The steering is predictable and well weight though it is lacking in feel. However, overall it does feel sporty and the car handles well thanks to its AWD system and rear-wheel steering. You can drive this big luxury limo like a sports car if you wish, and it will respond well.
Picture via: topgear.com
What’s The Interior Like?
The interior of this car is just like any other Bentley. It is fabulous, and it is no different from any other Flying Spur model. You get a 12.3-inch touchscreen display. It is crystal-clear and so easy to use. The driver also gets a digital display too. The build quality is absolutely amazing and everything feels so nice.
Sitting in the Flying Spur is an event in itself. The interior is by far a lot nicer than most houses these days. The car is packed full of leather from top to bottom and other exotic materials. There is knurling on the knobs and buttons which really does satisfy you when you touch and use them. The pedals are aluminum so they feel really tough. The steering wheel is nice and thick too and very comfortable to hold.
Overall, this is by far the best interior of any hybrid car on the market today. It’s spacious, luxurious but most of all it makes you feel special. There are over 56 Billion ways to configure a Flying Spur according to Bentley. It May as well be infinite since you really can have whatever you like ib your Flying Spur so long as you have the money.
You can have special types of woods as veneer if you wish. Wood from trees that only grow in specific areas of the world. You can have carbon fiber, aluminum, or even 24k gold if you wish. Whatever you want, Bentley will do. The seats can be adjusted in many different ways, and they are just so soft. All of this justifies the Bentley Flying Spur’s price tag which starts at $204,000 and the options list as we discovered earlier is endless.
picture via: motorauthorty.com