Bentley Continental Flying Spur
The Continental Flying Spur, a sumptuous, spacious four-door with the soul of a high performance coupé. With its unmistakeable Bentley qualities of exquisite design, peerless craftsmanship and unforgettable driving dynamics, the Continental Flying Spur continues the Bentley bloodline of sporting Grand Tourers with an understated style that’s as appropriate for a business commute as it is for an evening at the theatre.
PERFORMANCE
With the same potent 6-litre,12-cylinder, twin-turbocharged engine found in the Continental GT the Continental GTC, and the Continental Flying Spur is the epitome of power with purpose.
Unlike a conventional 12 cylinder engine with two banks of 6, the Continental’s 6-litre engine is configured in four banks of 3 cylinders in a W formation. The result is a shorter and much more compact unit which allows for significantly more interior space.
But its size is deceptive. Twin turbochargers boost the power output to an astonishing 552bhp (411kW). Its status as the world’s most powerful four-door is confirmed by a top speed of 195mph(312km/h). Built to conquer continents with power in reserve.
Torque is the force that changes a steady state of motion, unlike power, which is the force that maintains it. When you accelerate it is the torque that you feel changing the rate of motion, not just the power. In a Bentley, torque is very much in the foreground of the driving experience. It is particularly appreciated at low revs, giving an impression of effortlessness, a sense that endless reserves of power remain.
The Continental Flying Spur develops maximum torque of 479 lb-ft (650Nm) at 1600rpm, delivering an immediate sensation of limitless power as you move through the gears.
The shorter engine configuration, together with a fuel tank under the floor of the car, gave the Continental Flying Spur’s design team the unprecedented luxury of space. The result is a capacious interior, beautifully appointed for the comfort of all occupants. The impressive boot space was designed with practicality in mind, easily accommodating golf clubs and luggage.
THE CABIN
Traditional features like the bulls-eye air vents and the organ stop controls are exquisitely framed by brilliant wood veneers on the fascia, upper door trim, and the front and rear consoles. Premium grade leather hide is also employed for all soft surfaces, including the trim around the sporting gear selector and handstitched steering wheel. Knurled brightware controls and a choice of premium wood veneers exemplify the craftsman’s touch.
To avoid any variation in texture between the different hides, they are selected and cut at the same. Even something as slight as an insect bite will cause a hide to be rejected. Which is why our hides are selected from Northern Europe, renowned for their remarkable scarcity of imperfections. Steering wheels are double-stitched by hand using one continuous piece of thread. This hand-stitching process takes approximately five hours’ to create one steering wheel cover.
In the two weeks that it takes to prepare the wood for the interior, the veneers are given five coats of lacquer and three days of curing time before being wax polished by hand. Bentley uses no bleaching, the rich colour of the wood veneers is entirely natural. Bentley is the only coachbuilder to use mirror patterns when applying wood veneers, placing four successive leaves end to end to make a symmetrical pattern across the fascia, a process known as book matching. Each leaf of veneer can be traced back to the tree it came from, and each tree felled for veneer is replaced with another. Great care is taken never to use endangered wood species.
TECHNOLOGY
Advanced keyless entry and ignition technology, four-zone climate control, electronically-adjustable front seats with lumbar massage, memory and heating, together with gearshift paddles on the multi-function steering wheel, deliver an unprecedented level of comfort and control.
KEYLESS ENTRY
The door handles and ignition system on the Continental Flying Spur will recognise the signal sent from the integrated key (as long as it is on your person). When next to the door, the door handle will unlock automatically.
Once in the car, the engine can also be started, by pushing the console-mounted start button. Turning the ignition off again is also simple, by pushing the stop/start button. The car can then be locked again by depressing the exterior door handle.
COMMUNICATIONS
The driver can operate and adjust almost all of the key driving and entertainment systems via this console.The system operates:
- DVD Satellite Navigation system with route guidance
- Hi-fi system
- TV Tuner (where available)
- Four-zone climate control
- Suspension and ride height adjustment
- Mobile telephone controls
- On-board computer controls
INTELLIGENT ENGINE MANAGEMENT
The throttles, fuel injection, twin turbochargers and ignition are controlled by the engine management system. Full electronic control of the six speed automatic transmission, air suspension and continuous all-wheel drive combine to provide the immediate feedback. Steering, suspension and chassis work together in absolute harmony, while intelligent under-the-skin technology monitors and fine-tunes every aspect of your exhilaration.