Behold the All-new Bentley Flying Spur
The redesigned, third-generation Bentley Flying Spur was presented today and if you’re a fan of world-class luxury sports sedans, you should definitely pay attention to this.
This car, of course, is still designed, engineered and handcrafted in Crewe, England, but it now rides on a whole new platform and uses the same aluminum superforming process as the new Continental GT.
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Let’s start with the exterior design, where the brand’s cut-crystal effect LED matrix headlights are now enhanced by chrome sleeves. New wraparound taillights with ‘B’ motifs and new available 22-inch wheel designs further express the Flying Spur’s uniqueness, not to mention the redesigned and illuminated ‘Flying B’ mascot that rises from beneath the Bentley badge and adorns the nose of the car for the first time in modern memory. A full-length panoramic glass sunroof can be specified.
More of Everything
Inside, a 130-mm longer wheelbase means increased space and comfort for passengers. The all-new seats include heating, ventilation, multi-mode massage, adjustable bolsters and top tilt. Customers have a choice of 15 hide colours.
Additional wood trims and mood lighting are also available, along with a selection of three audio systems (the most powerful one is a 2,200-watt, 19-speaker Naim for Bentley unit) and of course a host of Bentley Mulliner personalisation options.
The industry-first Bentley Rotating Display is now available on the new Flying Spur. When the engine start button is pressed, the wood section in the middle of the dashboard rotates to reveal a 12.3-inch HD touchscreen, displaying three, customizable digital tiles. There’s a proximity sensor to prime the screen for user inputs, offering a faster response to commands. Another side of the display reveals three analog dials.
Power and Control
On the road, the Bentley Flying Spur will benefit from a totally new and advanced aluminium and composite chassis and 48-volt electronic architecture. It features electronic all-wheel steering for the first time on a Bentley (during high-speed manoeuvres, the system steers the rear wheels in the same direction as the front wheels, increasing stability and making overtaking and lane-changes more assured), coupled with active all-wheel drive and Bentley Dynamic Ride incorporating new three-chamber air springs for a much greater range of suspension adjustment.
At the heart of the new Flying Spur is an enhanced version of Bentley’s renowned twin-turbocharged 6.0-litre W12 engine, mated to an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission for faster, smoother gear changes. It produces 626 horsepower and 664 pound-feet of torque, resulting in a 0-100 km/h acceleration time of 3.8 seconds and a top speed of 333 km/h. Erasing that kind of velocity is never a problem with the 420-mm front discs—the largest in the world. Furthermore, torque distribution varies according to the selected drive mode, from Comfort to Sport.
A host of new driver assistance technologies are fitted to the Flying Spur as standard, including Traffic Assist, City Assist and Blind Spot Warning. These complement night vision, head-up display and a 360-degree camera system giving an eagle-eyed view of the car.
The new Bentley Flying Spur will be available to order beginning this fall and customer deliveries will start in early 2020. No pricing details were given, but the outgoing model retailed from $228,690 in Canada.