Bentley Flying Spur Speed
Words by Mark Slack
Many car makers have a history, some an illustrious history, but few can have been so thoroughly researched, and known to non-car people, than Bentley. Even those with the most-scant interest in things automotive have heard of the famous marque and its winged B emblem.
From its creation just after the First World War by the man himself, Walter Owen Bentley, who also worked as a designer for Aston Martin, Lagonda and Armstrong Siddeley, the marque has weathered many storms from its acquisition by the famed Wolf Barnato and then controversial takeover by Rolls-Royce in 1931 to its new-found place at the heart of the VW automotive empire.
It is now very much in vogue amongst well-heeled motorists with a penchant for luxury motoring. I’m sure it also helps that the King’s state limousine is a Bentley, originally gifted to Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
While its current range of Continental GT and GTC models may be the modern incarnations that would still attract the glamour of the Bentley Boys of the 1920s, it is the discreet style of the Flying Spur that captures the sheer luxury of these large saloons. With Bentley there really isn’t a true line of trim levels as you can, quite literally, pick whatever car you want and make your Bentley whatever your own taste and personal style.
It may surprise some that a traditional purveyor of powerful, multi-cylinder petrol fuelled delights now has hybrids throughout its line-up. All models in the range are offered with hybrid power units and my particular steed was the Flying Spur Speed. The colour scheme would not have been to everyone’s taste being Patina over Magnetic (gold over dark metallic) duotone as an optional extra at a not inconsiderable £24,990.
Power comes from a 4.0-litre, twin turbo V8 with a 140kw electric motor that delivers a total of 782PS. Enough to take this stately saloon to 62mph in just 3.5 seconds and thanks to hybrid power it can cover around 47 miles on pure electric power. As one might imagine, sink your right foot into the carpet and the result is a smooth but very noticeable surge as around 2.5 tons of Crewe’s finest automotive work heads for the horizon at pace. It all feels nicely controlled, which given the size and weight of the Flying Spur is quite a tribute to Bentley.
The sheer number of luxuries in the car would take the newspaper equivalent of war and peace to document, some unnecessary but very cool, some you wouldn’t have thought necessary until you get to use them. Priced at £244,100 this is quite a bargain in terms of its power, space and presence for a luxury car.
Words by Mark Slack
