Although the 2014 Bentley Flying Spur has
dropped "Continental" from its name, the sedan has more content and
refinement than ever before. As was the case with the original Bentley
Continental Flying Spur, the sedan is arriving roughly two years after
the Continental GT coupe. The 2014 Flying Spur will make its debut at
the 2013 Geneva Motor Show, joining the Mulsanne as one of Bentley's
four-door offerings.Under the hood, the twin-turbo, 6.0-liter W-12
engine gets a 64-hp and 114-lb-ft bump to 616 hp and 590 lb-ft of
torque. That's also 16 hp and 37 lb-ft more than the last Continental
Flying Spur Speed. Peak horsepower comes at 6000 rpm, while peak torque
is achieved at just 2000 rpm.
Bentley Flying Spur V8 Front View
A new Bosch engine management system
improves torque management, turbocharger control, drivability, and
emissions control, as well as low-speed responsiveness. Bentley claims
the additional power and reduced weight contribute to a 14 percent
improvement in the power-to-weight ratio, and that the sedan can reach
60 mph in 4.3 seconds as well as a 200-mph top speed. In our testing,
the 2012 Continental Flying Spur Speed reached 60 mph in 4.6 seconds.
Bentley Flying Spur V8 Back View
The speed-sensitive power steering system uses a
new steering gear for better confidence and low effort. The Electronic
Stability Control (ESC) system has been recalibrated for the chassis
updates, while the ESC Dynamic Mode allows for some high-dollar hooning.
Bentley Flying Spur V8 Interior
A lower roofline combined with sharp lines and
rounded surfaces make the new Flying Spur appear lower and wider than
the outgoing car despite nearly identical dimensions. New LED headlights
flank a more upright front grille. To further differentiate the Flying
Spur from the Continental GT and GTC, the outer headlights are now
larger than the inner lights. A new full-width lower intake features a
horizontal chrome accent. New fender vents feature the Bentley logo and a
cutline that runs from the front wheel to the rear bumper. The lower
body line loses its brightwork and cuts deeper as it curves up toward
the rear of the car. Muscular rear fenders are emphasized by the curved
beltline that ties it to that of the larger Mulsanne. Out back, the
longer and lower trunklid and the new horizontal and rectangular LED
taillights emphasis the pronounced quarter panels.
Bentley Flying Spur V8 Gear Box
Standard bright-painted or diamond-turned finish
19-inch Classic wheels wrapped in 275/45/19 rubber improve comfort and
handling. Optional wheels include five-spoke 20-inch alloys with
274/40/20 tires, and six-spoke and 10-spoke 21-inch alloy wheels with
275/35/21 tires.
