Bentley Flying Spur Plug-In Hybrid To Pair Luxury With Efficiency

A prototype of the upcoming Bentley Flying Spur PHEV has been outed during a recent round of winter testing.

Bentley has been scooped testing the Flying Spur on a number of occasions in recent months but this is our first sighting of the plug-in hybrid variant. Unsurprisingly, most of its exterior looks identical to other Flying Spur prototypes, except for a small plug on the left rear quarter panel. Our spy photographers snapped the PHEV prototype both plugged in and on the move.

We suspect that the Flying Spur PHEV will share its powertrain with select Bentley Bentayga and Porsche Panamera models. That means a 2.9-liter V6 plug-in hybrid that produces roughly 462 hp and offers up an all-electric range of about 30 miles (48 km). This efficient powertrain will likely mean Bentley doesn’t sell the new Flying Spur with any diesel engines.

Alongside the plug-in hybrid V6, Bentley is thought to be readying the new Flying Spur to support a 4.0-liter petrol V8 and a 6.0-liter petrol W12. It is even possible that variants towards the top of the Flying Spur family could use the powerful hybrid V8 system found in the Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid and deliver a neck-snapping 680 hp.

Fitting the new Flying Spur with powertrains from the Porsche Panamera will be quite easy for the automaker as the duo feature the same MSB-F platform. This also means the Flying Spur will receive a number of new technologies from the Panamera, including an updated infotainment system and select semi-autonomous driving functions.

Like other recent prototypes, this Bentley Flying Spur PHEV prototype does have some body cladding across the exterior. With that being said, we’re provided with a reasonable look at the car’s design, including its aggressive front bumper, large black grille, multi-spoke wheels, and oval-shaped tailpipes.

Expect the new Bentley Flying Spur to premiere in the middle of the year.