Claimed to be the fastest and most powerful sedan Bentley has ever conceived, the 2014 Flying Spur, which will receive its global debut next month at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show , is an all-new recasting of the automaker’s junior sedan that takes this hand-crafted luxury liner to an entirely new level of style, accommodation and performance.
To make sure it comes through on that bold statement, the 2014 Flying Spur is powered by the same twin-turbocharged 6.0-liter W12 engine used in the Continental GT Speed. In the Flying Spur, this 12-cylinder engine produces 616 horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque, and it sends that power to the ground through a new eight-speed automatic transmission and a rear-biased (40/60) all-wheel-drive system. Launching the 5,451-pound sedan from 0-60 miles per hour will take just 4.3 seconds and 100 mph comes in less than 10 seconds; overall top speed is rated at 200 mph. Even with all that power and mass, Bentley is still expecting the next-generation Flying Spur to return better EPA fuel economy than the current model with projected (but not certified) estimates of 12 miles per gallon in the city and 20 mpg on the highway.
Befitting of its more powerful engine, the Flying Spur also gets a more athletic appearance with a more upright face, arched front and rear fenders and horizontal taillights that better distinguish it from the Continental GT. The new roofline also gives the car a sportier shape and the side windows add a more contemporary look, but this car is almost identical in size to the current model including the massive rear overhang, which helps accommodate 16.8 cubic feet of cargo.
For a car that will surely retain a starting price of just under $300,000 for the base model, there will be no shortage of luxury or technology inside the Flying Spur. The Flying Spur is offered with either seating for five or a four-passenger layout with a full-length center console. Front occupants are treated to the same interior found on the Continental including the dual brow instrument panel, the sporty, three-spoke steering wheel and the large touchscreen display.
There’s also a new Multi-Media Specification, which equips the back of each front seat with a 10-inch LCD screen and DVD player, USB, SD, and HDMI ports, plus headphone jacks. Backing up both screens is the Bentley Connectivity Unit, which features a built-in Wi-Fi hotspot and 64 gigabytes of storage.
An even-richer Mulliner Specification is again available and brings five additional color choices for the leather upholstery and five additional wood veneer choices. The seats and door panels are diamond quilted, and the headrests get embroidered Bentley wing logos. Aluminum pedals, a sports gear lever, a unique fuel filler cap, and two-piece 21-inch aluminum wheels round out the Mulliner details.
