The fact that the 195-mph Bentley Continental Flying Spur is the worlds fastest sedan says a lot. No car that can go that fast can do without exceptional handling and braking.The Flying Spur is the 21st Century version of the 1952-55 Bentley R-type Continental, which was the world fastest 4-seater and is valued at up to $300,000. The current Flying Spur also follows the tradition—and takes the name—of the classic 1957-59 Bentley S Flying Spur sedan.
The 2006 Flying Spur is worth every dime of its $164,990 list price, although the fact that it only gets an estimated 11 mpg in the city and 18 on highways saddles it with a $3,700 gas guzzler tax.
The Continental Flying Spur was developed to "match world-beating technologies with renowned craftsmanship," said Bentley chairman Dr. Franz-Josef Paefgen. "It is a performance car but not at the cost of comfort ... a sumptuous and spacious four-door grand tourer with the heart and soul of a high-performance coupe."
Like the Continental GT coupe, the Continental Flying Spur has all-wheel drive. Bentley claims acceleration from a standstill to 60 mph occurs in 4.9 seconds. The Continental Flying Spurs global launch began in April 2005.
Shares Components
However, the Flying Spur would cost considerably more than $200,000 if it didnt share its engine design, all-wheel-drive system and basic suspension architecture with the $66,950-$96,100 Volkswagen Phaeton, which has flopped in America and been withdrawn from this market because the Volkswagen name is associated with much less costly cars here.
(Volkswagen bought Bentley and BMW got the Rolls-Royce emblem in a confusing 1998 deal that saved both financially troubled, low-volume British nameplates from vanishing.)
In fact, the Flying Spur is basically a stretched 4-door version of the fabulous looking Bentley Continental GT coupe, with which it shares components. The sedan has a 12.6-inch longer wheelbase than the coupe and an overall length stretched by nearly 20 inches. However, it doesnt weigh all that much more than the coupe, all things considered.
Bentley designed and developed the sedan and coupe at the same time at Bentleys modern facilities in Crewe, England, to ensure what that automaker calls "a consistency of Bentley image."
Exterior
The Continental Flying Spurs design is understated in the Bentley tradition. The company refers to the sedan as "evocative, timeless and unostentatious."
Flowing body lines on the Continental Flying Spur include rounded C-pillars — called the "hockey stick" curve — like those found on many early Bentleys. A mesh-pattern grille is installed up front between recessed round headlights. At the rear, a humped trunk lid sits above integrated oval exhaust pipes. Chrome detailing is similar to that of the companys Arnage sedan. The additional body length emphasizes the cars waistline.
Bentley says the Continental Flying Spur is more aerodynamic than the Continental GT coupe; it has a slightly better coefficient of drag. One-piece 19-inch alloy wheels are used, and the automaker claims the cars front disc brakes are the largest on a production passenger car. An adjustable air suspension is installed.
Colorful Tradition
Bentley has lots of colorful, muscular tradition. It was a top road race car before Rolls-Royce bought it in 1931, winning the famous 24-hour race at Le Mans, France, many times in the 1920s (and again in 2003). Rolls turned the Bentley into just a Rolls with a different grille by the 1960s. The reasoning was that if people didnt want to be too conspicuous in a Rolls, they could buy a Bentley.
The Flying Spur interior is exquisite—clearly the result of highly skilled hand labor. Theres considerable use of sumptuous leather upholstery and Burr Walnut trim, Theres also a unique chrome-knurled switchgear. And even the retro-style, mushroom-shaped pull knobs for the dashboard air vents close with a nicely damped thud. Lesser luxury cars lack such attention to detail.
Under the Hood
Breathing with the assistance of twin turbochargers, the Continental Flying Spurs 6.0-liter W-12 cranks out 552 hp and 479 pounds-feet of torque at a low 1,600 rpm. The six-speed-automatic transmission features a Tiptronic manual-shift provision thats operated by the gearshift lever or paddles behind the steering wheel. All-wheel drive is standard.
Encourages Driving Fun
Still, the Flying Spur encourages one to get behind the wheel for driving fun—not slump lazily in the rear. It has precise, nicely weighted steering, extraordinary handling for such a big, heavy car and powerful brakes, which are among the largest on any production auto.
The responsive 6-speed automatic transmission has an easily used manual-shift feature, controlled by steering column paddles, although I wonder why anyone would want to bother with them. After all, this is no sports car.
Confident Handling
Computer-controlled air springs are adjustable for comfort or sporty driving, although the car handled deftly during spirited driving in comfort mode. Weight distribution is nearly ideal, and the all-wheel-drive system makes this an all-weather car for snow-belt areas. Traction control and anti-skid systems enhance stability, and the aerodynamic body lowers for better stability above 155 mph.
This is one of those rare large cars thats so responsive it seems to shrink around a driver, leaving him feeling as if hes driving a smaller, responsive car.
Safety
Eight airbags, including full-length side curtain-type airbags and side-impact airbags for both front and rear outboard occupants, are installed. An electronic stability system is standard.