Bentley starts Aussie electric move with PHEV Flying Spur launch
Luxury brand Bentley’s transition to an all-electric line-up begins in Australia in November when its first plug-in hybrid EV arrives.
The Flying Spur plug-in hybrid sedan, priced from $479,100 (plus on-road costs), will be followed within 12 months by a PHEV version of the Bentayga SUV.
PHEV versions of the Continental GT and GTC coupe and convertibles should be in Australia by mid-decade.
The brand’s first battery electric vehicle will be revealed globally in 2025 and be on-sale in 2026. Five EVs are planned for launch in five years under the Beyond 100 plan.
In 2026 the Bentley internal combustion line-up will also be pared back to feature only PHEVs, meaning the demise of the W12 and V8 petrol-turbo engines that currently dominate the model line-up.
In 2030 Bentley will end ICE production all together and only make EVs.
Both the Flying Spur and Bentayga Hybrids use Volkswagen Group powertrains, although they are different systems.
The Flying Spur is powered by a 306kW twin turbocharged 2.9-litre V6 engine and 100kW e-motor that makes a combined 400kW and 750Nm.
An 18.0kWh battery supports an electric-only range beyond 40km, while the combined fuel consumption range is a very un-Bentley 3.3L/100km.
The Bentayga is powered by a 250kW 3.0-litre single turbo V6 combined with a 100kW e-motor to make 340kW (torque was 700Nm but hasn’t been specified for the MY23 update).
An 18kWh battery pack supports a 43km range and the claimed average fuel consumption rate is 3.4L/100km.
“As a company we have decided we want to go full electric by 2030 so this is our first progression,” Bentley APAC marketing chief Calista Tambajong said of the Flying Spur hybrid. “So from us we are definitely pushing it.
“But there are outside factors as well. In some countries there are better incentives for people to drive hybrid and electric flies a lot faster [there] than the other [countries].
“Maybe Australia is not the strongest at the moment, but we as a company will definitely come in and try and support it because at some point with our five-in-five plan we will only have hybrids and then going into electric vehicles.
“So we have to do it.”
It seems clear that Bentley’s Australian line-up is likely to retain the W12 and V8 as long as possible and then retain the petrol-electric hybrids until the end of production.
That’s in contrast to some markets that might drop the ICE drivetrains sooner because EVs are being embraced more enthusiastically by buyers and lawmakers.
Bentley global senior executive Paul Dickinson told EVcentral the transition to EV would no dilute the attraction Bentley’s millionaire and billionaire buyer base would have for the brand.
“They are very excited about the future of Bentley,” he said. “There is a general acceptance the world is moving on and the future needs to be electric.
“I think what they like is that Bentley has come out now and made it clear where we are heading and in what timeframe. We are trying to lead rather than follow.
“You can say we aren’t as quick Tesla because they are purely electric, but if you look at the established brands we are very open where our plan is.”
