Bentley Flying SpurOverviewManufacturerBentley MotorsProductionNovember 2005 – presentModel years2006-presentAssemblyUnited Kingdom: Crewe (Bentley Crewe)Body and chassisClassFull-size luxury car (F)Ultra-luxury carBody style4-door saloonLayoutLongitudinal F4 layout
The Bentley Flying Spur, known as the Bentley Continental Flying Spur before 2013, is a full-sized luxury car produced by Bentley Motors Limited since 2005. It is the four-door saloon variant of the Bentley Continental GT two-door coupé.
The Flying Spur is assembled by hand at Bentley’s factory in Crewe, England. Briefly, due to lack of capacity at the Crewe factory upon the car’s introduction, 1,358 units of the first generation Flying Spur destined for markets other than the United States and United Kingdom were built at parent-company Volkswagen’s Transparent Factory in Dresden, Germany. This arrangement ended in early 2007, when all assembly works reverted to Crewe.
First generationOverviewProduction2005-2013Model years2006-2013DesignerDirk van Braeckel (2001)Body and chassisPlatformVolkswagen Group D1RelatedBentley Continental GTAudi A8Audi S8Volkswagen PhaetonPowertrainEngine6.0 L W12 twin-turboTransmission6-speed ZF 6HP26A tiptronic automaticDimensionsWheelbase3,065 mm (120.7 in)Length2006-08: 5,306 mm (208.9 in)2009-13: 5,290 mm (208.3 in)Width1,915 mm (75.4 in)Height2006-08: 1,478 mm (58.2 in)2009-13: 1,476 mm (58.1 in)Kerb weight2,475 kg (5,456 lb)[1]
The first-generation Flying Spur was officially unveiled at the 75th Geneva Motor Show in March 2005.[2] It had a 5,998 cc (6.0 L) twin-turbocharged W12 engine tuned to produce 560 PS (412 kW; 552 bhp) and torque of 650 N⋅m (479 lbf⋅ft) at 1,600-6,100 rpm. Torsen-based permanent all-wheel drive system was standard on the Flying Spur. It can go 0-100 km/h (0.0-62.1 mph) in 4.9 seconds, and can reach a top speed of 314 km/h (195 mph).[3][4] It also has Adaptive Air Suspension and Continuous Damping Control as standard. At that time, it was the world’s fastest and most powerful production saloon.[5]
Sales of the first-generation Flying Spur began in late 2005.[6] During the first full-year sales of the Flying Spur, the number of deliveries exceeded 4,000 units.[7] The Speed model of the Flying Spur was introduced in 2008 as a higher performance variant with revised ceramic disc brakes and tuned to produce 602 horsepower. The acceleration of the Speed model is 0-100 km/h (0.0-62.1 mph) in 4.5 seconds, and can reach a top speed of 322 km/h (200 mph). A total of 1,155 units of the Speed model were produced in model years 2009 and 2010.[8]
Petrol engines Model Years Type/code Power at rpm, Torque at rpm Flying Spur 2005-2013 5,998 cc (366.0 cu in) W12 twin turbo 560 PS (412 kW; 552 hp) at 6,100, 650 N⋅m (479 lb⋅ft) at 1,600-6,100 Flying Spur Speed 2008-2013 5,998 cc (366.0 cu in) W12 twin turbo 610 PS (449 kW; 602 hp) at 6,000, 750 N⋅m (553 lb⋅ft) at 1,700-5,600 Petrol engines Model Years Types Flying Spur 2005-2013 ZF 6-speed automatic with wheel-mounted paddle shifters Flying Spur Speed 2008-2013 ZF 6-speed automatic with wheel-mounted paddle shifters
The steering column-mounted paddle shifters enable direct access to the six-speed gearbox when the ZF transmission is in “S” or sports mode.
Second generationOverviewProduction2013-2019DesignerLuc DonckerwolkeBody and chassisPlatformVolkswagen Group D1RelatedBentley Continental GTVolkswagen PhaetonPowertrainEngine6.0 L W12 twin-turbo[9]4.0 L V8 twin-turboTransmission8-speed automatic[9]DimensionsWheelbase3,066 mm (120.7 in)[9]Length5,299 mm (208.6 in)[9]Width1,978 mm (77.9 in)[9]Height1,488 mm (58.6 in)[9]Kerb weight2,475 kg (5,456 lb)[9]
The second generation Flying Spur was unveiled in March 2013 at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show.[10][11][12] In addition to the W12 engine from the previous generation, a lower-cost V8-engined version was also available.
The “Continental” prefix was omitted; according to Bentley’s designers, this was a conscious attempt to take the Flying Spur in a more opulent direction and distance it from the more driver-oriented, two-door Continental GT range[13] (historically, the Continental name has generally been used by Bentley to refer to models of a “sporting” nature). Despite this, the Flying Spur and Continental GT continue to share the same engineering platform.
Petrol engines[14][15] Model Years Type/code Power at rpm, Torque at rpm Flying Spur W12 2013-2019 5,998 cc (366.0 cu in) W12 twin turbo 625 PS (460 kW; 616 hp) at 6,000, 800 N⋅m (590 lb⋅ft) at 2,000 Flying Spur V8 2014-2019 3,993 cc (243.7 cu in) V8 twin turbo 507 PS (373 kW; 500 hp) at 6,000, 660 N⋅m (487 lb⋅ft) at 1,700 (1,750?) Flying Spur V8 S 2016-2019 3,993 cc (243.7 cu in) V8 twin turbo 528 PS (388 kW; 521 hp) at 6,000, 680 N⋅m (502 lb⋅ft) at 1,700 Flying Spur W12 S 2016-2019 5,998 cc (366.0 cu in) W12 twin turbo 635 PS (467 kW; 626 hp) at 6,000, 820 N⋅m (605 lb⋅ft) at 2,000 Petrol engines Model Years Types Flying Spur W12 2013-2019 ZF 8-speed automatic with Quickshift, Block Shifting and wheel-mounted paddle shifters Flying Spur V8 2014-2019 ZF 8-speed automatic with Quickshift, Block Shifting and wheel-mounted paddle shifters Flying Spur V8 S 2016-2019 ZF 8-speed automatic with Quickshift, Block Shifting and wheel-mounted paddle shifters Third generationOverviewProduction2019-presentDesignerStefan SielaffBody and chassisPlatformVolkswagen Group MSB platformRelatedBentley Continental GTPorsche Panamera (LWB)PowertrainEngineElectric motorPower outputTransmission8-speed Porsche PDKHybrid drivetrainPHEV (Flying Spur Hybrid, Ultra performance and high performance V8 PHEV)Battery14.1 kWh Lithium ionElectric range25 mi (40 km)DimensionsWheelbase3,194 mm (125.7 in)Length5,316 mm (209.3 in)Width1,987 mm (78.2 in)Height1,484 mm (58.4 in)Kerb weight2,437 kg (5,373 lb) (W12)2,330 kg (5,137 lb) (V8)ChronologyPredecessorBentley Mulsanne (indirect)
The third-generation Flying Spur was unveiled in June 2019.[16][17] The car has been completely overhauled and is built on a brand-new platform, resembling the current Continental GT. The front received a new grille with vertical slats, akin to those of Rolls-Royce era Bentleys, while the rear features new taillights that incorporate a B motif. The bonnet mascot is now illuminated at night, electrically deployable, and capable of meeting pedestrian impact requirements. The interior has an optional rotating 12.3 in (31.2 cm) display and an all-new touch screen remote that allows rear occupants to control several systems.
Rear-wheel steering is new and is accompanied by air springs with 60 percent more volume than its predecessor. The all-wheel-drive system is also new and uses an electronically controlled clutch pack. Compared to the second generation model, the new Flying Spur gets close to 130 mm additional wheelbase.
- Flying Spur First Edition (2019‒2020)
- Flying Spur (2019‒present)
- Flying Spur Azure (2022‒present)
- Flying Spur S (2022‒2024)
- Flying Spur Speed (2023‒present)
- Flying Spur Mulliner (2021‒present)
There are three powertrains available for the Flying Spur: a 6.0 L W12, a 4.0 L V8, and 2.9 L V6 plug-in hybrid, all of which have twin turbos. The W12 variant accelerates from 0-60 mph (0-97 km/h) in 3.7 seconds and reaches a maximum speed of 211 mph (340 km/h). It produces 626 horsepower (467 kW) and 664 pound-feet (900 N⋅m) of torque. It is available only on the Mulliner and the Speed Variants.
The V8 variant produces 549 hp (409 kW) and 568 lb⋅ft (770 N⋅m) of torque and accelerates from 0-62 mph in 4.1 seconds, with a top speed of 198 mph (319 km/h).[18] It is available on all trim levels except for the Speed and Odyssean edition.
The plug-in hybrid variant uses a 2.9 liter V6 engine combined with a 25.9 kilowatt-hour battery to deliver a claimed electric range of 40 kilometers (25 miles) and a 0-60 time of 4.1 seconds. With a combined power of 536 hp (400 kW) and a top speed of 177 mph (285 km/h), it is the slowest of the three powertrains.[19] It is available on all variants except for the Speed Variant.
The Flying Spur became the only Bentley sedan model after the production of the Mulsanne ended in the second quarter of 2020 without a direct successor.[20]
In March 2021, Bentley issued a recall for a single Flying Spur due to an improper welding process used on the fuel tank.[21]
Powertrains Model Drive type Engine(s) Max. Power Max. Torque Top Speed 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) Flying Spur All-wheel drive 4.0 L twin-turbo V8 2.9 L V6 (with electric motor) 399 kW (542 bhp) 394 kW (536 bhp) 770 N·m (568 ft·lb) 750 N·m (553 ft·lb) 319 km/h (198 mph) 285 km/h (177 mph) 4.0 seconds 4.1 seconds Flying Spur Azure Flying Spur S Flying Spur Speed All-wheel drive 6.0 L twin-turbo W12 *4.0 L twin-turbo V8 (with electric motor) 467 kW (626 bhp) *575 kW (771 bhp) 900 N·m (664 ft·lb). *n/a 333 km/h (207 mph) *n/a 3.7 seconds *n/a. Flying Spur Mulliner
The facelifted Flying Spur was unveiled in September 2024.[22]
On 29 July 2021, Bentley announced a special edition of the Flying Spur, as a celebration of the new Flying Spur Hybrid. Dubbed the Odyssean Edition, it features exterior trims and 21″ wheels both finished in Pale Brogar. The interior features open pore koa wood and piano linen console, tweed panels and a three-colour hide combination.[23]
Year Production 2005 4,271 2006[24] 4,042 2007 2,270 2008[25] 1,813 2009 1,358 2010[26] 1,914 2011 2,354 2012[27] 1,764 2013 3,960 2014[28] 4,556 2015 3,660 2016[29] 1,731 2017 2,295 2018[30] 1,627 2019 102 2020[31] 3,381 2021 3,947 2022[32] 4,226 2023[33] 3,178
- Bentley pages: Continental Flying Spur, Continental Flying Spur Speed, Flying Spur, Flying Spur W12 Mulliner
- BENTLEY Continental Flying Spur Speed – 2009 Test drive and review by Autoevolution.com
- Press kit: 2009 Continental Flying Spur/Continental Flying Spur Speed, Flying Spur, Bentley Flying Spur, Bentley