NAA Member News: New Bentley Flying Spur with plug-in hybrid technology
Last month Bentley launched its first four-door supercar – the new Flying Spur, now in its fourth generation after almost two decades of defining the ultimate luxury performance sedan.
Launched initially with the performance-focused Speed, the new Flying Spur is built around Bentley’s new Ultra Performance Hybrid, endowing it with an extraordinary breadth of capabilities. At one extreme, it’s capable of serene, silent progress in pure EV mode for up to 47 miles (76 km), ideal for Zero Emission Zones or city travel, and with CO2 emissions 90% lower than the outgoing Flying Spur Speed. When more spirited driving is desired, the combined 782 PS of Bentley V8 – 147PS up on the outgoing car – and e-motor delivers sensational performance, passing the 0-60 mph benchmark in just 3.3 seconds (0-100 km/h in 3.5 secs) – half a second quicker than its predecessor. Few vehicles on the planet can boast such a spread of ability; none do so with the refinement, poise or luxury as the new Flying Spur, justifying Bentley’s claim that this is its first four-door supercar.
While the exterior design largely retains the familiar, muscular yet elegant design of the third-generation Flying Spur launched in 2019, it’s beneath the skin of the car where the real changes take place – with the all-new powertrain matched with an also-new electrical architecture that brings the most modern suite of automotive technology fitted to any true luxury sedan.
Interior updates improve on the already exquisite Flying Spur cabin with new stitch options, 3D diamond hide extended to doors and pillars, and further wellness features including the intelligent air ionisation and option of automatic postural adjustment on all four seats means even more potential for limitless personalisation. Meanwhile the introduction of the My Bentley App Studio brings an array of useful applications straight to the driver’s finger tips.
Higher Performance, Lower Emissions
The Flying Spur Speed’s Ultra Performance Hybrid all-wheel drive powertrain combines an advanced 600 PS 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 with a 190 PS electric motor that is neatly integrated within the eight-speed dual clutch transmission. In Sport mode this powertrain deploys a full 782 PS and 1,000 Nm, with the instant torque of the E-motor complementing the charismatic cross-plane beat of the V8. Compared with the previous Speed model, the new Flying Spur Speed delivers higher torque from lower engine speeds, higher peak torque and higher power output throughout the rev range.
System torque is increased by over 11 per cent compared to the outgoing W12-powered Flying Spur Speed, from 900 Nm to 1000 Nm (738 lb ft). System power has also increased by 19 per cent, from 659 PS to 782 PS. This makes the new Flying Spur the most powerful Bentley sedan ever created.
The new 600 PS, 800 Nm (590 lb ft) V8 engine – with no traditional vacuum system, and 350 bar fuel injection pressure (raised from 200 bar) provides cleaner combustion and improved emissions. With the e-motor negating turbo lag, twin single-scroll turbochargers have been used – which reduces complexity and allows them to run hotter, minimising emissions. Therefore, no cylinder deactivation hardware is required, as the engine can be switched off entirely when using the electric motor.
In pure EV mode, the E-motor provides 190 PS and 450 Nm of torque, more than enough to keep up with the traffic in most situations, while the 25.9 kWh battery offers up to 47 miles (76 km) of usable electric-only range (on the EU drive cycle). Together, the V8 and E-motor provide the new Flying Spur with a total range of 515 miles (829 km). Full electric mode can be deployed at speeds of up to 87 mph / 140 km/h, with throttle applications of up to 75 per cent. The battery can be fully replenished in as little as 2¾ hours thanks to significant improvements in charger and battery capacity, with 11 kW peak charging power.
The powertrain system manages the energy flows dependent upon the mode chosen – with pure EV, electric boost, regenerative braking – and, most importantly for this new Flying Spur – a charge mode, where the engine drives the wheels and charges the battery at the same time.
The Bentley Performance Active Chassis comes as standard with the Flying Spur Speed. Features of the sophisticated new setup include Bentley Dynamic Ride and All-Wheel Steering, along with an electronically-controlled Limited Slip Differential, while a new generation of ESC control software permits a range of driving styles to be accessed and provides reliable traction in all conditions. With the new car’s rear-biased weight distribution of 48.3 : 51.7, the chassis systems and ESC have a mechanically-optimised platform in which to provide the final refinement. The system uses active torque vectoring front to rear through a centre differential, and precision vectoring across each axle using the brakes.
