Bentley’s electrification push continues as the company appears to be testing a new plug-in hybrid powertrain for the Continental GT and Flying Spur.
Details are limited, but the sedan currently offers a plug-in hybrid powertrain that consists of a twin-turbo 2.9-liter V6, an electric motor, and an 18 kWh battery pack. This setup gives the car a combined output of 536 hp (400 kW / 544 PS) and 553 lb-ft (750 Nm) of torque. Those are pretty respectable numbers and they allow the car to accelerate from 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) in 4.1 seconds, hit a top speed of 177 mph (285 km/h), and travel an EPA-estimated 21 miles (34 km) on electricity alone.
However, the Flying Spur’s twin-turbo 6.0-liter W12 is a beast that develops 626 hp (467 kW / 635 PS) and 664 lb-ft (900 Nm) of torque. Thanks to the extra oomph, the sedan hits 60 mph (96 km/h) in 3.7 seconds and tops out at 207 mph (333 km/h).
More: Bentley Flying Spur Hybrid Debuts As A 536 HP Fuel Sipper
While the W12 is the obvious choice, if you don’t mind a combined fuel economy rating of 15 mpg, it’s going the way of the dodo. As the brand announced earlier this year, production of the W12 engine will cease in April of 2024 after more than 20 years and 100,000 units.
To help fill its shoes, Bentley is expected to introduce a plug-in hybrid powertrain with a V8 engine. Little is known about it, but it will likely combine a twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 with an electric motor and an 18 kWh battery pack. The Porsche Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid uses a similar setup, and it enables the model to have a combined output of 690 hp (515 kW / 700 PS) and 641 lb-ft (868 Nm) of torque. That’s more than the current W12 and the Porsche can hit 60 mph (96 km/h) in three seconds flat.
While we can’t be sure this Flying Spur prototype features a high-performance plug-in hybrid powertrain, it features a sportier front bumper than the existing model. We can also see a dual exhaust system instead of the usual four-tailpipe setup. Spy photographers also noted the prototype sounded different than models equipped with the hybridized V6.
