Bentley Flying Spur Hybrid in the test: Not always sovereign

Created: 01/19/2022, 07:57

By: Sebastian Oppenheimer

Bentley brings the Flying Spur as a plug-in hybrid.

What looks promising on paper reveals a few weaknesses in the first test.

Crewe – At Bentley, the electric wave is slowly rolling towards the spoiled clientele.

After all, the British luxury brand only wants to offer plug-in hybrids and purely electric vehicles from 2026, and from 2030 it will only be powered by electricity.

The Bentayga PHEV was the prelude last year and now the British are following up with the luxury sedan Flying Spur as a plug-in hybrid, which with a total range of more than 700 kilometers marks the best value of all Bentleys.

That also makes sense, because the Flying Spur drivers are the kilometer eaters among the customers of the luxury brand, as reported by 24auto.de.

In the Flying Spur Hybrid, Bentley combines a 2.9-liter six-cylinder petrol engine with an electric motor.

©James Lipman/Bentley

Bentley Flying Spur Hybrid in the test: Not always sovereign

In principle, the drive trains of the crossover and the sedan are identical and come from the technology donor Porsche Panamera.

Apparently, the British took the criticism of the somewhat toothless appearance of the electrified SUV to heart and gave the 2.9-liter TFSI unit more power.

Instead of 330 kW/449 hp, the combustion engine now delivers 306 kW/416 hp.

Together with the electric motor and its 100 kW/136 hp, this results in a system output of 400 kW/544 hp and a maximum torque of 750 Newton meters.

It all sounds wonderful.

Bentley Flying Spur Hybrid on test: fine interior

In the city, the power of the electric heart is easily enough to majestically push the 5.32 meter long asphalt luxury yacht through the streets. Simply press the E Mode button on the decorative center console - and the focus is on the Stromern. In terms of electric driving modes, the electrified Flying Spur, which is known from other models in the VW Group, offers, in addition to the EV program just mentioned, the hybrid program, in which the software regulates the interaction between the combustion engine and the electric motor, and the hold -Setting that preserves the battery charge level. We are particularly impressed by the noise level in the interior. You could almost hear a pin drop if it weren't for the soft floor mats. And the conversations are also very quiet, almost devoutly whispering.In electric mode, the Flying Spur decelerates even more than it already does and you can admire the fine interior. (Bentley Bentayga S in the test: A luxury SUV can be so sporty)

The hybrid drive of the Bentley Flying Spur does not appear sovereign in every driving situation.

©James Lipman/Bentley

Bentley Flying Spur Hybrid in the test: The drive struggles with the weight

That changes beyond the city limits. As soon as there is a slight incline, the combustion engine has to intervene to help via the eight-speed dual-clutch transmission, even at speeds below 110 km/h. This also increases the noise level audibly. On the one hand, the phenomenon of unsupervised driving behavior is due to the normative power of the factual. The Bentley Flying Spur Hybrid weighs 2,505 kilograms, which is 205 kilograms more than a Porsche Panamera 4 E-Hybrid Executive. So the electric motor has a harder time balancing the noble body upwards. The other is the expectations of the Bentley driver. While switching on the combustion engine in the Porsche can still be seen as sporting potential, the Brit is expected to be confident in driving at all times. This self-image is also at the top of the specifications.Electrifying the W12 engine would have been a luxury mark, a V8 powerplant appropriate. This is how the V6 TFSI, which operates in the Miller cycle, became. (Bentley Flying Spur V8 in the test: Is the weaker engine enough or does it need the W12?)

The Bentley Flying Spur Hybrid is luxurious - the navigation system is hidden behind the analogue displays in the center console.

©James Lipman/Bentley

Bentley Flying Spur Hybrid tested: 100 km/h in 4.3 seconds

Nevertheless, you have to ask yourself the question, if a power hybrid is not possible in a luxury sedan, then where is it? The subject is the technology, to be precise, the battery, which has a net capacity of 14.1 kilowatt hours. "I can't fit a bigger battery," says chief engineer Steve Jones. A heavier eight-cylinder engine would further reduce the all-electric range. Official figures are not yet available. As long as the battery has energy, the consumption values ​​are quite impressive. The on-board computer reported an average consumption of 3.35 l/100 km for a mix of city driving and the motorway, on which we never drove faster than 130 km/h. As soon as the charge status of the battery is nearing the specified end and the six-cylinder is increasingly in charge, consumption rises to 10.3 l/km.which is still very neat. This is also due to the fact that the e-machine recuperates and participates in propulsion whenever possible. For those in a hurry, here are the sprint values: from a standing start, the Flying Spur reaches country road speeds in 4.3 seconds and has a top speed of 285 km/h. On the 7.2 KW wall box, the batteries are fully charged again after 2.5 hours. (Bentley Continental GT Speed: How sporty is the most powerful model in the series?)How sporty is the most powerful model in the series?)How sporty is the most powerful model in the series?)

Bentley Flying Spur Hybrid in the test: That costs the noble Briton in the base

On flat asphalt, the level of comfort of the electrified Flying Spur is exactly as expected.

But on bad roads, the combination of the vehicle's weight and the mighty 22-inch wheels proves to be less than optimal, despite the three-chamber air spring chassis.

The Flying Spur handles long waves with ease, but the tyre-damper system doesn't cope with ruts and potholes that well, which the passengers also notice.

Finally, the price of the Flying Spur Hybrid costs at least 210,630 euros, the test car in the eye-catching "Azure Blue" finish brought it to 267,820 euros.