The Bentley Flying Spur Hybrid Odyssean Edition… is it green enough?
We know Bentley doesn’t produce the most environmentally-friendly cars out there, but they seem to be trying. Behind the scenes, they’re improving the sustainability of their operations and on showroom floors, we’re already seeing “downsized” hybrid options such as the Bentayga Hybrid and more recently, the Flying Spur Hybrid.
This week, they took that new Flying Spur Hybrid a step ‘greener’ with the announcement of the Flying Spur Hybrid Odyssean Edition. This version of the 4-door takes inspiration from the Bentley EXP 100 GT concept car and introduces new sustainable materials. It’s all part of the company’s Beyond100 strategy.
Inside, the Odyssean Edition’s cabin is where most of the new, sustainable materials can be found. The tweed employe on certain panels has been made from 100% locally sourced wool. Lambswool rugs are optional and increase the wool content of the Flying Spur Odyssean Edition’s interior.
Wood elements use open pore Koa veneers. Koa wood is extremely sought after and expensive. It is native to Hawaii and only grown there. But the real reason it’s expensive is because it can only be harvested from dead or decaying Koa trees.
In terms of sustainability, Bentley is using 90% less lacquer on their Koa wood veneers than on traditional veneers. This allows the natural surface texture of the wood to be enjoyed in cabin. The layers of lacquer amount only to about 0.1mm of thickness.
In terms of upholstery, Bentley only sources sustainable leather for the interior.
The powertrain here is the same in the regular Flying Spur Hybrid – a 2.9L V6 with an electric motor. It’s able to deliver 700km of range when fully fueled and charged.
However, with all of this in consideration, is the Bentley Flying Spur Hybrid Odyssean Edition really ‘green’ enough? Bentley claims the car is a glimpse into the company’s future. If that’s the case, their steps to becoming more environmentally sustainable really seem only half-baked. We don’t know how they’re approaching plastics, electronics, batteries and what their product lifecycle strategy is going to look like. And it’s probably not an easy set of questions to answer for Bentley.
