Bentley Flying Spur: Flagship in waiting proves itself

By Ghaith Madadha - Feb 24,2020 - Last updated at Feb 24,2020

Photo courtesy of Bentley

Formerly the more “junior” of Bentley two enormous ultra-luxury saloon, the third generation Flying Spur was launched last year as a larger yet sportier car. Built on a more rear-biased platform shared in its basic design with the Porsche Panamera, in place of its formerly Audi-derived and front-biased architecture, the new Flying Spur’s arrival coincided with the British manufacturers centennial anniversary. More luxurious and advanced than the car it replaces, the new Flying Spur is also set to take over duties as Bentley’s flagship model once the long-running, more traditionally-minded Mulsanne ceases production this year.

Built on an all-new rear-drive derived platform with its engine positioned further back, the new Flying Spur drives with a more balanced dynamic and traditional feel, yet retains its sure-footed four-wheel-drive. Reflecting its new architecture externally, the third generation Flying Spur boasts a more elegant profile and classic proportions, including a more rearwards cabin orientation with a seemingly shorter front overhang, longer bonnet and distance between the front wheels and A-pillar. Longer than its predecessor, and with a longer wheelbase for space and stability, the new Flying Spur also features a more flowing roofline.

Elegant proportions

Better reflecting classic rear-drive uber-luxury chariot proportions, the new Flying Spur is also a better reconciled, more indulgent and elegant design, incorporating a more horizontal emphasis with a wider vertical slat front grille, wider spaced headlight positions and more prominent, wider and more sculpted lower intakes. With more surfacing detail and features, the Flying Spur also gains muscular rear haunches that hark back to classic 1960s predecessors. Meanwhile at the rear, its boot sits seemingly lower, with its width emphasised by a concave groove running between the rear lights, and dual narrow oval integrated exhaust ports.

With Bentley’s continuously developed and long-running iconic 6.75 litre V8 engine retired soon along with the Mulsanne, the Flying Spur and its 6 litre W12 engine now entrench their position at the top of Bentley’s model range. A product of the Bentley’s modern era as part of the Volkswagen-Audi group, the Flying Spur’s mighty and compact twin-turbocharged 12 cylinder engine is compact one for its massive displacement. With four cylinder banks, like two V6 engines side-by-side, it can deactivate 6 cylinder at light load for more efficient cruising, and is mated to a slick and quick shifting 8 speed automatic gearbox.

Epic ability

Along with so many ratios to exploit its abilities in terms of performance, versatility and efficiency, the Flying Spur’s W12 also receives a power hike to 626BHP at 6,000rpm and 664lb/ft torque throughout a broad 1,350-4,500rpm range. Epic in its scope of abilities, the W12 hauls the Flying Spur’s hefty 2,437kg mass with phenomenal verve as it launches from standstill with all four wheels digging tenaciously into the tarmac. Blitzing the 0-100km/h dash in just 3.8-seconds and powering through 0-160km/h in 8.1 seconds, the Flying Spur is capable of a supercar-like top speed of 333km/h.

A phenomenally fast full luxury saloon, the Flying Spur’s performance envelope runs deep across the spectrum. With quick-spooling turbos it pounces off the line with a near silent surge, gathering speed with effortless ease, muscular immediacy and seemingly indefatigable defiance to wind resistance. Forcefully flexible as it wafts through its broad torque-laden mid-range, the Flying Spur’s subtle sound hardens to subdued wail as revs rise and power piles on in huge dollops. Returning restrained 14.8l/100km combined cycle consumption, the Flying Spur remains slightly on the thirsty side, but is at its best at continent-crunching speed, where it drives with silky smooth stability.

Smooth and settled

Settled, planted and reassuringly commanding at speed, the Flying Spur is deceptively quick in how effortless and confident it feels at speed. Driving all four wheels, the Flying Spur meanwhile develops reassuring road-holding over low traction surfaces and through corners, where its enormous staggered front to rear tyres claw heroically at the tarmac through hard driven corners. A more balanced car than its predecessor yet still slightly front-biased in weighting, the Flying Spur, however, pounces into corners with a nimble agility that defies its size, weight and smoothly forgiving and wafting ride quality.

A technological tour de force outfitted with an exhaustive list of driver assistance, safety, infotainment and creature comfort features, the biggest tricks up the Flying Spur’s sleeve are its sophisticated steering and suspension systems, which so well reconcile its supple comfort, size and weight with its confident and committed handling and stability. Effectively reducing its wheelbase at lower speeds, the Flying Spur’s four-wheel-steering subtly turns the rear wheels in the opposite direction for more agile and nimble turn-in, cornering and manoeuvring. At speed, the rear wheels turn in the same direction as the front for enhanced lane-change stability.

Supple indulgence

Riding on double wishbone front and multi-link rear suspension with adaptive air springs and continuous damping control to smoothen its wafting ride quality and iron out bumps, lumps and imperfections, the Flying Spur also alternatively tightens its suspension for a sportier and more settled ride with firmer cornering control. The Flying Spur’s ability to reconcile a forgivingly absorbent ride with taut body control is also aided by its 48v active anti-roll bars, which loosen for comfort and tighten for near flat cornering. Operating automatically in default Bentley driving mode, one can also opt for more comfort- and sport-oriented driving modes.

Indulgent inside, the Flying Spur’s cabin is testament to a rich heritage of fine craftsmanship. Resplendent with vast expanses of tastefully designed high quality leathers, woods, metals and soft textures, the Flying Spur’s cabin is warmly welcoming and comfortably cosseting, yet with a highly adjustable and supportive driving position. Balancing old world charm, splendour and high luxury with modern equipment and hints of sporting flavour with its upright dashboard and round dials, little else compares to the Flying Spur’s driver and passenger luxury. Though spacious, given its sheer enormity, slightly better rear headroom and boot space would have been welcome.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Engine: 6-litre, twin-turbo, in-line W12-cylinders

Bore x stroke: 84 x 89.5mm

Compression ratio: 10.5:1

Valve-train: 48-valve, DOHC

Gearbox: 8-speed automatic, four-wheel-drive

Ratios: 1st 5.966; 2nd 3.235; 3rd 2.083; 4th 1.42; 5th 1.054; 6th 0.841; 7th 0.678; 8th 0.534

Final drive: 3.308

Power, BHP (PS) [kW]: 626 (635) [467] @6,000rpm

Specific power: 105.2BHP/litre

Power -to-weight ratio: 256.8BHP/ton

Torque, lb/ft (Nm): 664 (900) @1,350-4,500rpm