Bentley has unveiled its new Flying Spur sedan, and first out the starting blocks is the aptly named Speed flagship model that sports an all-new hybrid powertrain.
Bentley South Africa says we can expect the new four-door to dock on local shores early in the third quarter of 2025, with pricing to be confirmed in due course. But with the current Flying Spur Speed priced from R6.1 million, it’s going to be one of those situations where if you have to ask… it’s probably out of your reach.
Although Bentley is billing this as an all-new generation, it appears to be an extensive update of the existing model, but what lies beneath the skin is certainly as fresh as a cucumber sandwich on a Buckingham Palace summer’s day.
Replacing the previous 12-cylinder engine is a new “Ultra Performance Hybrid” system that pairs a 441kW 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 with a 140kW electric motor that’s integrated into the eight-speed dual clutch gearbox, for system outputs of 575kW and 1,000Nm.
Whisking from 0-100km/h in a claimed 3.5 seconds, which is half a second faster than its predecessor managed, the new Flying Spur Speed is Bentley’s quickest four-door ever.
This is in spite of it now lugging around a 25.9 kWh battery, which is said to enable an all-electric range of up to 76km on the EU driving cycle.
The new vehicle comes standard with the Bentley Performance Active Chassis, which includes all-wheel steering and a new generation ESC stability control system that accommodates a wide range of driving styles in all conditions.
A brand new electrical architecture has also allowed Bentley to bring the cabin tech up to date, with over-the-air updates now possible.
The updated Flying Spur also ushers in an optional Wellness Seating Specification that’s available on all four seats. It includes Seat Auto Climate and Postural Adjust, which measures and maintains the perfect body temperature via zoned heating and ventilation, while also varying the pressure on occupants’ muscles.
But buying a Bentley is very much about making it your own canvas, and to that end, the British company says its customers have “tens of billions” of configuration possibilities to select from, and that’s before they even speak to Bentley’s bespoke divisions Mulliner.
IOL Motoring