2027 Bentley Flying Spur updated with new look and 500kW S variant

The Bentley Flying Spur has received a significant update for 2027, bringing a cleaner exterior design, a more powerful plug-in hybrid powertrain, and the return of the performance-focused S variant.

The refreshed luxury sedan's exterior design now aligns more closely with the latest Bentley Continental GT, most notably adopting single headlamps, the first for any Bentley sedan since 1962.

Bentley has also revised the Flying Spur’s front and rear styling by integrating the grille into the front bumper, removing the traditional front wing vent, and introducing a smoother boot lid design with new tail-lights and wheel finishes.

While the visual changes are relatively subtle, the biggest news lies beneath the bonnet.

The returning Flying Spur S is now the most powerful S-badged sedan Bentley has ever produced, pairing a twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V8 engine with an electric motor as part of the brand’s High Performance Hybrid system.

Combined outputs stand at 500kW of power and 930Nm of torque, representing almost a 20 per cent increase over the previous Flying Spur S. Bentley claims the four-door sedan can accelerate from 0-100km/h time in 3.7 seconds and onto a top speed of 307km/h.

The Flying Spur features a 25.9 kWh battery that can deliver up to 80 km of electric-only range. Bentley says the battery takes about 3 hours to fully recharge at an 11kW peak charge rate.

The hybrid powertrain is matched to an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and all-wheel drive, while the S gains an electronic limited-slip differential for the first time.

The S also gains Bentley’s Performance Active Chassis package, which was previously reserved for the flagship Speed and Mulliner variants. It bundles active all-wheel drive, torque vectoring, twin-valve dampers, the 48-volt Bentley Dynamic Ride active anti-roll system, and revised electronic stability control software.

Visually, you can spot the new S with its gloss black exterior detailing, including the grille mesh, Bentley wing badges, mirror caps, side sills, tailpipe finishers, and dark-tinted lighting elements.

Inside, Bentley has expanded the available seating configurations to five distinct designs, including four- and five-seat layouts. The company says each seat requires around 12 hours of hand-finishing and can be optioned with either fluted or quilted upholstery.

Customers seeking maximum luxury can opt for the new Virtuoso Collection, which introduces three curated interior themes called Soprano, Tenor, and Bass. The package also brings Champagne Gold accents throughout the cabin and exterior, unique embroidery, and Bentley’s latest Naim for Mulliner audio system.

Developed from the technology used in the coachbuilt Bentley Batur, the 21-speaker setup incorporates components derived from Focal’s flagship Grand Utopia speakers and was previously offered as a £25,000 (~NZ$56,800) option.

The updated Flying Spur is available to order now, with production due to begin at the company’s Crewe factory in September 2026. First customer deliveries are expected during the fourth quarter of 2026.

Bentley has yet to announce pricing for New Zealand, though the current Flying Spur lineup starts from $436,000 before options, and can extend to over $650,000.