Bentley Continental GT And Flying Spur Gain ‘Base’ PHEV Models With 671 HP And 50 Miles Of EV Range

Now could be an incredible time to be an ultra-rich automobile enthusiast. When money is not any object, it’s clear to see that we’re at the head of the interior combustion engine, whether it’s the only source of energy or whether it’s assisted by a little bit of electricity. Even essentially the most change-resistant automobile ever, the Porsche 911, is on the market with a 532-horsepower hybrid powertrain in the event you can afford its $172,000 starting price. Last yr Bentley, Britain’s second-snootiest automaker, introduced some big-buck hybrids to its current automobile portfolio with the mental Flying Spur Speed and Continental GT Speed models, which replaced the old W12 with a plug-in-hybrid V8 powertrain. Now Bentley has revealed that a detuned plug-in hybrid will take the place of the old nonhybrid V8 models within the lineup, but don’t fret — it’s still powerful as hell.

Bentley calls this latest setup the High Performance Hybrid, in contrast to the Ultra Performance Hybrid utilized in the Speed (and Mulliner) versions of the Continental and Flying Spur. This “base” powertrain employs a twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8, the identical Porsche-derived unit the corporate has used for years, paired with a single electric motor to provide 671 horsepower and 685 pound-feet of torque. While that is down from the massive 771 horsepower and 738 lb-ft of the Speeds, it’s a rise of 129 hp and 117 lb-ft over the outgoing entry-level V8 models.

Introducing the plug-in-hybrid V8 setup as the bottom powertrain also implies that the most cost effective automobile Bentley now makes is more powerful than the outgoing W12 Speed models, with 21 more horsepower and 21 more lb-ft than those cars. They’re also just as quick because the old ICE-only range-toppers, and so much quicker than the models they replace. The brand new base Continental GT needs just 3.5 seconds to sprint from 0 to 60 mph, the identical because the old W12 Speed and half a second quicker than the old V8, while the droptop GTC and the four-door Flying Spur take barely longer at a still un-base-model-like 3.8 seconds, which compare similarly to their predecessors. Within the 0-to-60 sprint the brand new models are only 4 tenths behind the PHEV Continental GT Speed and five tenths behind the PHEV Flying Spur Speed, too.

The predominant difference between the bottom High Performance Hybrid and the Speed models’ Ultra Performance Hybrid setup lies throughout the twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8, since each models share a battery capability of 25.9 kWh and the 187-hp electric motor sitting contained in the 8-speed transmission. The inner combustion engine within the High Performance Hybrid produces 512 horsepower, so there’s never a shortage of power, however the Speeds’ V8 makes 592 hp by itself. Bentley says the Continental GT coupe is able to an EV-only range of 53 miles, the Continental GTC convertible can go 51 miles on electricity alone, and the Flying Spur manages a good 50 miles, all of which align with the higher-performance version of the powertrain. You furthermore may don’t lose any sportiness by going for one in all the entry-level PHEVs, as they get the identical Dynamic Ride energetic anti-roll bar suspension system, rear-wheel steering and electronic limited-slip differential that the Speed has.

You get the High Performance Hybrid powertrain on the usual cars and the glitzy Azure trim levels of all three models, while the Ultra Performance Hybrid powertrain is standard on lavish Mulliner and sporty Speed trims. The bottom cars take a look of tasteful restraint, with gloss black grilles and no shouty brightwork. Azure models, in contrast, include Azure badging, different wheel designs, and shiny chrome vanes vertically spanning across a gloss black grille with a chrome surround. Bentley says the Azures “promote wellbeing” by coming standard with driving assistance features, mood lighting, “Harmony quilting” on the doors and seats, and the Bentley Wellness seating, which implies heated, cooled, and massaging seats for all 4 outboard passengers.

Prices have not been announced just yet, but don’t expect these latest base trim levels to be anywhere near inexpensive for the typical person. Expect the starting prices to be much like the outgoing models, which might mean around $250,000 for the Continental GT, $270,000 or so for the GTC, and a more meager $225,000-ish cost for the Flying Spur.

Bentley