Bentley Continental Flying Spur Speed
by Tim Barnes-Clay, the man behind the wheel.
Date: 16 July 2010
WHEN THE Crewe based firm first told me they would lend me a Bentley, I nearly fell over.
It’s hard enough getting Skoda to lend a press car, let alone a car of this high standing. And yet Skoda and Bentley have something in common – they both use VW-Audi engines. I’m not surprised – the engines are bullet proof – I should know – I am the proud owner of a six year old Audi A4 Avant. But back to the Bentley – what can I say? It is simply a glorious car to sit in, to drive and to have parked outside the house.
The Flying Spur Speed I had on test cost over £171,600 - more than the substantial mortgage I still have on my house. Yet when you lift the hood and look at the vast W12-cylinder six litre twin turbo engine, then open the doors and sniff the hand crafted polished wood and leather, you know that the cost isn’t just about the name – it is in the workmanship of this utterly refined and yet spine tinglingly fast car.
Introduced in July 2008 the Bentley Continental Flying Spur Speed is probably the world’s fastest unadulterated four-seater. When the foot is down, it is a phenomenally fast and magnificent monster, capable of 200 mph and reaching 0-60 mph in 4.5 seconds. Sophistication is not forfeited for speed, refinement for unrestricted power nor luxury for capability.
As I hinted earlier, Bentley is part of the Volkswagen Group and it uses a modified powertrain from VW’s luxury limo – the Phaeton. The engine, which basically involves two V6 engines being bolted together, blends power with exceptional smoothness and delivery through a semi-automatic six-speed transmission.
When you push the ‘start’ button you (and everyone else in the street) immediately notice a very deep bass rumble, reminiscent of the late great Barry White. There is a conventional dual mode selector on the console for fully automatic or manual gear use but there are also column mounted paddles for up and down changes by fingertips.
Under gentle acceleration there is no noticeable rise in engine note but it changes to the sound you hear inside a plane when you’re about to take off if you push the pedal to the metal. The 553lbft of torque is colossal and shrugs off the Bentley’s 2,500kg’s as if it was just a featherweight sports car. You have to hang onto the heated hide trimmed steering wheel while the Bentley greedily eats up the tarmac without ever getting out of puff. It is an awesome experience.
Nimble and Beautiful
Of course a car which is capable of almost three times the national speed limit has to be balanced with a braking system that can scrub off speed as quickly as possible. The Crewe company didn’t disappoint, equipping my test car with massive carbon ceramic brakes which needed only light pedal pressure to bring about rapid deceleration.
For such a big car the Bentley Continental Flying Spur Speed displays extraordinary nimbleness thanks to the responsive engine and continuous all-wheel drive. It hugs the black stuff without ever wanting to run into the rough – even on the tightest of country bends.
Inside, you can adjust the shock absorbers to create a cushioning ride or you can decide to go for a harder sporty feel if you’re after more of a Silverstone race track experience.
Of course, supplementary safety has not been forgotten and as well as airbags planted everywhere, the test car came with Bentley Adaptive Cruise Control which uses a long-range radar sensor, mounted in the lower front grille, to monitor the road ahead for other vehicles. When a slower moving vehicle is detected, the system automatically adjusts braking and acceleration to maintain a ‘time gap’, as selected by the driver.
Bentley has also teamed up with iconic British hi-fi manufacturer, Naim. Designed exclusively for Bentley and available as a further option for both the Continental Flying Spur and Flying Spur Speed, the Naim system features an 1100 Watt amplifier (the most powerful in a production car) and 15 custom-built speakers. I found I hardly listened to it though – the sweet sound of the six hundred horses and deep creamy burble of the exhaust was music enough for me.
Room is plentiful throughout the Bentley. Seats adjust over a good range and the steering column’s electric settings combined with the powered seat movements create any desired position for the driver. Wide opening doors give good access and passengers in the back have copious legroom and headroom while the shape of the seats holds occupants securely and comfortably. And, when it comes to luggage, the boot lid opens to reveal a very decent 475 litres of capacity.
There are few cars which can match the Bentley Continental Flying Spur Speed. Although a dream for many, owning this beautiful car could be a reality for those who can afford to enjoy the good things in life. And believe me, this is one of them.
PROS ‘N’ CONS
PROS
- Interior
- Exceptional passenger comfort
- Strong engine
- Image
CONS
- Thirsty
FAST FACTS
- Max speed: 200 mph
- 0-60 mph 4.5 seconds
- Combined mpg: 17
- Engine layout: W12, 5998 cc
- Power: 600 bhp
- Torque: 553 lb-ft @ 1700-5600rpm
- CO2: 396 g/km
- Price: £140,000 (£171, 630 as tested)
