So far as flagship engines go, Bentley’s twin-turbocharged 6.0-liter W12 is greater than deserving of the title. With a legacy that dates again to the early 2000s and the work of business legend Ferdinand Piëch, it’s an iconic powerplant. Nevertheless, on condition that the British model produced its remaining W12 final 12 months, it now faces a dilemma: what to interchange a flagship engine with?
The reply arrived final 12 months underneath the hood of the fourth-generation Continental GT Velocity: a twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 paired with an electrical motor and a 25.9 kilowatt-hour battery pack. It’s a plug-in hybrid combo that additionally powers the Lamborghini Urus SE and the Porsche Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid. This week, I’m within the latest flagship to undertake this hybridized setup, the 2025 Bentley Flying Spur Velocity.
Creating 771 horsepower and 738 pound-feet of torque, it produces 145 hp and 74 lb-ft greater than the outgoing Velocity’s engine. Nevertheless, because the Spur’s much-loved W12 was by no means quick on energy, is its plug-in hybrid successor only a case of downsizing to satisfy stricter emissions rules, or does it have a allure of its personal?
From a visible standpoint, there isn’t a lot that distinguishes the newest Flying Spur Velocity from its predecessor. That’s as a result of, in contrast to the Continental GT Velocity, which entered a brand new technology final 12 months alongside the arrival of its new engine, Bentley’s sedan remains to be in its third iteration. As such, it nonetheless rides on the identical platform that underpins the Porsche Panamera and, regardless of main updates to its powertrain, retains using a dual-clutch computerized transmission and the carmaker’s stellar energetic anti-roll system.
Whereas they’re delicate, the Flying Spur Velocity does undertake some aesthetic updates. Probably the most vital addition is the supply of a darkish tint possibility for the sedan’s exterior and inside brightwork. Consider Rolls Royce’s strategy to its Black Badge fashions. Its aero bundle, as a part of the Styling Specification, now comes completed in physique shade, whereas it rides on a brand new set of 22-inch ten-spoke wheels. Open its doorways, and also you’ll spot new LED puddle lights, rounding out this sedan’s comparatively quick checklist of revisions.
It’s an analogous story as you step inside, with the Bentley Flying Spur Velocity retaining its digital instrument cluster and its 12.3-inch infotainment display, though the pair sport new graphics. Its seats are adorned with a brand new 3D quilted sample, which you’ll additionally discover on its door playing cards. It’s also possible to darken its brightwork through the aforementioned Darkish Chrome Specification, as seen on my tester.
Beginning at $276,450, this particular automotive pairs its darkish trim with a two-tone black and Mandarin orange inside, a $9,615 Naim sound system, a $6,995 rotating touchscreen show, and a $22,135 Mandarin exterior end. This brings its whole as-tested value to $367,060.
As you would possibly anticipate, these updates pale compared to what’s happening underneath the Spur’s hood. For the 2025 mannequin 12 months, it’s solely accessible as a plug-in hybrid, even in the event you go for the marginally detuned “base” mannequin. That stated, the least highly effective sedan Bentley at present makes nonetheless produces 671 hp and 685 lb-ft. Nevertheless, step as much as the Velocity, and people figures rise to 771 hp and 738 lb-ft, making it probably the most highly effective sedan the British carmaker has ever produced.
Its twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 units the bottom for these immense numbers, producing 591 hp and 590 lb-ft by itself. An electrical motor develops as much as 187 hp and 332 lb-ft, pairing with a 25.9-kilowatt-hour battery pack to offer an estimated electric-only vary of as much as 47 miles. Extra on that later.
Given the V8’s lighter weight when in comparison with the outgoing W12 and Bentley’s choice to place the Velocity’s new batteries near its trunk, it now sports activities a rear-biased weight distribution of 48:52. These stats translate to a sedan, which, regardless of gaining 460 kilos over its W12 predecessor, totaling a 5,833-lb curb weight, nonetheless sprints to 60 mph in 3.3 seconds and tops out at 177 mph.
In the actual world, it’s tough to overstate simply how fast the Bentley Flying Spur Velocity feels. It accelerates with a ferocity no automotive in its weight class ought to be able to. Whereas its V8 already generates its peak torque output at 2,000 rpm, the accompanying electrical motor steps in to each bolster that efficiency and fill in to counteract the results of turbo lag. The result’s a throttle response that feels instantaneous when dialed as much as probably the most aggressive drive mode, permitting it to select up pace effortlessly.
Its dual-clutch computerized transmission enhances this efficiency nicely, executing shifts at once. On the similar time, the Spur’s all-wheel-drive system permits it to place all that energy down with none lack of traction. Nevertheless, the V8’s engine observe stays a spotlight of the expertise. Regardless of powering an ultra-luxury sedan, Bentley pairs this powerplant with a decently vocal and comparatively free-flowing exhaust, permitting it to play its burbly, muscle-car-like tune.
Straightline acceleration apart, a part of what made the earlier Bentley Flying Spur Velocity particular was its capability to marry an ultra-luxury expertise with a driving expertise that retained some genuine sportiness. That’s one thing this newest mannequin is each higher at and worse than the Spurs that got here earlier than it.
Its rear-biased weight distribution performs a major position, particularly whenever you consider that it not has a hefty W12 over its entrance axle. Flip right into a bend, and the brand new Velocity follows your instructions with out defaulting to understeer like its predecessor. Bentley quickened its variable electrical energy steering to make it really feel as agile as doable. Nevertheless, its calibration oscillates between being far too gradual in Consolation and too twitchy in Sport. Someplace within the center would generate a extra pure really feel.
As customary, the Bentley Flying Spur Velocity comes outfitted with the model’s Efficiency Lively Chassis. It consists of objects corresponding to 48-volt energetic anti-roll bars, rear-wheel steering, torque vectoring, and an digital limited-slip differential within the rear. It’s a {hardware} suite that eliminates a lot of this 5,833-lb sedan’s physique roll whereas maximizing its mechanical grip, permitting it to exit corners confidently.
Paired with new twin-valve dampers, the Velocity can agency its experience extra considerably in Sport mode with out sacrificing its plushness within the Consolation setting. Its dampers work along side an adaptive air suspension setup. As such, its again street efficiency is as spectacular as its capability to absorb street imperfections round city and on the freeway.
Nevertheless, these positive factors include some losses. As of the time of writing, Bentley has but to announce plans to provide a V8-powered Flying Spur with out a hybrid system. Whereas that is possible resulting from emissions rules, I’d wish to briefly revisit the Flying Spur S V8 I examined over two and a half years in the past. Whereas its 542-hp output and four-second time to 60 mph are actually much less spectacular than what you get within the newest Velocity, the S weighs practically 700 fewer kilos.
Whereas a 5,137-lb curb weight doesn’t flip a Bentley right into a Lotus, it permits most of the energetic methods you get within the present automotive to work extra successfully. With much less weight to counteract, its Dynamic Journey permits the S to nook utterly flat and obtain a degree of steadiness and stability no W12 or plug-in hybrid Flying Spur has been capable of match since. It adjustments course immediately, dealing with like a automotive whose curb weight begins with a 4. True to the Bentley spirit, the S is an ultra-luxury automotive that also delivers a correct thrill.
That is the place the brand new Bentley Flying Spur Velocity struggles. As fast as it’s in a straight line and thru the bends, it lacks the light-on-its-feet really feel achieved by the S that preceded it. As such, whereas it’s tremendously succesful, far exceeding the extent of enjoyment provided by the Velocity it replaces, by gaining extra weight, it limits its capability to offer a real twin persona.
There’s a major upside to the Velocity’s positive factors, nevertheless, and that’s its electric-only vary. Whereas this issues extra to homeowners in Europe who need to cope with ultra-low-emissions zones, US-based consumers nonetheless profit from this setup’s elevated effectivity and its capability to cowl as much as 47 miles with out ever firing up the automotive’s V8. For individuals who need the quietest commute, it’s an excellent setup.
Beginning at $276,450, the up to date 2025 Bentley Flying Spur Velocity marks a powerful entry into the plug-in hybrid world. It’s extra highly effective, faster, and extra environment friendly than the automotive it replaces whereas retaining its beauty. Extra importantly, its V8 engine oozes character due to each its efficiency and its burbly engine observe.
Inside, its cabin advantages from refinements to its seats in addition to an expanded checklist of customization extras. Because of its use of an electrical motor and a battery pack, the Velocity backs up its world-beating efficiency with the added flexibility of electric-only cruising.
Whereas there’s no denying this automotive’s flagship standing, its have to masks its ever-rising weight means it’s not fairly the luxurious driver’s automotive it as soon as was.
