Bentley has introduced a second plug-in hybrid option, one that produces an enormous 671-horsepower, for both its Continental GT and Flying Spur ranges.
The High Performance Hybrid powertrain joins the Continental and Fying Spur ranks alongside the still range-topping, 771-horsepower ‘Ultra Performance’ option, introduced last year, and essentially uses the same setup, with a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V-8 mated with a gearbox-mounted electric motor. A different state of tune means the ‘High Performance’ option produces ‘only’ 671-horsepower and 686-pound-feet of torque, though that still overhauls the likes of the 617-horsepower BMW M8 and the 612-horsepower Ferrari Roma. By sheer coincidence(!), it’s also exactly the same power output as British contemporary Aston Martin’s segment-rivalling DB12.
‘High Performance’ Continental GT Does 0-60 MPH in 3.5 Seconds
Such is the grunt of this new package, a High Performance Continental GT coupé will hit 60 MPH in just 3.5 seconds (faster than a Porsche 911 GT3) while the HP Flying Spur, a near-three-ton limousine let’s not forget, will do the same sprint in 3.8 seconds, just a shade slower than the volcanically-powered Flying Spur Speed. Impressively, Bentley has even claimed that the High Performance hybrid package, which comes as standard with a 25.9-kilowatt-hour battery, will still deliver an estimated 50 miles of all-electric range.
Significantly, Bentley also claims that the new High Performance Hybrid also outperforms the previous-generation W-12 powertrain “on all power, torque, and performance parameters.” It is also the latest step in Bentley’s Beyond100+ strategy to be “exclusively electric” from 2035 onwards.
“The High Performance Hybrid Bentley Flying Spur, a near-three-ton limousine let’s not forget, will do the 0-60 MPH sprint in 3.8 seconds.”
‘Azure’ Trim Returns To Continental Range
Though available on the Continental, the drop-top GTC, and the Flying Spur, the High Performance Hybrid powertrain is exclusive to the Speed and Mulliner trims on the Flying Spur, and both the core and returning ‘Azure’ trims on the Continental. The latter comes with a contrast black front grille with chrome surround, a matching black front splitter, ‘Azure’ emblems throughout the cabin, and bespoke 22-inch wheels. For the coupé, the Azure comes with a panoramic sunroof, while electronic neck warmers are supplied for the convertible.
Though prices for the High Performance Flying Spur have not yet been confirmed, the HP Continental GT is available from $265,900, a shade over $43K less than the Ultra Performance-equipped halo model.
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