2022 Flying Spur Hybrid is the most-efficient Bentley yet

Like most automakers, Bentley has committed to an all-electric lineup by 2030. To bridge the gap between combustion engine models and EVs, the British marque is introducing hybrid models. However, there has only been one electrified Bentley model so far, and it's the Bentayga Hybrid. To expand its green footprint, the automaker has introduced a plug-in hybrid version of the Flying Spur.

The new Flying Spur Hybrid drops the V8 or W12 engines in favor of a 2.9-liter V6 mill paired with an electric motor for a total output of 536 horsepower and 750 Nm torque. For comparison, it has 95 horsepower and 50 Nm more than the Bentayga Hybrid. Compared to the V8- and W12-powered Flying Spur, the hybrid is a bit slower. The electrified Flying Spur accelerates from 0 to 97 km/h in 4.1 seconds with a top speed of 285 km/h. Still, that is still relatively fast compared to most non-hybrid luxury cars.

Interestingly, Bentley says the Flying Spur Hybrid will default to electric mode each time it starts. Yes, it has an EV-only mode, but it has a limited range. The automaker has yet to release the final figures but claims the 14.1-kW lithium-ion battery pack can power the car up to 40 km based on WLTP protocol. When working together with the V6 engine, the total driving range is estimated at over 700 km.

In terms of design, the Flying Spur Hybrid looks identical to its non-electric-assisted counterpart. The subtle changes include a discreet badge on the front fender and a charging point at the rear left, mirroring the fuel filler on the other side. Inside, it's the same story apart from the hybrid-specific graphics and settings on the infotainment and instrument cluster. With that, customers will be able to spec out the Flying Spur Hybrid to their liking, similar to how they would on a V8- or W12-powered Flying Spur.

With both the Bentayga and Flying Spur now available with a plug-in hybrid option, the only model that remains without any electric assistance is the Continental GT. Given the direction of the company, we can expect it to debut sometime this year or the next.