Bentley Continental Flying Spur: First Look

By Feann Torr

When Bentley was purchased by VW half way through 1998, no one really knew what was on the horizon for the age old British badge.

VW was also testing the odd concept of these new 'W' engines, where two V4s, V5s or V6s shared a crankshaft and produced lots of torque in what turned out to be a very compact power unit.

Aflush with new cash from its then-rich parent company, Bentley initiated a side project in tandem with the work that began on the Continental GT coupe in 1999.

This second project involved designing a 4-door version that would offer similar performance and design qualities to that of the coupe, but providing for more interior space.

Then, a little over two years ago, Bentley stunned the world by unveiling the finished Continental GT coupe, which upon launch had extensive waiting lists, such was the demand.

And now, some 12 months after the first deliveries of that incredibly successful car, Bentley has come clean with the Continental Flying Spur.

According to Bentley, the Flying Spur is "the fastest four-door in the company's history; a car that shares the heart and soul of the 198mph coupe from which it is born".

And like the Continental GT, with which it shares much of its exterior styling, it is a solid indication that VW and therefore Bentley are more than happy with the marque's current design direction.

While the 2003 model Continental GT is loosely based on the iconic R-Type Continental from 1952, its four-door descendant, the Continental Flying Spur, was the inspiration for the modern day Flying Spur.

Which begs the question: why build yet another twin turbo four door luxury saloon - what about the Arnage? Eating into one's own sales would seen like pure folly.

Bentley chairman Dr Franz-Josef Paefgen says the distinction between the new Continental Flying Spur and the Bentley Arnage range is simple: "As Continental Flying Spur production begins, the Arnage will retain its true position as the most exclusive limousine in the world.

"If you work in a major capital city you might see a Continental Flying Spur a few times a month, but you will only come across an Arnage a few times a year.

"With the Continental Flying Spur we are opening our doors to new customers who value that unique combination of luxury, style, excitement and practicality.

"The Continental Flying Spur promises a new motoring experience and we look forward to welcoming a new breed of discerning customers to our marque."

So, simply put, the Arnage is a bespoke model, built in limited quantities for only the richest of the rich, while the new Continental Flying Spur is meant for a wider audience.

It is for customers looking for a bit more sportiness, and is to be produced in larger numbers and presumably at a more affordable price.

Adhering to Bentley's philosophy of long distance cruising power - grand touring if you will - combined with supreme comfort, the next generation 4-door Continental Flying Spur benefits from the same 12-cylinder powerplant that propels the GT.

The Volkswagen-designed, Bentley-built 12-cylinder engine displaces 6.0-litres and combines a pair of turbochargers to great effect, boosting low end torque, and in turn gifting the Bentley Continental duo with effortless acceleration.

Generating 406kW of power (552hp), the same as the Continental GT, the Flying Spur makes use of AWD, again like its 2-door sibling.

With considerably more than 600Nm of peak torque available from just above idle (1600rpm), the Flying Spur isn't quite as rapid to 100km/h from standstill as the 2-door GT thanks to its extra bulk, but at around 5.0 seconds, the grand tourer is still a very quick piece of luxury kit.

Top speed is estimated to be at around 190mph, which is about 306km/h, and when an advanced air suspension system is factored in, a smooth, stable and compliant ride at almost any speed is expected.

"Over the course of its development the car was subjected to a rigorous drive programme that saw it complete nearly a million miles on proving grounds, test tracks and roads across the world," reveals Dr Ulrich Eichhorn, member of the board for engineering.

"The result is a car whose breadth and capability, in any weather, on any road surface, is simply awesome."

The W12 engine transfers power to all four wheels via a 6-speed 'paddleshift' ZF gearbox with tiptronic actuation, and in this 4-door application, the gearbox has also been tweaked to offer "almost imperceptible" shifts when used in everyday situations. Punish the engine frequently, however, and you're probably more than likely to feel the transmission swapping cogs.

Bentley's Flying Spur shares the unfussed, understated appearance of the Continental GT coupe, with styling cues such as the dominant matrix radiator grille, quad headlight cluster and short front overhangs linking the two models. Dirk van Braeckel, the man responsible for taking the Bentley 'image' into the future as the head of design, explains the idea behind the new look: "From the very beginning, Bentleys have been quite reserved when it comes to design.

"It has always been recognised that Bentleys are much less ostentatious than rival cars of a similar price. The new Continental Flying Spur embodies that Bentley ethos of understated elegance."

"We were very conscious that the Continental Flying Spur had to make a sporting statement when people first saw it - after all it is a Bentley," says van Braeckel. "That's actually more challenging with a four-door than a coupe, which will always look 'fast', so we spent a long time working on an appearance of potency while still retaining the presence and stature that customers expect from our cars."

Take a peak inside the new British bruiser, and you'll notice that every single surface has a leather or wood veneer and, moreover, some 11 different leather hides are needed to upholster the entire interior of the Flying Spur.

Upon purchasing one of Bentley's new 4-door Flying Spurs, customers will be asked whether they want a four or a five seat layout, where the former option includes two electrically driven rear recliners, and the latter a more conventional bench seat for three.

Bentley's boss, Dr Franz-Josef Paefgen, was supremely sure of himself when he stated that customers would be stoked with the Flying Spur's standard specifications: "The Continental Flying Spur has all the technology and equipment that our customers want and need.

"They will not have to trawl through an options list for hours with their dealer because everything is included. What they will enjoy, however, is the experience of tailoring the car to their taste and style. As well as delivering excellent performance and dynamic handling, the Continental Flying Spur offers elegant styling and craftsmanship with its beautiful wood and leather cabin, delighting customers as only a Bentley can."

The price point for the new Bentley Continental Flying Spur is has not been finalised, but the British marque has mentioned that it should be similar to that of the Continental GT coupe, which sells in Australia for $385,000. The new 4-door Flying Spur will go on sale in Spring 2005.