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Bentley Hits the Brakes on Its EV-Only Future, but the Next Flying Spur Still Looks Electrifying

Like many automakers reassessing their electric dreams, Bentley is taking a step back from the fast lane of full electrification. The storied British marque has quietly eased off the throttle on its “all-EV by 2030” plan, now pushing that goalpost to 2035.

That’s not to say the Crewe-based brand is abandoning its vision of a silent, zero-emission future—just that it’s acknowledging reality. Market demand, regulatory limbo, and the expectations of Bentley’s well-heeled clientele have prompted a more measured approach. Between now and then, expect a mix of internal-combustion, hybrid, and plug-in hybrid offerings to carry the torch.

A Flying Spur for Every Powertrain

At the heart of Bentley’s recalibrated strategy sits the next-generation Flying Spur, which is shaping up to be one of the most versatile sedans in the brand’s history. While official details remain as tightly guarded as a royal’s address, whispers from Crewe suggest that the big Bentley will arrive with three flavors: a traditional twin-turbo V8, a PHEV setup, and a fully electric variant sitting atop the range.

The internal-combustion model isn’t going quietly. Expect a heavily revised 4.0-liter V8 pushing somewhere between 600 and 700 horsepower and up to 664 lb-ft of torque. The plug-in hybrid, meanwhile, will pair that same V8 with a rear-mounted electric motor and a 25.9-kWh battery, delivering an eye-opening 771 horsepower and 738 lb-ft through an eight-speed dual-clutch gearbox.

For those who prefer the whisper of electrons, the EV version will reportedly share its bones with the upcoming Porsche Cayenne Electric. Expect up to 1,000 horsepower, a 113-kWh battery pack, and around 370 miles of range—plus wireless charging capability for the ultimate valet flex.

Design: Bold, Bright, and a Bit Brutal

Bentley previewed its next design chapter earlier this year with the EXP 15 fastback concept, a striking vision that hinted at where the brand is headed. The next Flying Spur will likely channel much of that concept’s DNA—but with the production realism Bentley buyers expect.

Gone are the soft ovals of old. In their place: slim vertical LED headlamps framing a rectangular, backlit version of the brand’s iconic upright grille. The long bonnet, sloping roofline, and muscular haunches remain, while frameless windows add a sleek, modern flourish. Don’t look for flush door handles, though—regulators apparently didn’t share Bentley’s enthusiasm for them.

Out back, a halo-style OLED taillight strip stretches across a smooth panel, anchored by a minimalist diffuser and subtle lip spoiler. The overall impression is clean, assertive, and unmistakably Bentley.

Inside: Tradition Meets Tomorrow

Bentley interiors have always blended opulence with craft, and the next Flying Spur looks set to take that ethos into the digital age. Drawing inspiration from the EXP 15, the cabin is expected to feature a wing-shaped dashboard, backlit wood veneer, and dual OLED displays—all tied together by Bentley’s signature knurled metal controls.

More futuristic touches could include an 87-inch augmented-reality head-up display, an AI-driven voice assistant, and even a retractable digital headliner for immersive ambient effects. Rear passengers, naturally, won’t be left out: expect reclining massage seats, fold-out tables, and modular display pods that redefine first-class travel on four wheels.

The Competition: Rarefied Air

The Flying Spur has always danced in rare company, and the next-gen version won’t be any different. Its primary sparring partners remain the Rolls-Royce Ghost and Mercedes-Maybach S-Class, though Bentley’s hybrid and EV strategy could also tempt buyers away from newer tech-driven luxury sedans like Huawei’s Maextro S800 in China.

The Road Ahead

Bentley’s decision to slow its EV rollout might look like hesitation, but it feels more like calibration. The company isn’t rejecting the electric age—it’s ensuring its values of craftsmanship, performance, and presence aren’t lost in translation.

Expect the next Flying Spur to break cover in late 2026 or early 2027, wearing the weight of Bentley’s heritage and the promise of its future. Until then, the message from Crewe is clear: luxury isn’t about rushing—it’s about arriving perfectly.

Source: Bentley

News

Bentley Honors Czech Airmen with Mulliner’s Heroic Czech Squadron Collection

In a celebration that fuses history, craftsmanship, and courage, Bentley Prague has unveiled its first bespoke Mulliner commission — the Czech Squadron Collection — a quartet of meticulously handcrafted Bentleys honoring the valor of Czech airmen who fought alongside the Royal Air Force during World War II.

Created in close collaboration with the British Ministry of Defence, the collection reimagines Bentley’s Continental GT, Continental GT Convertible, Flying Spur, and Bentayga through the lens of four legendary RAF squadrons — Nos. 310, 311, 312, and 313 — each represented by its own distinctive insignia, motto, and bespoke design cues.

“The Czech Squadron Collection is the first Mulliner edition commissioned by Bentley Prague, and we chose a theme that was close to our hearts,” says Jiří Halousek, Sales Manager at Bentley Prague. “The craftsmanship and attention to detail of the Mulliner team is everything we could have hoped for — and more.”

A Tribute Forged in Heritage

There’s deep symbolism here. The Crewe factory, where these Bentleys are built, began life in 1938 as a “shadow factory,” producing the Merlin V12 aero engine — the powerplant that gave life to the Spitfire and Hurricane fighters flown by many of the same Czech pilots this collection now commemorates.

Each car bears laser-etched squadron insignia on its headrests — a Mulliner innovation — while custom treadplates feature the silhouettes of each squadron’s aircraft and its historic motto. Inside, the Bentley Rotating Display gains bespoke dial bezels finished in St. James’ Red, Beluga, or Signal Yellow, echoing the livery of the original wartime aircraft.

Continental GT Convertible: Squadron 310 – “We Fight to Rebuild”

The first in the lineup, the Czech Collection Continental GT Convertible, honors Squadron 310, the first Czech-manned RAF fighter squadron. Cloaked in a Thunder paint finish — a steely blue evoking the Spitfire’s camouflage — and complemented by Blackline Specification and 22-inch wheels in Thunder and Grey, it radiates a purposeful stance.

Inside, the cabin is a masterclass in tone and texture: Cognac main hide, Imperial Blue secondary, and Brunel accents meet herringbone charcoal tweed seatbacks and door panels. The bright tint engine spin fascia continues the mechanical theme, while treadplates proudly bear the Spitfire’s outline and the squadron’s defiant motto.

Bentayga: Squadron 311 – “Never Regard Their Numbers”

If the Continental GT Convertible embodies elegance, the Czech Collection Bentayga channels resilience. Squadron 311, the RAF’s only Czech-manned bomber unit, flew Wellington and B-24 Liberator aircraft — both immortalized on the Bentayga’s front and rear treadplates.

Finished in Cypress Green with black painted wheels and Mulliner’s Blackline Specification, it exudes a hushed power. Inside, Autumn and Cumbrian Green hides evoke the earthy hues of military cockpits, while the dark tint diamond-brushed aluminium fascia adds an edge of technical precision.

Continental GT: Squadron 312 – “Not Many, But Much”

The Czech Collection Continental GT draws inspiration from Squadron 312’s Spitfire fighters. Its Barnato Green finish — a color rooted in Bentley lore — pairs with 22-inch ten-spoke wheels and Blackline trim to create a visual stealth fighter for the road.

Inside, Beluga and Anthracite hides provide a dark, cocooning base, accented by flashes of Fern Green on key touchpoints. The dark tint engine spin fascia and herringbone tweed inserts highlight Mulliner’s obsession with tactile detail. It’s a cabin that feels less like a cockpit and more like a private officer’s quarters.

Flying Spur: Squadron 313 – “One Hawk Chases Many Crows”

Completing the quartet, the Czech Collection Flying Spur pays tribute to Squadron 313, the last of the Czech squadrons formed during the war. Dressed in a refined two-tone Cypress over Anthracite, it’s an understated statement of luxury and remembrance.

The four-seat cabin is a study in contrast and craftsmanship: Gondola Green main hide, Gravity Grey secondary, and Beluga accents merge with open-pore Black Stained Crown Cut Walnut veneers for a tactile, organic feel. The treadplates depict the Spitfire once again, paired with the squadron’s poetic motto.

From War Machines to Works of Art

What makes this collection truly special isn’t just its bespoke nature — Mulliner commissions are, by definition, one-of-a-kind — but its emotional gravity. The Czech Squadron Collection reconnects Bentley’s modern artisans in Crewe with the engine builders who once powered victory in the skies.

In 1946, when Crewe shifted from producing Merlin engines to Bentleys, the first car to roll off the line was the Bentley Mk VI — a machine that marked a transition from war to peace. Nearly eight decades later, that same spirit endures in this quartet of hand-built grand tourers and SUVs, each representing not just a squadron, but a shared legacy of engineering excellence, bravery, and resilience.

Bentley Prague’s Czech Squadron Collection stands as more than just a celebration of craftsmanship — it’s a rolling monument to courage. And in true Bentley fashion, it reminds us that while machines may evolve from engines of war to symbols of peace, the human stories that power them never fade.

Source: Bentley

News

Bentley’s Rolling Tribute: The One-Off Bentayga EWB Azure Honoring the Battle of Britain

Bentley Motors has revealed a deeply poignant one-off creation: a 2025 Bentayga EWB Azure designed not to turn heads at Pebble Beach or the paddock at Goodwood, but to honor Britain’s Armed Forces and commemorate the 85th anniversary of the Battle of Britain.

Developed by Bentley’s in-house design team in collaboration with the BeReady network—a colleague-led group supporting veterans and reservists—this bespoke SUV serves as both a moving memorial and a symbol of the brand’s enduring connection to its roots in Crewe.

A Tribute Written in White and Gold

The Remembrance Bentayga wears a Satin Artica White finish—an elegant, almost ethereal hue that becomes the perfect canvas for its subtle storytelling. Along its flanks, a gold-silhouetted aircraft soars just behind the front wing vent. From its flight path, poppies cascade down the bodywork, each flower growing in size as it descends—a poetic depiction of poppies falling from the skies.

Every detail has a purpose. Seventeen gold initials are carefully inscribed on the pillars, representing the 17 Bentley and Rolls-Royce colleagues who perished when a bomb struck the Crewe factory in December 1940, during the height of World War II. The number 85 adorns the grille, while bespoke poppy embroidery continues the theme within, delicately integrated into the Azure’s sumptuous cabin.

“This annual project is one of the most meaningful for our team,” said Robin Page, Bentley’s Director of Design. “Every detail of the Bentayga—from the cascading poppies to the gold initials—honors those who served and ensures their legacy continues to inspire through the design.”

Where Heritage Meets Humanity

The project carries special weight for Bentley’s BeReady network, one of the company’s five Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging initiatives. The group provides support and community for veterans and active reservists across Bentley’s workforce. For its members, the Remembrance Car isn’t simply a design study—it’s a heartfelt reflection of courage, sacrifice, and the shared history that ties Bentley to Britain’s industrial and wartime story.

“Bentley continues to show its respect and commitment to the armed forces around the world,” said Chris Cole, Product Line Director. “We’re proud to have been awarded Silver status for the UK’s Armed Forces Covenant, and this year’s Remembrance focus—on the Battle of Britain and the loss of 17 colleagues—feels especially profound.”

A Journey of Remembrance

This unique Bentayga won’t spend its days locked behind a velvet rope. Instead, it will travel across the UK, serving as a mobile monument of reflection.

The car will first appear in Crewe, Bentley’s hometown, before heading to Anglesey to act as the course car at the Race of Remembrance, an annual event organized by Mission Motorsport—a charity supporting wounded, injured, and sick veterans through racing. After its laps at Anglesey, the Bentayga will return home to Bentley HQ on November 11, where colleagues will gather for a remembrance ceremony. Finally, on November 18, it will be displayed at the His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Cheshire Awards, closing its journey with the same dignity it embodies in design.

A Moving Legacy

The Bentayga EWB Azure Remembrance Edition isn’t about exclusivity or horsepower figures—it’s about legacy. In a world of bespoke one-offs built for collectors, this is a car built for memory. Through art, craftsmanship, and reverence, Bentley has created something that transcends the automotive world: a moving piece of history, rolling quietly in white and gold, reminding us that even luxury has a conscience.

Source: Bentley