Bentley Flying Spur hybrid review: Fabulous fusion of artisan craftsmanship but lacks key component

FAIR play to Bentley for making a plug-in hybrid version of the Flying Spur.

Everyone has to do their bit. But I have spotted a glaring problem.

Adding a battery pack means you can’t have a fridge in the back — and that’s Bentley 101 in my book. Let’s face it, the  Flying Spur is an indulgent limo for rich people to be driven in.

They’re not likely to prioritise a cheaper tax band over the opportunity to have a glass of fizz on the way to the gee-gees at  Cheltenham.

They’d rather pay extra than drink warm Moët.

That said, the  Flying Spur Hybrid does have one big advantage over the regular V8 or W12.

Silence is the ultimate luxury and you’ve got 25 miles to glide around  Mayfair and Chelsea on battery power alone.

I’ve tried it and it’s quieter than Boris Johnson when he gets a party invite.

Everything else about this car is pure Bentley: Ground floor penthouse suite with race car oomph.

Let’s start inside. Nobody will sit in the back of this car and say: “Well, that’s a bit rubbish.”

Apart from the missing fridge, of course. Because a Bentley interior is deeply satisfying. A fabulous fusion of artisan craftsmanship and cutting-edge tech. And you can have any leather, any wood, any colour you fancy.

Also, Bentley has the best seats of any car on sale today. Those super-squishy headrests tell you that.

But the ballerina in the musical jewellery box is  the iPhone-sized rear-seat remote. It controls the  window blinds, air-con, sound system, heated/ massaging seats, and  the pop-up Flying B mascot on the bonnet.

While I think of it, the glass wings on the Flying B illuminate and sparkle like Tinker Bell at night. It’s classier than it sounds.

Your driver will be very happy too. There’s night vision (which sees 300m ahead), head-up display,  top-view camera, and all sorts of driver aids to make progress as effortless as possible.

Plus, there’s much speed to play with, should you need to give if full everything. Which brings me nicely to the hybrid bit.

The Flying Spur uses the same petrol/electric combo as a Porsche Panamera: 2.9-litre V6 paired with an e-motor and 18kWh battery pack.

Total output is 544hp, just six horses short of the V8, and it catapults from 0-62mph in 4.3 seconds, or 0-100mph in 9.5. Quick.

With four-wheel drive, three-chamber air suspension, 48v anti-roll bar and the biggest brakes of any production car in the world, you actually have a limo with astonishing all-round ability.

Set off late, arrive early. Which of course you’ll want to do because you’ll be gagging for a drink.

Other observations. The V6 isn’t as tuneful as a V8. We’ll miss that when it’s gone.

It’s  slower, heavier, and has a smaller boot. On the up side, it’s quieter, more efficient — I averaged 33mpg on test, you won’t get anywhere near that in a V8 — and at the very least it gives more “mindful” millionaires a choice.

It’s also a stepping stone towards full electrification. Bentley’s first EV will arrive in 2025 and by 2030 every model will be EV-only. The Crewe factory is already carbon neutral.

Finally, you may ask “Why did Bentley launch this car in Beverly Hills?”

I asked the same thing myself. But this place can’t get enough of them. One single dealership sold 400 Bentleys last year, almost a third of the UK total on its own. Quite extraordinary.

Gliding down Rodeo Drive in e-mode is . . . quiet extraordinary.