Bentley reps have repeatedly told us that the company is looking to transform into an all-electric brand by 2030. While the company has touted its environmental plan and some of the promises that come with it, Bentley currently only has one green model in its arsenal (the Bentayga Hybrid.) With the winds of change blowing ever harder, the company has unveiled its second green-tinged model, the all-new 2022 Flying Spur Hybrid.
Flying Spur Hybrid Is Like Looking Into A Mirror
With the Flying Spur lineup benefitting from a recent redesign that completely rebooted the design language, it should come as no surprise that there are really no changes to be found on the Flying Spur Hybrid and that a lot of the things that define the standard model are here too. That includes goodies such as the optional Mulliner Package, the ability to pick from over 60 different paint colors, as well as access to Bentley’s black line package. The only real changes here are the subtle hybrid badging (where the V8 or W12 badge would be on other versions) and a separate port for the charging cable. We like this Q-Ship vibe, and that should please wealthy customers that want to make a green statement but don’t want to overtly broadcast it to the world either.
The interior of the Flying Spur Hybrid follows this motif as well, and on the surface, it appears to be largely a copy and paste job. However, there are some minor updates here, too, but to help the car out in its green-inspired mission with the digital instrument cluster and the massive touchscreen all having readouts that are exclusively for the hybrid model.
This Flying Spur Has How Many Cylinders?
The main changes here are found in the engine bay, with Bentley engineers claiming that the Flying Spur Hybrid is the quickest model in the hybrid lineup. The car makes 536 hp but manages to do this with a tiny 2.9 liter V6 that’s mated to an electric motor. For comparison’s sake, that’s 95 more hp than the bigger Bentayga Hybrid, and all of this electrified muscle allows the big four-door to make the sprint to 60 mph in 4.1 seconds. Oh, and for all the Autobahn warriors out there, this big Bentley can still make a good showing for itself out on the fast lane with the Hybrid capable of achieving 177 mph.
As for the fore-mentioned electric motor, it’s no lightweight, with this particular one producing 134 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque as is. The motor is powered by a 14.1 kWh lithium-ion battery pack that can be charged all the way up to 100 percent in less than two hours. The exotic hardware also introduces three new drive modes to the Flying Spur, EV Drive, Hold, and Hybrid. As the name implies, EV Drive is the base green mode and allows the driver to cruise on electric power only. Hybrid mode uses both the electric and the gasoline motor for maximum cruising range, while Hold allows the battery to retain its charge to be used later. With Rolls Royce still resisting the urge to put hybrid components into the Ghost (for now), this flavor of Flying Spur is in a segment all to itself, which will help it get a head start in building sales.
When Can I Buy A 2022 Flying Spur Hybrid?
Bentley has not released final pricing for the 2022 Flying Spur Hybrid but look for it to be a sizable premium over a non-hybrid model. Buyers looking to add one to their garage can order one later this month when Bentley opens up the books. The first production units are expected to be delivered later this year, and hopefully, we will hear more information about final pricing before that occurs.
Carl Malek has been an automotive journalist for over 10 years. First starting out as a freelance photographer before making the transition to writing during college, his work has appeared on numerous automotive forums as well as websites such as Autoshopper.com.
Carl is also a big fan of British vehicles with the bulk of his devotion going to the Morgan Motor Company as well as offerings from Lotus, MG, and Caterham. When he is not writing about automobiles, Carl enjoys spending time with his family and friends in the Metro Detroit area, as well as spending time with his adorable pets.