2022 Bentley Flying Spur Hybrid review: International launch

From any perspective, 2021 was a big year for Bentley. The iconic English manufacturer celebrated 70 years at its historic Crewe site. It's a manufacturing facility steeped in tradition, but also with one eye (or maybe even one-and-a-half) firmly focused on the future.

2021 was the third year the manufacturer was certified carbon neutral – thanks in large part to 30,000 solar panels around the facility. Yes, through gritted teeth, Bentley reps did tell us that the sun does shine in the heart of England.

The manufacturer has also installed 130 charging outlets for staff who choose to drive electric vehicles to work – Bentley is, of course, part of the wider Volkswagen Group, and as such there are a few to choose from. Despite the well-broadcast challenges of the pandemic, Bentley also took on more than 100 apprentices in 2021, most of them focused in the digital technology area.

We've reported here previously the direction that Bentley is planning to take – 2025 will see the brand's first electric vehicle, which will be end-to-end carbon neutral – and in 2026 the brand moves to plug-in hybrid or electric vehicles only. It's a mighty big step from where Bentley is currently – that is the world's biggest producer of 12-cylinder engines – to electric vehicles only by 2030. Right now, though, Bentley's tech focus is mainly directed at plug-in hybrid, and that's exactly what we're in Southern California to test.

While it's easy to assume that Bentley owners have an overwhelming thirst for the brand's W12 engines, at the more exclusive end of the market there is always a demand for technology, the latest and greatest, and advancement in general. By making a plug-in hybrid step before the full-electric transition, Bentley is providing its customers with a credible alternative.

Perhaps most crucially, the 2022 Bentley Flying Spur Hybrid looks, and feels, like a Bentley. Having sampled the quality of the work that goes into a Bentley and the attention to detail first-hand in 2020 during a visit to Crewe, that's an integral part of the appeal.

Design changes are extremely minimal, and that's no surprise given Bentley didn't feel the need to scream and shout about the Flying Spur now featuring a hybrid drivetrain. Exterior changes extend to a small badge at the lower edge of the front guard and the charging port.

This segment is rare air too. Large, luxury sedans like the Bentley are equal parts driver's car and passenger's car. As focused on rear-seat comfort and amenity as they are performance and dynamics, few vehicles have to tick so many boxes. Again, despite what the perception might be, most Bentley owners drive their own cars. Outside a market like China, Bentley engineers are aware that a certain level of driver engagement and connection must be injected into any Bentley.

Like the outside, there are minimal changes to the Flying Spur's opulent cabin. Still unashamedly handcrafted and stunningly executed, the only changes are those that integrate hybrid tech into the car. And they are minimal in terms of the real estate they occupy.

There's a special sense of occasion to a Bentley cabin – it's one of the reasons that fans of the brand are as loyal as they are. The cabin might, in fact, be the place where you best sense the handcrafted nature of the Bentley experience.

Interestingly, that experience resonates whether you're in the front seat or the back. There's a subtle insulation and calm to the cabin that ensures any drive is an enjoyable one. The ride quality has a lot to do with it, but the seat trim, the carpets, and the general execution of the touch surfaces and controls are all superlative.

Boot space is slightly less than the non-hybrid model, but 351L is still more than enough for a four-up weekend away if you decide to hit the road. The average Bentley buyer has more than one property overseas, and the Flying Spur is a vehicle you can imagine rolling down the freeway into the countryside whether you're the driver or passenger.

The launch examples we tested had a variety of optional trim and finishes, and there really isn't a bad one among them. Your ability to personalise your Bentley is limited only by your imagination, and the cabin is the place you can have the most influence. For mine? I'd be heading over to the factory and asking the Bentley design team for their advice. I reckon that would make the almost limitless choices a lot easier.

Bentley has managed to neatly integrate the new hybrid-specific technology into what was an already premium infotainment experience. In the navigation system display, the green indicator shows how far EV-only range will take you in what looks like a ring on the map screen.

The main screen also has all the extra hybrid information such as where charge is going, how much you're using, and what mode you're in. Other integrated technology sees the Flying Spur syncing with an app on your phone.

From that app, you're able to monitor charge, initiate charge, condition the cabin, remotely heat or cool the cabin, as well as look up stats and data like the time and date of your drives, distances covered, average speed and the like. There is also, of course, a function that helps you locate your nearest charging point.

In terms of the way you interact with the system, it's as easy as any other Bentley we've tested. Phone connectivity is excellent, and the onboard satellite navigation system is also accurate and easy to use. High-end brands don't always get infotainment right, but Bentley has.

It's not uncommon for vehicles of this level to be untested by ANCAP, and the Flying Spur hasn't yet been crash-tested by the Australian body.

It comes with driver and front passenger airbags with front passenger deactivation. Side airbags front and rear, and curtain airbags, are also all standard. The Flying Spur also comes with Bentley's suite of advanced safety tech including head-up display, night vision, lane-keeping assist, and traffic sign recognition, among others.

Specific Australian pricing is yet to be announced and will be detailed closer to launch. The concept of value for money is always an interesting debate with vehicles as exclusive as the Bentley Flying Spur. Suffice to say that if you're on a hard budget, you're probably not wandering into a Bentley showroom.

As yet, Bentley hasn't had the EV range ratified by independent testing, but we did see 39km with no attempt to drive efficiently leaving Beverly Hills and heading straight onto the highway in Los Angeles traffic. As such, Bentley's hopes of around 40km look to be very realistic even in the real world.

Likewise, fuel consumption figures haven't been tested as yet. Cruising on the highway at 120km/h we saw regular single-digit returns, and the V6 is undoubtedly more efficient than either a V8 or V12 would be. If you've got an average Aussie commute, though, you won't be using fuel Monday to Friday in any case.

The engine – even taking into account the lack of a V12 – is a cracking option for driver and passenger alike. The 2.9-litre, twin-turbo V6 makes 400kW and 750Nm when paired to the electric motor. 0–100km/h comes up in just 4.3 seconds on to a top speed of 285km/h. The engine alone makes 306kW and 550Nm – healthy outputs in their own right.

The 14.1kWh twin-string battery accesses approximately 14kW of usable charge, and provides consistent power for longer, according to Bentley engineers. The battery powers a permanent magnet synchronous motor, and can power the Flying Spur to 128km/h without the petrol engine.

Bentley hasn't yet had the electric-only range certified, but is expecting that to be 40km, meaning you get a combined range of 730km+ with the claimed fuel-use figure. You can charge the battery from flat in approximately 2.5 hours on a fast charger.

The high-voltage battery and the V6 TFSI engine are from the same family as the Bentayga Hybrid, and while there's been no secret about the Panamera platform that lurks beneath the Bentley, there's nothing we could discern to give that game away. This is very much a Bentley. 'E-sound' emits a fake engine noise when you're in EV-mode, and the driveline makes use of the group's excellent eight-speed dual-clutch transmission. Regardless of the speed you're doing, it's one of the smoothest, most seamless DCTs I've ever tested.

The engine benefits from plenty of high-tech engineering, with an Otto particulate filter (Bentley's choice of term for a petrol particulate filter), plasma-lined cylinders, and innovative thermal management to keep engine bay temperatures as low as possible. In many ways, the excellence of the engine and the driveline are both shining examples of group thinking when it comes to building high-end cars like the Flying Spur. Those of you concerned by Bentley joining the Volkswagen Group stable need not worry.

You get three modes to select – EV Drive, Hybrid and Hold. Hold mode keeps the electric charge there for when you choose to deploy it later in your drive. EV forces the Flying Spur to use its battery, and Hybrid does its thing without you really feeling anything. The key benefit of a hybrid system is refinement when it's well-executed. In the Flying Spur, engineers were starting with an incredibly refined vehicle to start with.

At low speed now, they have removed one of the key reasons for noise, that being the regular engine. As such, there's a 50 per cent reduction in cabin noise when in EV mode, making the Flying Spur near silent around town. If you can put a value on premium, it might in fact be cabin insulation and quietness.

Nail the throttle pedal and the Flying Spur launches forward with some intent – despite remaining calm and refined. I realise the two concepts don't really go hand-in-hand, and yet the big Bentley does it. Its 750Nm is plenty of grunt to get things moving, and the Flying Spur feels rapid enough to put a smile on your face. It rides beautifully, too, with LA's rubbish freeway network no match for the Bentley's capable suspension system. As driver or passenger, the ride quality is exceptional.

There's little doubt that Bentley is a special brand with a storied history, and one capable of delivering the kind of premium, hand-built quality that buyers expect. Bentley is a brand that retains its customers almost as strongly as it attracts new ones. Few automotive experiences are like driving a Bentley. The Flying Spur Hybrid seamlessly integrates plug-in hybrid tech to what was an already beautifully executed platform.

In what serves as the transitional step to full-electric propulsion, the Flying Spur Hybrid is a reminder of why history can never be overlooked in terms of how it makes you feel behind the wheel. Electric cars will need to be very special to provide the same feeling you get from the old world. And few do it better than Bentley.

Attention to detail, fit, finish, insulation and driver engagement are all delivered in a luxury sedan that is as beautiful as it is capable. If you desire this kind of driving experience, you'd better get in quick. You won't be able to access it brand-new for too much longer.

While the hybrid drivetrain doesn't completely transform an otherwise exceptional vehicle, it doesn't take anything away from it. If you like the idea of 40km of 'free' driving each time you leave the garage, the Flying Spur Hybrid is a worthy contender.