German Car Zone

Great gets better: The Speed is not your average Flying Spur


It doesn't sound like much, but 48 hp is enough to get the $198,500 2009 Bentley Continental Flying Spur Speed past the velvet rope that separates 600-hp production cars from the rabble.

The standard twin-turbo W12-powered Continental Flying Spur gets only 552 hp, but what do you want for only $174,100? Rather than extra displacement or higher-pressure turbos, the Speed gets the extra horsepower from a number of small refinements, such as lower internal friction. The Speed variant also has a cross tube connecting the twin exhausts, which produces a terrific bass-note burble when you lift off the gas.

Besides the extra power, the Continental Flying Spur Speed is also lowered 10 milli-meters. That's surprisingly noticeable to the naked eye, and, along with a darker grille, it gives the Speed a more menacing look. The steering and suspension are also retuned slightly for sharper response.

There's no mistaking the big Flying Spur for its corporate cousins from Lamborghini, though the two brands share the same W12 engine block and wiring, along with Audi and Volkswagen. The Bentley is no slug, even on rough, twisty roads. Passing is a breeze at any speed. And it feels sportier than rival Rolls-Royce, whose ambition, after all, is to waft the driver--or, more likely, the back-seat passenger--from Point A to Point B.

Like a Rolls, both Flying Spurs are scary-quiet inside, thanks to a host of measures to reduce noise, vibration and harshness, notably a triple-layer aerodynamic underbody, noise-insulated wheel wells and laminated glass.

The posh wood-and-leather interior also lives up to one's highest expectations. In the rear seat, the wooden tray tables have their own lighted vanity mirrors, and the right rear-seat passenger has a control that can move the front passenger's seat to create more legroom.

Even at 100 mph, the Flying Spur is a suitably hushed concert hall for an optional $6,900 sound system from British maker Naim. It's new for 2009. The 1100-watt system will turn itself down if you crank it up past ear-bleed volume-but that's to save the speakers, not your eardrums, the Naim guy said with a grin.

The standard Flying Spur had its U.S. debut in 2005. It gets a (very) mild exterior facelift for 2009, plus a new, optional radar-based adaptive-cruise-control system that can slow or even stop the car if it determines that a collision is imminent.

The Bentley Continental GT Coupe has the same model setup, a standard car and a Continental GT Coupe Speed.

The Continental Flying Spur Speed is an all-new variant. Both 2009 Flying Spurs go on sale in the United States in October. Over time, Bentley thinks U.S. customers will order about 45 percent Flying Spur Speed versions. In expectation of early adopters, the first U.S. shipments will be almost entirely Speeds.



SPECS
ON SALE: October
BASE PRICE: $198,500
DRIVETRAIN: 6.0-liter, 600-hp, 553-lb-ft, twin turbo W12; awd, six-speed automatic
CURB WEIGHT: 5456 lb
0-60 MPH: 4.5 sec (mfr)
FUEL ECONOMY (EPA): 12 mpg



DRIVES: 2009 Bentley Continental Flying Spur Speed - AutoWeek Magazine


M

Still love this car - would prefer it over a S 600 or A8 W12 everyday. Well, Mercedes, BMW or Audi build the better car - but this one has its special charme. Perfect for me…

Same here It's more special than a A8 or S-class because it's a Bentley and has that handsomeness and charm which the A6 and S-class don't have

^ LOL! i'm gonna disagree badly here

S,7,A8 V12 models anyday over that phaeton-Bentely

yeah I know - what I can remember Vroom_Vroom and I are the only ones, who really like the Flying Spur and would prefer it over one of the germans.

^ You two are just not normal

The level of hatred for this car is irrational.

As far as luxury cars go, it almost has no direct competitors.
As a large performance saloon/sedan, only the the S65 can top it.

Let's give credit where it is due. It may not be the prettiest car of all time, but it is beautifully made and seriously fast.

Yes, many people don't like this car because of its looks. I am also ambivalent about its looks.

But I like it because of its outstanding engineering and quality. Some of the VW parts in the interior have upset some people.

The car is a bit on the heavy side. Just imagine what it would be like if it were 200kg lighter!

No Rob,again the S65 is even more tech advanced and have some luxury feature that is not available in CGT,we had a discussion about this a while back and everything were listed but can't remember where and when.

^ yeah yeah ....but that is a matter of how one defines luxury