The Bentley Continental Flying Spur is an ultra-luxury sedan with a high-performance orientation. It debuted as an all-new model for 2006. Naturally, standard equipment is generous. Nineteen-inch wheels; an adjustable air suspension; power front seats with heating, cooling and memory; four-zone automatic climate control; navigation; Bluetooth phone connectivity and leather everywhere are all part of the package. Options include front-seat lumbar massage, flip-down rear-seat veneer picnic tables and a full-length center console that reduces seating capacity to four. A Mulliner Driving Specification package includes special 20-inch wheels, alloy foot pedals, diamond-quilted leather and a choice of exclusive veneers. A further range of customization is provided via 17 leather color choices and an almost endless selection of exterior paints.
This hefty Bentley sedan is motivated by a twin-turbocharged version of the Volkswagen Group’s W12 engine. It produces 552 hp and 479 pound-feet of torque starting at a low 1,600 rpm. Driving through a six-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive, this sophisticated power plant hustles the Flying Spur from zero to 60 mph in a scant 4.8 seconds. There are steering-wheel paddle shifters if you’re up to doing it yourself, but there’s not much point, really — they’re not easy to reach or quick to shift, and they don’t match engine speed when downshifting.
Blending decades of Bentley’s classic design with the absolute best available materials and build quality from its parent yields an exquisitely crafted interior literally fit for royalty. Though the Flying Spur is loaded with plenty of up-to-date technology, its controls are traditionally straightforward, with well-organized buttons. The 16-way power front “thrones” are nearly perfect; however, the rear seats lack the adjustments and features available in competing sedans.
With its adjustable air suspension and sophisticated engineering, the Bentley Continental Flying Spur can float along the freeway enveloping its occupants in quiet comfort or just as easily zip through corners like a sport sedan that’s half a ton lighter. In fact, in our testing it bettered the slalom speeds of the BMW 7 Series and matched the Bentley Continental GT coupe. Although hardly a sports car, the Flying Spur’s steering is rock solid at speed and light when you need it to be around town — exactly what most ultra-luxury sedan buyers are looking for.
