At first glance, the updated 2025 Bentley Flying Spur looks an awful lot like last year's model. Look more closely and you'll see that the grille and front bumper have both been tweaked, and a few new wheel designs have joined the party, but the biggest changes are hidden under the sedan's long, sultry panels. The performance-oriented Speed model is the first to launch, and it carries a plug-in-hybrid powertrain that's the most powerful of any previously installed in a Bentley four-door.
Developed jointly with Porsche and shared with the two-door Continental GT Speed, the Flying Spur Speed's PHEV setup pairs a twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V-8 and an electric motor for a combined 771 horsepower. Acceleration is predictably brisk, with Bentley estimating a 3.3-second sprint to 60 mph, which feels accurate given how quickly the Flying Spur hustles when we pin the gas pedal to that plush carpeting.
Even when running in EV mode, acceleration feels effortless and ample. Bentley says the Flying Spur can go 47 miles per charge on the European WLTP cycle, which should equate to about 40 miles on the U.S. EPA cycle. The powertrain will stay in EV mode at speeds up to 87 mph, though velocities like that will certainly eat into the plug-in's ability to go the distance. There's an occasional stumble in the handoff from electric to gasoline power, but it's highly dependent on throttle input and the current drive mode.
ADVERTISEMENT
The Bentley's battery can be charged the traditional way, by plugging in at home or at a public Level 2 charging spot, and charge times are quick (less than three hours) thanks to the Flying Spur's 11.0-kW onboard charger. But if you are away from home and unable to charge via public infrastructure, there's a mode for charging the battery as you cruise under gas power. Regenerative braking also helps add juice back to the battery, but instead of incorporating an aggressive one-pedal driving mode, the Flying Spur's system requires the driver to use the brake pedal, presumably to avoid any uncouth lurching, which could upset the car's relaxed demeanor (and occupants' heads).
In Comfort mode, the powertrain tends to favor electric motoring and seems reluctant to fire the gas engine, resulting in a more noticeable tremor when the V-8 does spring to life. It's a minor complaint, as the hybrid's operation is otherwise remarkably smooth. When it's running, the V-8 adds a muted rumble to the cabin, but it's never intrusive. Quite the opposite, in fact: We think it adds a certain charm that would be missing if Bentley decided to convert the Flying Spur Speed to a pure EV.
Chassis changes have resulted in a Flying Spur that feels both more athletic and more isolated from pavement imperfections. New dual-valve adaptive dampers are partially responsible for the improvements here, dialing in more plushness in Comfort mode and sharpening handling when in Sport mode. However, unlike its mechanical sibling, the Porsche Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid, the Bentley doesn't get the Porsche's active-suspension tech. The middle-ground Bentley driving mode proved to be our preferred setting, as it kept things from feeling too floaty or too stiff.
Rear-wheel steering, torque-vectoring all-wheel drive, and an electronic limited-slip differential are standard on all Flying Spur Speeds. In addition, Bentley says the placement of the PHEV system's battery under the floor in the trunk gives the Speed a slightly rear-biased weight distribution. The result is a luxury limo that can hang with sports sedans half its size.
Changes within the cabin are relatively minor too, although they serve to enhance the ultra-luxe experience. New diamond-quilted leather on the seats and door panels adds a layer of detail to the upholstery, and a wellness-inspired massaging-seat feature is available for all four outboard seats. The feature is called Postural Adjust, and it makes small adjustments to the seat's position and lumbar support to keep occupants from feeling stiff after a long drive. It works quite well in our experience, and a related automatic climate-control setting senses your body temperature and adjusts the seat's heat and ventilation based on its findings. A traditional massage function with several settings is also included, should you wish for a more targeted (or simpler) form of relaxation.
Onboard tech also gets upgraded for 2025, including the infotainment interface, which can now support downloadable apps from popular services such as Amazon, Spotify, YouTube, and Zoom. The Flying Spur's climate-control system now includes air ionizers and can detect poor air quality inside and outside of the cabin and work to filter it. It can even use data from the car's navigation system to determine if you've ventured into a part of town with higher amounts of pollution and adjust the vents to suit.
Personalization options are nearly endless. The Flying Spur boasts over 700 color combinations for the two-tone leather upholstery (22 primary colors, 11 secondary shades), as well as 11 trim options, eight of which are wood veneer. There are 101 different exterior paint colors, many of which can be combined into unique two-tone schemes, but the company will also do bespoke paint for you or let you choose from any color in the brand's 105-year history. In a time when most mainstream cars are sold in varying shades of gray, Bentley's candy-colored hues—ranging from Swedish Fish red to M&M's green and Skittles violet—is refreshing. Of course, subdued grays are part of the palette too, if you'd prefer to stay demure.
Our drive example was draped in Neptune blue paint and featured a matching interior scheme of Imperial Blue and Light Blue leather with open-pore walnut wood trim. At $276,450 to start and $334,690 as equipped, our Flying Spur Speed also came carrying the optional 19-speaker Naim stereo system, predictive adaptive cruise control, and even a night vision feature. Sure, you could save some money by skipping over a few of these options, but if you're going to spend this kind of money on a car, you may as well go all out.
If you think that's a lot of money, just wait until the even more expensive, more luxurious, more customizable Mulliner variant comes out. Bentley says it will get the same plug-in powertrain, but the Mulliner wears a slightly different exterior appearance with more brightwork and starts at $298,250—before customization.
Like all Bentleys, the Flying Spur enjoys a clientele with six-figure car budgets and a wholly different perspective on luxury convention. Thankfully, the Speed has the pedigree to back up its gargantuan window sticker. If you still need help justifying such a purchase, just think of the Flying Spur Speed as two cars—one sports sedan and one luxury sedan—each with its own purpose to fulfill in your personal fleet.
You Might Also Like
