Most automotive manufacturers launch new products with sheer regularity, but Bentley has a small line-up and usually reveals an all-new model only once every few years. It was for just that reason that I made my way (via several long-haul flights) to Beijing, China. The occasion? A media ride and drive event of the brand new Flying Spur.
Those of you who are familiar with the British marque will know the Crewe-based manufacturer offers the Mulsanne, Continental GT and Flying Spur. Sales of the latter, in particular, has helped the brand achieve record numbers over the past few years (8 510 new Bentleys were sold in 2012) and the company’s confident it’ll improve on that total this year.
Fresh face, new silhouette
The Flying Spur is all-new and unlike its predecessor, it does not share the bulk of its underpinnings with the two-door GT. Bentley is keen to differentiate the two siblings as much as possible and that is immediately evident from the outset.
The larger of the two driving lamps are situated on the outer edges of the Spur’s nose, unlike the GT which has the larger lamps closer to the grille. This also helps emphasise the width of the limousine. Speaking of the grille, the heavily chromed item is more upright than on the GT, too.
The lines of the new car are quite are different from those of its predecessor. A strong shoulder crease starts on the front fender and seems to widen the body as it runs along the flanks. A stylised version of Bentley’s flying “B” adorns the front wings. The shoulder line culminates in the rear fenders where it helps create strong haunches.
In a clear departure from the older car, Spur’s C-pillar is more swoopy and the taillamps are appreciably wider. The latter display elliptical shapes that mimic the exhaust tips. Overall the Bentley wears its size well and thanks to clean, crisp lines the design is totally uncluttered. It is one of those large saloons that manages to look good in dark and light shades.
A posh lounge
Bentley’s three characteristic traits are leather, wood and 200 mph. The first two are more than adequately fulfilled by ingress to the cabin. From the front seats you are treated to slabs of wood that make up the facia and door trim and the veneers continue onto the rear doors.
The facia also has large solid metal air-vents with organ-stop air flow control and a Breitling clock. Every surface that isn’t wood is covered in hand-stitched hide. As you might expect there is nothing a Flying Spur lacks in terms of specification. Despite a full-house of luxury trim and specification potential buyers will be happy to know that they can still specify colours, materials and finishes to their heart’s content.
Among these items is an upgrade Naim hi-fi and rear seat entertainment system. I had the chance to experience both and they really do add to the experience. The rear-seat entertainment, in particular, is well suited to owners that prefer not to drive their own cars.
Two ten-inch screens can be controlled by a wireless touch screen remote control (supposedly direct touch control of the screens a la ipad is under consideration). The system can play videos and music from an on-board hard-disc drive or from any portable device via one of several ports (DVD, USB, SD, HDMI, etc). Techno-savvy owners will also appreciate the wifi network that can be created within the cabin, which can host up to eight devices.
Big power for high speed
To achieve the 200 mph (322 km/h) that Bentley promises the firm employs a 12-cylinder engine in a unique “W”configuration – think of it as two V6s sharing a crankshaft. The engine is carried over from the predecessor, but has been upgraded for the new car.
As if that many cylinders displacing 6,0 litres was not enough, two turbochargers force feed pressurised air into the intakes. The whole shebang is worth 460 kW, making it the most powerful Bentley saloon ever. Power is 12 per cent higher than before, with a claimed 13,5 per cent reduction in fuel consumption. The powerplant provides a peak torque output of 800 N.m, you know, just in case you decide to tow your house somewhere.
Power delivery is handled by an eight-speed, ZF automatic transmission. Like its GT sibling drive is delivered to all wheels. In the previous Flying Spur the torque split was an even 50:50; in this new car there is a variable split that runs at a default 40 per cent to the front axle and 60 to the rear.
A major mile muncher
On the launch event my driving partner Aaron Borrill (of topcar magazine) and I fell foul of a technical gremlin, which meant that we spent the entire day traversing motorways trying to cajole a wonky satnav system to rejoin the plotted route. The navigation seemed keen to impersonate Bonnie Tyler, it kept telling us to turn around and then it broke down… (that one is for music lovers only).
Several hundred kilometres off course we made a U-turn and made haste in an effort to return to Beijing before nightfall and enable our hosts to ascertain where we were. That is when the Flying Spur really shone.
With major distance to cover I opened the taps and let the large engine breathe deeply. Under full power the rear end squats gently, there is a brief vocal agreement that emanates from the engine bay and the speed starts to climb at a very rapid rate. We made ground and very fast but at a seemingly relaxed pace.
Only when approaching slow moving traffic, which NEVER moves from the fast lane, did we realise how quickly we were travelling (I am quite sure there are several unplanned photographs to prove this fact, and if the Chinese traffic authorities ask, I was here in SA the whole time, okay?). I was also very thankful for the 90 litres of fuel that lasted throughout all our unforeseen adventures.
Back seat passengers
Thanks to our unintended excursion and a late flight on our final day in China, Bentley representatives decided to let us have another go; I sense that they didn’t quite believe our broken satnav story and chose to send us out with two chaperones.
At that point we were happy to take up station on the rear seats. As we braved morning rush hour in Beijing the Flying Spur started to make a lot more sense to me. As a luxury proposition it really needs to be experienced as a captain of industry would, from the padded comfort of the back seat. With classical music piped through the Naim hi-fi and the rear window blinds closed we didn’t need to be stressed by the rambunctious activity outside or the boisterous driving of the locals.
Bentley took very careful note of customer feedback and softened the suspension settings both front and rear. Dampers and anti-roll bars are slightly less firm than those of the previous Flying Spur, albeit that the newer car’s body in white is firmer than its precursor’s.
A planned route
Later that day after a walk along the Great Wall of China, we returned to the route that we should have driven a day earlier. I took the helm and headed down a variety of roads.
Through the tighter mountain pass sections the mass and sheer size of Flying Spur makes itself evident. Even with the variable rate dampers set to their firmest you cannot escape the laws of physics. It’s a good thing the Flying Spur has monster brake discs (405 mm front/335 mm rear), which realises serious stopping power through the calipers.
As the road ahead revealed faster, sweeping corners the Spur started to fly again. It is much better suited to more open, flowing corners – most of which can be tackled at serious speeds. My co-pilot assumed control for the motorway run back into Beijing and braved the late afternoon traffic. He made light work of the remaining distance and we arrived back at the hotel feeling as though we had left only a few minutes ago.
Summary
And that really is the Flying Spur’s party trick, the ability to cover large distances at high speed but without leaving the occupants frazzled; or perhaps the Bentley staffers in the back seat were just too polite to comment on our high-speed antics.
Unlike almost every other motor noter on the event my co-driver and I experienced both ends of the Flying Spur’s cabin. As much as I enjoy devouring large distances at unmentionable speeds, if I were ever in the position to own a Flying Spur I think I’d spec it to the hilt with creature comforts and hire a driver. And perhaps a portable navigation system …
FAST FACTS
Bentley Flying Spur
Engine: 6,0-litre W12 twin-turbocharged
Power: 460 kW @ 6 000 r/min
Torque: 800 N.m @ 2 000 r/min
0-100 km/h: 4,6 sec
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Fuel consumption: 14,7 L/100 km
CO2: 343 g/km
Price: approx. R4 million
