It’s been 100 years since the Bentley brothers first began selling cars and the company has come a long way since then as the makers of one of the most desirable luxury cars in the world. And what better way to celebrate their centenary than with the launch of “the finest super-luxury sports sedan ever built.”
About two and a half years since it was spotted testing for the first time, the all-new Bentley Flying Spur is here. The previous model had a twin-turbo W12 engine with an output of 626 hp but this time it gets a better-upgraded engine with same output but a better jump in torque from 800 – 900nm. The Bentley Flying Spur 2020 can now achieve 0-60 mph in 3.8 seconds.
The new generation rides on the same MSB platform as the Continental GT and the Porsche Panamera To improve comfort as well as handling and drivability from the previous Flying Spur it took the 8-speed Dual Clutch ZF transmission from the new Continental GT which means smoother and quicker shifts and a nudge better on fuel economy.
Electronic rear-wheel steering is a brand new addition to the Spur, and assists in both slow and fast driving situations. When you’re parking, for example, the rear wheels turn in the opposite direction to the front ones to reduce your turning circle and simulate the handling of a shorter wheelbase machine. On the highway, it’s all about comfort, the rear wheels turning in the same direction as the front ones to make lane changes a graceful dance step to the side with virtually no problem. Instead of the permanent All Wheel Drive in the previous Spur model, the drivetrain is now predominantly Rear Wheel Drive, but capable of smoothly adding power to the front axle when the conditions or driver inputs start making the rear wheels slip. Bentley says the result is a sharper steering car when you’re driving it hard, and the understeer effect of permanent All Wheel Drive is totally gone.
The three-chamber air springs get 60 percent more air, allowing a wider range of pneumatic tuning between loungey-luxury, soft and sporty firm, and the suspension damping is active and continuously changes in response to driver inputs and the road surface. Likewise, there are sensors constantly monitoring both the ride height per wheel and the cornering forces in play, and systems tuning the air suspension and variable-stiffness anti-roll bar to keep the ride smooth and level.
Peerless luxury and class are hallmarks of the Bentley brand and the all-new 2020 Bentley Flying Spur is no exception to the rule. The new model resides at the pinnacle of automotive luxury, elegance and style. Armed with a world-class design, unrivaled luxury and track-tuned performance under the hood, the Bentley Flying Spur will make your automotive dreams come true. To find an all-new Bentley Flying Spur to fit your personal style, Bentley designers have provided a whopping 30 exterior color options from Granite, Midnight Emerald to Morrocan Blue and Extreme Silver.
Inside, the third-generation luxury sedan will feature what it calls an automotive world-first, which is three-dimensional, textured leather upholstery. A new pattern of fluted leather seating comes standard, with diamond-quilted and three-dimensional diamond quilted leather door inserts available on the options sheet. The seats are heated, ventilated, can give massages, and have adjustable bolstering. There’s more legroom inside now, thanks to a 130mm longer wheelbase. Like in the Continental, the Flying Spur has a digital instrument panel and rotating 12.3 inch infotainment screen. There are three stereo options, but the one you need to know about is the Naim for Bentley system, which has 19 separate speakers, a 2,200-watt peak output and a pair of active bass transducers built into the front seats. Also on the extra-cost menu, a full-length panoramic glass roof with an inset sunroof. Retractable Alcantara blinds shield passengers from a harsh sun, interior mood lighting in seven colors shields eyes from the mundane end of the light spectrum. The main feature is a 12.3-inch display in the center of the dashboard which, like the display in the latest Continental GT, rotates to reveal driver gauges or a blank panel that allows the dashboard to flow uninterrupted across the full length of the cabin. Unlike early versions of the Continental GT, the Flying Spur can now be driven with that blank plate on show — ideal for those who don’t wish to be too distracted by screens.
Its high price tag, luxurious interior ambience and spacious cabin definitely make the 2020 Bentley Flying Spur an ideal car to be chauffeured around in. It has been redesigned with even more incredible levels of performance and even more luxurious cabin accommodations as part of the brand’s push to reclaim some space at the top of the ultra-luxury heap. It’s not often that ultra-luxury cars are fully redesigned, and it’s even rarer that a prestige automaker revises its entire lineup over just a few years. The 2020 Bentley Flying Spur banishes forever the visual awkwardness of its two Phaeton-platformed predecessors, proving that third time’s truly the charm.
The 2020 Bentley Flying Spur will premier in Thailand at the Thailand International Motor Expo starting on November 29th with first deliveries expected early next year. The base price for the Flying Spur is 22.9 million baht, an increase over last year but for the target clientele this is unlikely to be a problem.