Bentley Flying Spur (2013 – 2019) Review

Bentley Flying Spur (2013 – 2019) At A Glance

5/5
Honest John Overall Rating
There are not many cars that can hold a scented candle to the Bentley Continental Flying Spur for its luxury, style and performance.

+Big on presence, style, comfort, luxury and performance, so everything a Bentley should offer.

-The Flying Spur is not so big on space or adjustment for the driver.

Insurance Group 50

Launched in 2013, this second generation Flying Spur with a choice of 6.0-litre W12 or 4.0-litre V8 engines immediately delivered the classy, retrained drive that Bentley’s customers demand. While sharing much with the GT coupe, the Flying Spur is a true four- or five-seater depending on how it’s configured and is a car to be savoured from the back seat as much as from the driver’s chair. Running one isn’t cheap, but it rewards with supreme comfort.

Few brands hold the same eminence as Bentley. That famous winged badge has always been associated with opulence and performance - an image the brand continues to enjoy. Few manufacturers have such a rich heritage and very few brands make cars in the same way Bentley does.

The new Continental Flying Spur is unmistakably a Bentley, with large, round twin-headlights and purposeful yet understated styling. It’s got the power it needs to be a true Bentley, too – the 6.0-litre W12 produces 625PS and 800Nm of torque. That’s sufficient for a 200mph top speed and a 0-60mph sprint of 4.3 seconds.

All models have all-wheel drive and are fitted with a ZF eight-speed automatic transmission. Improvements have been made to fuel economy over the outgoing model, but don’t expect frugality – combined cycle economy is 19.2mpg and emissions are 343g/km.

The cabin is as sumptuous as you’d expect – there’s soft leather, seat heating and ventilation for all occupants and there’s lots of seat adjustment to maximise comfort. All of the wood veneer – almost ten square metres per car -  is hand crafted and seven variations are offered.

The Flying Spur is offered in four or five-seat form. The former features an extra storage area with a stowage case trimmed in veneer to match the interior of the car. There are electronically operated rear privacy blinds fitted as standard to both four- and five-seat models.

It’s not all traditional, though – there’s an eight-inch touch screen with sat nav, voice control and Bluetooth. Rear seat passengers can control the touch-screen with a remote, while hard workers can specify a Bentley Connectivity Unit, which adds 10-inch screens to the rear headrests and web-connectivity.

The Flying Spur really is a special car and one that's a pleasure to drive or be lucky enough to be driven in. With prices starting at £140,900 it is of course a very expensive luxury and it's easy to add much more onto that. The cars we were driving had £40k of options fitted. Sure there are plenty of less expensive limousine-like models out there, but nothing can hold a candle to the Bentley. It really is in a class of its own.