German Car Zone

LuxuryCarCanada - 2009 Bentley Continental Flying Spur/Speed



Boston, Massachusetts - In this time of mercurial fuel prices, global warming and widespread eco-awareness, one would think a 600-hp twin-turbo twelve-cylinder luxo-behemoth would have all the marketability of a home vasectomy kit.

One would be wrong.

Bentley builds around 10,000 cars per annum, and last year the all-wheel-drive Flying Spur sedan accounted for roughly a quarter of those. Since its 2005 launch, Bentley has moved 10,000 of these ultra-luxury saloons. While the US market (Bentley's largest) is showing a dip, emerging markets like Russia, China and the Middle East are hungry for Bentley's brand of exclusive British luxury.

For 2009, this iconic British marque (which was bought by Volkswagen in 1998) wants to broaden the Flying Spur's appeal by offering two distinct takes on the same car – the 552 hp Flying Spur ($189,990 in Canada) and the new 600 hp Flying Spur Speed ($216,990). The former is a more refined and slightly softer version of last year's Flying Spur, while the Speed incorporates all the go-fast essentials of the Continental GT Speed.
Both cars get a more upright front grill, larger air intakes and a sleeker rear bumper. They will be arriving in the fall.





Wafting away from the Boston Harbor Hotel in the "base" model, it was clearly evident that the essence of Bentley is wholly intact here. As if by magic, the throng of proletariat conveyances parted like the Red Sea as we motored forth.

The Flying Spur's interior may have all the conveniences expected of a modern vehicle at this lofty price point, but its Olde Worlde ambience speaks of the hours of handcrafting that has gone into the leather and fine woodwork. I couldn't keep my hands off the old style chrome organ pulls that operate the HVAC vents.

Personalization is a big part of the Bentley equation, and the possible combinations of leather colors, piping, stitching, back seat configuration, aluminum trim, chrome and wood inlays and wood type are endless. One UK customer recently said he had the Bentley lads up to his estate to harvest a maple for his interior. There were several cars at this press launch, and every interior was completely different and stunning in its own right.



With the 2009 Flying Spur, Bentley has vigorously pursued a quieter cabin by fitting the rear and side windows with triple-paned acoustic glass and adding a hi-tech acoustic insulation to the floor and wheels wells. The sound of the exhaust has also been reduced. Bentley claims a 70% reduction in outside noise entering the cabin. I don't doubt them. On the "dual carriageway", the Flying Spur is quieter than a Scottish pay-toilet.

The suspension has also been softened slightly in the Flying Spur to further separate it from the more aggressive Speed. It truly does provide a magic carpet ride, yet body control is surprisingly good. Hustling this 552-hp, two and a half tonne (2475 kg) sedan over the winding New England test route was certainly no chore.



Every self-respecting high-end car company is in bed with a high-end audio manufacturer these days, and Bentley is now partnered with Naim, a British maker of hi-fi systems that audio geeks mortgage their granny's homes for. Naim spent two years developing an 1100-watt, 15-speaker system for the Flying Spur and it is hands-down the most spectacular audio I have ever heard in a car. Naim's philosophy is clarity, separation and accurate reproduction of music without artificial colouring or gimmicky EQ settings. By time-delaying the speakers, they can optimize the sound for the back seat, the entire cabin, or just the driver. If I were buying this car, I would gladly plunk down the $7,550 for the privilege of this audio experience.

Step into the Speed model, and its more driver-oriented bent is immediately apparent. The three-spoke sports steering wheel is connected to a sharper rack, there's more urge from under the bonnet, and minor signals from the road surface that we're all but filtered out of the base car make their way to your butt and hands. Ah, so there is a road down there somewhere.



The Speed's visual cues are subtle: 20-inch multi-spoked alloys, dark-tinted chrome mesh in the grill and intakes, and wider "rifled" exhaust tips.

Bentley has liberated an extra 48 ponies and 74 lb.-ft of torque (553 lb.-ft. from 1750 r.p.m.) from the VW-sourced twin-turbo 6.0-litre W12 engine by massaging the internals, improving intake flow and increasing turbo boost pressure. When the six-speed ZF transmission is in sport mode, the exhaust opens, blessing the unwashed with a good rumble, and for those in the cabin, a basso profundo wuffle on overrun that sounds like distant thunder.

Fuel economy... er, consumption (city 23.3 L/100 km, hwy 11.6, as tested 16.5) is the same for both models and sees a slight improvement over last year's Spur.



To help the Speed feel lighter on its feet, the ride-height has been lowered by 10 mm, larger sway bars fitted, and the damper and spring rates have increased. Additionally, the front sub frame is directly mounted to the vehicle without the rubber bushing of the base car.

All the Speed testers were fitting with $18,330 optional carbon ceramic brakes and $3,350 ACC (Advanced Cruise Control). The brakes apparently work just fine, as we just about rear-ended a couple of Yank journos who conducted a brake test without checking their rearview mirror.

Bentley commissioned Pirelli to develop bespoke 275/35 P Zero Rosso tires that would allow the Speed to reach its 322 km/h (200 mph) terminal velocity. If you're looking for the world's fastest four-door sedan, the 2009 Bentley Continental Flying Spur Speed is she.

Bentley expects the standard car to account for 60% of Flying Spur sales. If I were in the market, that would be my choice as I preferred the full-on cosseting experience of the base car. And if you're asking, 552 horsepower seemed perfectly adequate, thank you.

Sure, strafing onramps and defying the laws of physics in the 600-hp Speed was a fascinating exercise, but it almost seemed incongruous in a Bentley saloon.

Nonetheless, there are those for whom only the baddest, boldest Bentley will do.


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The grey one is absolutely stunning!!

They've got to change those awful side mirrors!

The whole car is awful. Looks like a gunboat or freight train.

M

^ Oh Marcus, I do believe that was slightly less vitriolic than usual ...you're obviously warming to it.

NOT! I'm just tired of saying its so ugly!

M

Why are you lying??? You just sent me a PM saying how you changed your mind, but you're afraid to tell that in public...

Lemme quote you:

Hilarious....!!!

I'm chuckling. Funny thing is for a second I was actually trying to remember if I'd wrote that!! Its late.

M

I love Friday, i'm always in a good mood...