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2027 Bentley Flying Spur First Look: The Luxury Liner Learns a New Trick

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Bentley’s flagship sedan gets a cleaner face, a more powerful hybrid heart, and an audiophile-grade soundtrack.

In an era where luxury sedans are quietly disappearing, Bentley is doubling down on the formula. The British automaker has unveiled the latest-generation Flying Spur, a comprehensive evolution of its four-door flagship that aims to blend handcrafted opulence with performance figures that wouldn’t look out of place on a supercar spec sheet.

The headline change is what lies beneath the sheetmetal. Every new Flying Spur now revolves around Bentley’s latest V-8 hybrid architecture, delivering the kind of power that makes the term “executive express” feel like a massive understatement. But while the powertrain grabs attention, the design team has been equally busy, giving the Flying Spur its most significant visual refresh in years.

A Cleaner, Sharper Bentley

At first glance, the new Flying Spur looks familiar. Look closer, however, and you’ll notice a dramatic shift in Bentley’s design language.

Most striking is the arrival of single front headlamps, a feature not seen on a Bentley sedan since 1962. The move aligns the Flying Spur with the recently introduced fourth-generation Continental GT and gives the sedan a cleaner, more modern face. The traditional grille has also been reworked and integrated into the front bumper, while the sculpted wing vent has been deleted in favor of smoother bodywork and discreet badging positioned behind the front wheels.

Around back, Bentley designers have simplified the rear styling with a redesigned decklid, slimmer taillamps, and a body-colored license plate surround. New 22-inch wheel designs complete the makeover, helping the big sedan look lower, wider, and more contemporary.

The Return of the S

For drivers who believe luxury and restraint are overrated, Bentley is bringing back the Flying Spur S.

Positioned as the more dynamic member of the lineup, the new S arrives with a High Performance Hybrid powertrain generating a substantial 680 horsepower and 686 lb-ft of torque (930 Nm). That’s nearly 20 percent more power than any previous Flying Spur S and a full 130 horsepower increase over its predecessor.

The numbers are appropriately absurd.

Bentley claims the Flying Spur S rockets from 0 to 60 mph in just 3.6 seconds before charging on to a top speed of 191 mph. Considering this is a sedan capable of transporting four adults in near-silent comfort while wrapped in handcrafted leather and polished wood, those figures remain almost comically impressive.

Bentley’s Most Driver-Focused Sedan Yet

The extra power is only part of the story.

For the first time, the Flying Spur S inherits Bentley’s Performance Active Chassis package previously reserved for Speed and Mulliner variants. The system combines active all-wheel drive, torque vectoring, twin-valve dampers, Bentley Dynamic Ride active anti-roll technology, and revised stability-control software designed to sharpen responses without compromising comfort.

A new electronic limited-slip differential also joins the party, marking its first appearance on a Flying Spur S. The result should be a sedan that feels significantly more agile than its considerable dimensions would suggest.

Visually, the S leaves little doubt about its intentions. Gloss-black matrix grilles, black exterior trim, dark-tinted LED lighting elements, black mirror caps, and dark-finished exhaust outlets replace the traditional brightwork, giving the sedan a more aggressive and purposeful stance.

Five Seats, Twelve Hours, Infinite Details

Inside, Bentley continues to treat craftsmanship as a competitive advantage.

Customers can now choose from five different seat designs, each requiring roughly 12 hours of hand-finishing by Bentley artisans. Whether specified with traditional fluting or contemporary quilted inserts, the seats represent the kind of painstaking attention to detail that remains increasingly rare in the automotive world.

The cabin also introduces a new exterior color called Dark Teal, a rich metallic blue infused with subtle green undertones that Bentley says was inspired by natural landscapes. It joins an already expansive paint catalog but stands out as one of the brand’s most sophisticated contemporary shades.

The Bentley for Audiophiles

Perhaps the most unexpected addition to the Flying Spur range is the new Virtuoso Collection.

Available in three themes—Soprano, Tenor, and Bass—the package takes inspiration from high-end musical craftsmanship and incorporates Champagne Gold detailing throughout both the exterior and interior. The precious-metal accents appear on everything from the winged Bentley badges to the exhaust finishers and even the vehicle key.

The centerpiece, however, is the extraordinary Naim for Mulliner audio system.

Originally developed for the ultra-exclusive Batur and carrying a £25,000 option price, the system now makes its way into a broader Bentley offering. Featuring 21 speakers and technology derived from Focal’s flagship Grand Utopia loudspeakers, the setup promises a listening experience closer to a private concert hall than a luxury sedan.

Bentley claims thousands of development hours went into perfecting the system, which employs advanced “M”-profile speaker cones engineered to maximize rigidity, reduce distortion, and deliver exceptional clarity across the frequency range.

Whether owners spend more time listening to a symphony, a podcast, or the rumble of the hybridized V-8 remains an open question.

Still the Benchmark?

The luxury sedan segment has never been more competitive, with electrification forcing manufacturers to rethink what performance and refinement mean. Bentley’s answer isn’t radical reinvention. Instead, it’s a carefully judged evolution.

The new Flying Spur looks cleaner, goes faster, handles harder, and sounds better—whether through its exhaust system or its 21-speaker audio setup. More importantly, it continues to occupy a unique position in the market: a four-door sedan capable of crossing continents in supreme comfort while accelerating with the urgency of a modern supercar.

Production begins in Crewe this September, with customer deliveries expected to start in the fourth quarter of 2026.

If the previous Flying Spur was already one of the world’s most complete luxury sedans, this latest version suggests Bentley wasn’t interested in standing still.

Source: Bentley

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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

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Bentley Flying Spur Gets a Paintjob Picasso Would Applaud

You know how some people fade into the background? The Bentley Flying Spur does the exact opposite. Crewe’s artisans have gone full Renaissance painter with something they call “Ombré by Mulliner” – a paint finish that looks less like a car colour and more like Bentley hired Monet to airbrush the bodywork.

For the first time, Bentley’s four-door limousine has been dressed in this two-tone sorcery: a Topaz Blue nose melting into a Windsor Blue tail. The fade isn’t some lazy Photoshop filter either – it’s done entirely by hand, in the Bentley Dream Factory, by people with steadier wrists than a bomb disposal expert.

How steady? Well, the process takes 60 hours and two highly skilled paint techs, who spray, pause, blend, and basically dance around the Flying Spur like it’s a priceless canvas. The trick is keeping the transition perfectly symmetrical across the doors, sills, and roof. Any wobble, and you’ve just turned a £200,000 luxury saloon into an expensive tie-dye experiment.

Bentley isn’t stopping at blues either. Oh no. Mulliner’s paint alchemists have also cooked up Sunburst Gold to Orange Flame and Tungsten to Onyx. What you won’t see is any daft yellow-to-blue mash-up that accidentally produces green. This isn’t a primary-school art class – Bentley has curated the colour combos to avoid awkward halfway hues.

And here’s the thing: no two cars will ever look exactly alike. Each application is a one-off, depending on how the paints react in the moment. Think of it as automotive jazz – improvised, but always on key.

The first Ombré creation, a Continental GT, made its debut under the Californian sun at Monterey Car Week. Now the Flying Spur gets its turn in the spotlight, taking a bow at the Southampton International Boat Show. Boats, Bentleys, and blues that fade smoother than a Sinatra outro.

Bentley promises more colour combinations are on the horizon. Until then, the Flying Spur Ombré is the new benchmark in making every other luxury car in the marina car park look like it’s wearing off-the-peg paint.

Source: Bentley