Video: A lap of Monaco in the 2020 Bentley Flying Spur
Total Luxx-ury
BRITISH luxury marque Bentley has launched the third generation of Flying Spur. Although it’s really a four-door limo, and is 130mm longer between the wheels than the old model, the Flying Spur is derived from the Continental GT, which should make it a car designed for keen drivers, too — not just Jeeves.
The serious firepower under the long bonnet comes from an updated version of Bentley’s 6-litre, twin-turbocharged W12, which delivers a meaty 626bhp and 664 lb ft of torque. Mated to a dual-clutch eight-speed transmission with intelligent four-wheel drive, the Flying Spur can manage 0-60mph in just 3.7 seconds — extraordinary when you consider it weighs 2.5 tons (unladen). The top speed is just as wild: 207mph.
All of which made it too tempting for Times Luxx magazine’s motoring editor David Green not to try out, so he headed to Monte Carlo to get behind the wheel and create the video above for us.
Fortunately for him and his efforts to navigate the tight street of Monaco, the Flying Spur also has four-wheel steering, which improves manoeuvrability around town, pointing the rear wheels in the opposite direction to the front wheels. This has the effect of shortening the wheelbase, reducing the turning circle, increasing agility and making parking noticeably easier.
But at high-speeds, the rear wheels turn in the same direction as the front wheels, which increases stability and makes overtaking and lane-changes more assured.
The ride is supreme at any speed, of course, and the new Flying Spur uses three-chamber air springs with 60% more air volume compared to the previous model, allowing greater greater variance between sporty and luxury modes. Meanwhile, the 48-volt Bentley Dynamic Ride System manages the stiffness of the anti-roll bar, changing the harshness on demand to combat cornering forces and keep the Flying Spur level.
Stopping power comes from the largest iron brakes in the world, which Flying Spur shares with the Continental GT: 420mm front discs.
Combined with the luxury, hand built interior and high-tech infotainment and driving assist systems, the £168,300 pricetag might seem like an absolute bargain. It does for Times Luxx magazine, clearly, which included the new Flying Spur in its Christmas gift guide this year. Poor old Santa must have needed a bigger sleigh this year.
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