THE ALL-NEW BENTLEY FLYING SPUR’S DUALITY OF SPORTS SEDAN AGILITY AND MODERN LIMOUSINE REFINEMENT

EDITED BY MATT SCANLON

In June, Bentley Motors announced details of what the Crewe, United Kingdom-headquartered maker described as “the world’s most advanced luxury grand touring sports sedan:” the all-new Flying Spur. Designed to be essentially a combination of limousine and sports sedan (easy to say…extremely difficult to accomplish), it would logically follow that dimensions for the 2020 model would be trimmed to emphasize nimbleness, and that Bentley’s high-pistoncount motor might be traded for something powerful, certainly, but smaller. Such assumptions would be wrong on both counts. The revamped Spur, at 208.8 inches, is actually slightly longer than its predecessor, and its wheelbase extended by a whopping 5.1 inches to 125.8 to offer, among other things, enhanced legroom for rear passengers.

First-glancers might not notice the tweaked body lines, but there’s a pleasing increased muscularity to the redesign that spans the full length of the car, accentuated by fresh LED matrix headlamps enhanced by chrome sleeves and new wraparound rear lamps with “B” motifs that echo the diamond knurling of the interior air vents. Twenty-one inch wheels are offered as standard, with an option of choosing two unique 22-inch Mulliner specification wheels. A similarly just-designed “Flying B” mascot adorns the nose (for the first time in modern Bentley history), one that rises from a redesigned badge. The gloss black radiator matrix, with bright chrome surround and vertical vanes, harkens back to the iconic 1957 S1 Continental Flying Spur.

OPENER OPTION1Flying Spur First Edition (4)
An enhanced version of Bentley’s renowned 6-liter twin-turbo W12 is hitched to a dual-clutch and noticeably smoother eight-speed transmission. There are 626 horses to have fun with, which means a 0-60 mph mark of 3.7 seconds and a top speed of 207 mph incredible figures for a nearly 5,400-pound vehicle. To further enhance the sports end of the equation, the Flying Spur features Electronic All-Wheel Steering for the first time in the maker’s 100-year history, coupled with Active All-Wheel Drive and Dynamic Ride, as well as three-chamber air springs that offer a greater range of suspension adjustment.

On the limousine side of appetites, we are presented with new seats throughout (twin ute design, with ventilation, massage, and top tilt features), available in 15 hide colors. A “wing” theme highlights the lower console and fascia. The sweeping horizontal veneer ows across the dashboard and into the doors, while a floating center console houses a customizable 12.3-inch HD touchscreen and new sculpted vents. Crown Cut Walnut is offered as a new wood veneer option, which uses a straight-cut process to provide a more modern finish. The popular Dark Fiddleback, Piano Black, and five other veneers are also available (all sustainably sourced), and the interior can be further enhanced with panoramic glass stretching the full-length of the roof.

Flying Spur First Edition (12)
Deliveries begin early next year, with a price estimated to be slightly higher than the 2019 model’s base sticker of $224,500.

IN THE REAR, A NEW TOUCH SCREEN remote integrates into the console and accesses a range of applications, including control of blinds, rear seat massage, and rear climate control, and can also be used to pre-store configurations such as Mood Lighting levels.

INVESTORS SPREAD

DRIVER ASSISTANCE SYSTEMS INCLUDE Traffic Assist, City Assist, and Blind Spot Warning. Night Vision and Head Up Display help the driver focus on the road, while a Top View Camera gives an eagle-eye view of immediate surroundings. There is also a Reverse Traffic Warning and a self-parking feature.

Flying Spur First Edition (11)

ELECTRONIC ALL-WHEEL STEERING APPEARS in a Bentley for the first time in this model, a system that enhances stability at highway speeds and maneuverability around town. During low-speed corners, it steers rear wheels in the opposite direction of the front, which increases agility and makes parking noticeably easier.

IN AN INDUSTRY-FIRST FEATURE, when the engine start button is pressed, the veneer section in the middle of the dashboard rotates to reveal a 12.3-inch touchscreen displaying three customizable digital tiles. The second side of the display reveals three analogue dials showing outside temperature, a compass, and a clock.

THREE-DIMENSIONAL DIAMOND quilted leather door inserts are used for the first time in this model, inspired by the Bentley EXP 10 Speed 6 concept. New diamond knurling, meanwhile, adorns rotary switches and is also available on the air vents and clock.

Flying Spur First Edition (10)

IN AN INDUSTRY FIRST FEATURE, when the engine start button is pressed, the veneer section in the middle of the dashboard rotates to reveal a 12.3 inch touchscreen displaying three customizable digital tiles. The second side of the display reveals three analogue dials showing outside temperature, a compass, and a clock.

An enhanced version of Bentley’s renowned 6 liter twin turbo W12 is hitched to a dual clutch and noticeably smoother eight speed transmission. There are 626 horses to have fun with, which means a 0 60 mph mark of 3.7 seconds and a top speed of 207 mph incredible figures for a nearly 5,400 pound vehicle. To further enhance the sports end of the equation, the Flying Spur features Electronic All Wheel Steering for the first time in the maker’s 100 year history, coupled with Active All Wheel Drive and Dynamic Ride, as well as three chamber air springs that offer a greater range of suspension adjustment.

Flying Spur First Edition (2)

On the limousine side of appetites, we are presented with new seats throughout (twin flute design, with ventilation, massage, and top tilt features), available in 15 hide colors. A “wing” theme highlights the lower console and fascia. The sweeping horizontal veneer flows across the dashboard and into the doors, while a floating center console houses a customizable 12.3 inch HD touchscreen and new sculpted vents. Crown Cut Walnut is offered as a new wood veneer option, which uses a straight cut process to provide a more modern finish. The popular Dark Fiddle back, Piano Black, and five other veneers are also available (all sustainably sourced), and the interior can be further enhanced with panoramic glass stretching the full length of the roof.

Flying Spur First Edition (7)
Deliveries begin early next year, with a price estimated to be slightly higher than the 2019 model’s base sticker of $224,500.

Paul Miller Bentley Parsippany
250 US Highway 46 West, Parsippany / 855.638.1080 /
paulmillerbentley.com