Bentley, which is replacing its historic W-12 engine with a V-8 engine + plug-in hybrid system, said Tuesday that the new high-performance sedan, the Flying Spur Speed, will debut Sept. 10. But from the trailer released by the company, the changes are minimal, at least in appearance.
The focus of the update will be the new powertrain, which Bentley calls the super-performance hybrid powertrain. It made its debut in June in the new Continental GT Speed, replacing Bentley’s twin-turbo 6.0-litre W-12 engine.
The new powertrain combines a twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V-8 engine with a single electric motor. The electric motor is integrated with an 8-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission that channels drive torque to all four wheels via an all-wheel drive system.
The peak output of the Flying Spur Speed is 771 HP, which is in line with the output of the Continental GT Speed powertrain. The new output is 145 horsepower more than the current rating and will have a range of more than 45 miles (about 72 kilometers).
