2025 Bentley Flying Spur Speed Is Where High-Luxe Meets Hi-Po

The Flying Spur’s 771-hp plug-in-hybrid powertrain offers hustle when you want it and silent EV motoring when you don’t.

At first glance, the updated 2025 Bentley Flying Spur looks an awful lot like last year’s model. Look more closely and you’ll see that the grille and front bumper have both been tweaked, and a few new wheel designs have joined the party, but the biggest changes are hidden under the sedan’s long, sultry panels. The performance-oriented Speed model is the first to launch, and it carries a plug-in-hybrid powertrain that’s the most powerful of any previously installed in a Bentley four-door.

eveloped jointly with Porsche and shared with the two-door Continental GT Speed, the Flying Spur Speed’s PHEV setup pairs a twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V-8 and an electric motor for a combined 771 horsepower. Acceleration is predictably brisk, with Bentley estimating a 3.3-second sprint to 60 mph, which feels accurate given how quickly the Flying Spur hustles when we pin the gas pedal to that plush carpeting.

View Exterior PhotosBentley

Even when running in EV mode, acceleration feels effortless and ample. Bentley says the Flying Spur can go 47 miles per charge on the European WLTP cycle, which should equate to about 40 miles on the U.S. EPA cycle. The powertrain will stay in EV mode at speeds up to 87 mph, though velocities like that will certainly eat into the plug-in’s ability to go the distance. There’s an occasional stumble in the handoff from electric to gasoline power, but it’s highly dependent on throttle input and the current drive mode.

The Bentley’s battery can be charged the traditional way, by plugging in at home or at a public Level 2 charging spot, and charge times are quick (less than three hours) thanks to the Flying Spur’s 11.0-kW onboard charger. But if you are away from home and unable to charge via public infrastructure, there’s a mode for charging the battery as you cruise under gas power. Regenerative braking also helps add juice back to the battery, but instead of incorporating an aggressive one-pedal driving mode, the Flying Spur’s system requires the driver to use the brake pedal, presumably to avoid any uncouth lurching, which could upset the car’s relaxed demeanor (and occupants’ heads).

View Exterior PhotosBentley

In Comfort mode, the powertrain tends to favor electric motoring and seems reluctant to fire the gas engine, resulting in a more noticeable tremor when the V-8 does spring to life. It’s a minor complaint, as the hybrid’s operation is otherwise remarkably smooth. When it’s running, the V-8 adds a muted rumble to the cabin, but it’s never intrusive. Quite the opposite, in fact: We think it adds a certain charm that would be missing if Bentley decided to convert the Flying Spur Speed to a pure EV.

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Chassis changes have resulted in a Flying Spur that feels both more athletic and more isolated from pavement imperfections. New dual-valve adaptive dampers are partially responsible for the improvements here, dialing in more plushness in Comfort mode and sharpening handling when in Sport mode. However, unlike its mechanical sibling, the Porsche Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid, the Bentley doesn’t get the Porsche’s active-suspension tech. The middle-ground Bentley driving mode proved to be our preferred setting, as it kept things from feeling too floaty or too stiff.

View Exterior PhotosBentley

Rear-wheel steering, torque-vectoring all-wheel drive, and an electronic limited-slip differential are standard on all Flying Spur Speeds. In addition, Bentley says the placement of the PHEV system’s battery under the floor in the trunk gives the Speed a slightly rear-biased weight distribution. The result is a luxury limo that can hang with sports sedans half its size.

Changes within the cabin are relatively minor too, although they serve to enhance the ultra-luxe experience. New diamond-quilted leather on the seats and door panels adds a layer of detail to the upholstery, and a wellness-inspired massaging-seat feature is available for all four outboard seats. The feature is called Postural Adjust, and it makes small adjustments to the seat’s position and lumbar support to keep occupants from feeling stiff after a long drive. It works quite well in our experience, and a related automatic climate-control setting senses your body temperature and adjusts the seat’s heat and ventilation based on its findings. A traditional massage function with several settings is also included, should you wish for a more targeted (or simpler) form of relaxation.

View Interior PhotosBentley

Onboard tech also gets upgraded for 2025, including the infotainment interface, which can now support downloadable apps from popular services such as Amazon, Spotify, YouTube, and Zoom. The Flying Spur’s climate-control system now includes air ionizers and can detect poor air quality inside and outside of the cabin and work to filter it. It can even use data from the car’s navigation system to determine if you’ve ventured into a part of town with higher amounts of pollution and adjust the vents to suit.

Personalization options are nearly endless. The Flying Spur boasts over 700 color combinations for the two-tone leather upholstery (22 primary colors, 11 secondary shades), as well as 11 trim options, eight of which are wood veneer. There are 101 different exterior paint colors, many of which can be combined into unique two-tone schemes, but the company will also do bespoke paint for you or let you choose from any color in the brand’s 105-year history. In a time when most mainstream cars are sold in varying shades of gray, Bentley’s candy-colored hues—ranging from Swedish Fish red to M&M’s green and Skittles violet—is refreshing. Of course, subdued grays are part of the palette too, if you’d prefer to stay demure.

View Interior PhotosBentley

Our drive example was draped in Neptune blue paint and featured a matching interior scheme of Imperial Blue and Light Blue leather with open-pore walnut wood trim. At $276,450 to start and $334,690 as equipped, our Flying Spur Speed also came carrying the optional 19-speaker Naim stereo system, predictive adaptive cruise control, and even a night vision feature. Sure, you could save some money by skipping over a few of these options, but if you’re going to spend this kind of money on a car, you may as well go all out.

If you think that’s a lot of money, just wait until the even more expensive, more luxurious, more customizable Mulliner variant comes out. Bentley says it will get the same plug-in powertrain, but the Mulliner wears a slightly different exterior appearance with more brightwork and starts at $298,250—before customization.

View Interior PhotosBentley

Like all Bentleys, the Flying Spur enjoys a clientele with six-figure car budgets and a wholly different perspective on luxury convention. Thankfully, the Speed has the pedigree to back up its gargantuan window sticker. If you still need help justifying such a purchase, just think of the Flying Spur Speed as two cars—one sports sedan and one luxury sedan—each with its own purpose to fulfill in your personal fleet.

Specifications

2025 Bentley Flying Spur Speed
Vehicle Type: front-engine, front-motor, all-wheel-drive, 4–5-passenger, 4-door sedan

PRICE
Base: $276,450

POWERTRAIN
twin-turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 32-valve 4.0-liter V-8, 591 hp, 590 lb-ft + AC motor, 188 hp, 332 lb-ft (combined output: 771 hp, 738 lb-ft; 22.0-kWh lithium-ion battery pack; 11.0-kW onboard charger)
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic

DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 125.8 in
Length: 209.3 in
Width: 78.3 in
Height: 58.0 in
Passenger Volume, F/R: 59/52 ft³
Trunk Volume: 12 ft³
Curb Weight (C/D est): 5850 lb

PERFORMANCE (C/D EST)
60 mph: 3.1 sec
100 mph: 7.3 sec
1/4-Mile: 11.1 sec
Top Speed: 177 mph

EPA FUEL ECONOMY (C/D EST)
Combined/City/Highway: 19/18/22 mpg
Combined Gasoline + Electricity: 50 MPGe
EV Range: 40 mi

Reviewed byDrew Dorian

Managing Editor, Buyer’s Guide

Drew Dorian is a lifelong car enthusiast who has also held a wide variety of consumer-focused positions throughout his career, ranging from financial counselor to auto salesperson. He has dreamed of becoming a Car and Driver editor since he was 11 years old—a dream that was realized when he joined the staff in April 2016. He’s a born-and-raised Michigander and learned to drive on a 1988 Pontiac Grand Am. His automotive interests run the gamut from convertibles and camper vans to sports cars and luxury SUVs.      

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Conversation36 Comments

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• SincerestIrony38w agoLovely car. I look forward to seeing one quietly waft by. The trunk space is a bit disappointing, though I realize putting the batteries back there helps it dynamically.ReplyShare
• Ms.Tina38w agoOutside of the Rollers, Bentley has the best interiors on the market. Incredibly solid and luxurious, the best materials in the car industry makes it to these cars. ReplyShare3 replies
• jtc564738w agoThis is my lottery car for sure. However, I would not plug in and worry about all that. If it can’t recharge under regular driving then I would get the next model down honestly. I don’t need the 200 or whatever extra HP versus the inconvenience of plugging in. OR, at the most I would have a cha…See moreReplyShare2 replies
• Bait8338w agoI love it. That interior looks like luxury at it’s finest. I also think this is the ideal type car for this hybrid setup. Weight would matter in a Bentley. A big rush of smooth torque accompanied by delicious V8 sounds is everything you want here. Very cool.ReplyShare
• al127238w agoWhat is the point of this?6000 lbs, and the fuel economy that would be matched by its regular V8, sans all the added weight.If you are spending $300K on a Bentley… being able to “motor” along for 40 miles on EV power, is the last on your options and wish list.ReplyShare3 replies
• MurcielagoSV37w agoOne of the outright best looking sedans.Most cars look much better in the flesh than in overly stylised magazine pictures which serve more to showcase the photographer’s creativity/expertise than the car itself; never seen an edited studio shot show a car better than the phone pic taken by a guy in…See moreReplyShare
• ste154938w agowill we get tariffs on British made items….no worries, those who buy this can afford the trump tariffs.ReplyShare
• tdi_rex38w agoBentleys and Rollers used to be distinctively styled, but timelessly so. This … Is a three-box sedan that would disappear in a sea of Chrysler 300’s and Audi A8’s.ReplyShare
• frankfan4238w agoI prefer understated styling like this but is it worth 300 large? If you have the cash and love the car that’s great. Just seems somewhat superfluous to me to have a massive car like this with a trunk significantly smaller than a Jetta just to have 40 miles of electric range. ReplyShare
• ras2209