Bentley is out to prove that ultra-luxury buyers will still have plenty of options to choose from as the British ultra-luxury brand not only navigates the challenges of electrifying its lineup but also contending with the challenges created by Trump’s tariffs. While Bentley deals with all of that, the company took time to confirm that it will be giving Continental GT and Flying Spur buyers a second engine option.
Hybrid power is slightly detuned this time around
Dubbed the “High-Performance Hybrid” powertrain, this setup uses a 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 that makes 671 hp which is slightly detuned from the 771 hp “Ultra Performance Hybrid” powertrain already in use. The changes here are limited exclusively to the way the gasoline engine is tuned with the new engine only making 512 hp versus the beefier 592 hp. As mentioned, this is the only main change, with the electric motors being unchanged and the battery retaining its 25.9 kWh capacity.
The Continental GT convertible and the Flying Spur can make the dash to 60 mph in 3.8 seconds with the slightly lighter Continental coupe doing the same feat in 3.5 seconds. While this is slightly slower than the other hybrid powertrain, it’s still pretty fast and Bentley says the Flying Spur can go 50 miles on electric power alone before the engine kicks back in while the Continental GT and its convertible cousin get 53 and 51 mpg respectively.
Bentley is bringing new engine to two trims only
One major catch here is that the detuned engine will only be available on two trims, the standard and the Azure with the Mulliner and Speed models retaining the Ultra Performance setup. With the changes being focused exclusively under the hood, buyers will have to pay attention to certain exterior hallmarks of the two to tell them apart with the Azure getting more chrome trim and other brightwork. The new engine option might be a nod to upcoming emissions regulations in Europe with Bentley doing everything it can to ensure the cars can meet those standards in their home European market.
The Continental GT has a starting price of $265,900 and is available for order now. Pricing and availability for the Flying Spur were not released but the Spur has always been the ritzier Bentley option, and as a result, look for that model to command a premium when compared to its two-door counterparts.
Carl Malek has been an automotive journalist for over 10 years. First starting out as a freelance photographer before making the transition to writing during college, his work has appeared on numerous automotive forums as well as websites such as Autoshopper.com.
Carl is also a big fan of British vehicles with the bulk of his devotion going to the Morgan Motor Company as well as offerings from Lotus, MG, and Caterham. When he is not writing about automobiles, Carl enjoys spending time with his family and friends in the Metro Detroit area, as well as spending time with his adorable pets.