The Bentley Flying Spur Speed has proven that extreme luxury and extreme performance are not mutually exclusive, after setting a new winter lap record at the worldโs most northerly active race circuit.
The record was achieved at the Drivecenter Arena in Fรคllfors, northern Sweden, just 100 miles from the Arctic Circle. On a 2.05-mile circuit entirely covered in 12 inches of ice and snow, the Flying Spur Speed recorded a best lap time of 2 minutes 58 seconds, making it the fastest vehicle ever to lap the circuit in winter conditions. Despite the treacherous surface and the longest straight of just 450 metres coated in sheet ice, Bentleyโs four-door performance flagship reached a peak speed of 120 mph during the record run. Key to the achievement was the Flying Spur Speedโs variable four-wheel-drive system and rear-wheel steering, which delivered exceptional agility and stability on the frozen track.
The winter lap record draws inspiration from landmark moments in Bentleyโs history, including the marqueโs Ice Speed Records in 2007 and 2011, as well as the Turbo Rโs one-hour endurance record at Millbrook Proving Ground in 1986, where it averaged 140 mph. In a nod to that heritage, the record-setting car, registered Y15 BML, was specified to match the Turbo R in Bentleyโs Heritage Collection, finished in Brooklands Green with yellow pinstriping and a classic interior trimmed in Linen, Cumbrian Green and Open Pore Walnut to mark the Turbo Rโs 40th anniversary.
At the heart of the Flying Spur Speed is Bentleyโs Ultra Performance Hybrid powertrain. A 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 producing 600 PS is paired with a 190 PS electric motor integrated into an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission. In Sport mode, the system delivers a combined 782 PS and 1,000 Nm of torque, with the instant response of the electric motor enhancing the character of the V8. The Flying Spur Speed can also operate in full electric mode, offering up to 47 miles (76 km) of electric-only range and EV driving at speeds of up to 87 mph (140 km/h). Combined, the hybrid system provides a total driving range of 515 miles (829 km).
Standard fitment of Bentleyโs Performance Active Chassis further underpins the carโs all-weather capability. The system includes Bentley Dynamic Ride, all-wheel steering, an electronically controlled limited-slip differential, and advanced ESC software offering multiple driving modes. For the record attempt, however, electronic stability systems were fully disabled, highlighting the carโs inherent mechanical balance.
With a rear-biased weight distribution of 48.3:51.7 and active torque vectoring across both axles, the Flying Spur Speed demonstrated that it is as comfortable setting records on frozen circuits as it is delivering high-speed refinement on the open road.
In the harshest of environments, Bentleyโs most powerful Flying Spur to date has reaffirmed its position as a true all-conditions performance saloonโone capable of supercar-level feats, even on sheet ice near the Arctic Circle.
