The 2014 Bentley Flying Spur
Party in the front, business in the back, the company’s most powerful sedan yet
No longer confined to its previous Continental badging, the all new 2014 Bentley Flying Spur sedan embraces its post-breakup makeover—worked out and muscled up, turning heads as it passes by. Faster and more powerful than any of the British auto maker’s previous sedans, the Flying Spur has been completely redesigned and reengineered, rightly taking its place between the brand’s Continental and Mulsanne models. It’s a car of contrasts: Understated yet present. Luxurious yet sporting. Powerful yet controlled. Comfortably familiar yet totally new. Announced officially today and receiving its public debut at the 2013 Geneva Auto Show, we were fortunate to get sneak peek a few weeks back in a chic London gallery.
Lower and wider than its previous body, its stance eludes to the power under the hood, and its sharp, tense lines and tight curves give a nod to its athletic spirit. The one thing you’ll probably fall in love with (or be underwhelmed with) is the simplicity of the car’s exterior, which prefers to go about its business in the most subtle way. Stripped down, discreet and calm, the car’s exterior appeal is all in the details. Inside, the cabin wraps you in the luxury, technology and refinement expected of the brand. Under the hood of the fastest Bentley sedan yet is a 6.0-liter twin turbocharged W12 engine pumping out 616 bhp with a max speed limited to 200 MPH/322 KPH, and an incredibly spritely 0-60 MPH time of just 4.3 seconds (0-100 KPH in 4.56 seconds). These rather impressive stats further reinforce the car’s many dualities—it’s a car one dreams to drive, and be driven in.
Despite its tighter and more rigid frame, improved aerodynamics, improved interior sound, technology and interiors, and larger size, the all wheel drive car actually weighs around 100 lbs less. The redesign features some 600 new parts, leaving little from the previous generation. A parade of premium materials and options are, as expected, available. Nearly ten square meters of sustainably sourced wood coddle riders; top of the line tech and endlessly customizable options, including four or five seat configurations, multiple wheel (from 19-21″) sizes and styles, sumptuous carpets and impeccable leather, an onboard tech package with a SIM card, Wi-Fi nearly every format of storage and playback you can imagine, a Naim audio upgrade, rear seat entertainment and touch screen remote, and a chill box to name a few. The dash features a high res 8″ touch-screen interface and much improved software. A nice touch is a smartphone app that allows you to control the car’s entertainment and climate functions.
Luc Donckerwolke, Bentley’s Director of Design, walked us through the Spur’s exterior and interior highlights. He summed it up rather befittingly, we think: “The Flying Spur is a cocktail of elegance.”
The first new Flying Spurs will be delivered in summer 2013. Pricing has not yet been released, but you can expect it to fall between that of the Continental and Mulsanne. Want to know what goes into making a Bentley? Take a look inside the Bentley factory in Crewe in a Cool Hunting Video visit.
Images courtesy of Bentley Motors
