The Flying Spur has been out for more than a year so I thought the time is right to rigorously test it to see whether it fits the Bentley badge. The Flying Spur is to Bentley what the Ghost is to Rolls Royce. It is a cheaper and more practical (read: less flashy) alternative to the big Mulsanne. It is not just the car to be driven in – instead it can be driven as well. So let’s have a look at the 4 door version of the Continental GT.
Exterior
At first glance, there is no significant difference observed in the exterior as compared to the previous versions. The only difference instantly noticeable is the tail. From the side it completely looks like the older Audi A8 with a mix of Maserati Quattroporte which also launched around the same time in UAE. Like all Bentleys, this model comes with bespoke paintjob as per the customer’s requirement. However, bespoke paint will obviously take longer to deliver than the available stock colors. Also, Bentley spoils the customer’s choice with an array of alloy options.
Interior
Bentley delivers luxury, no question about it. It is meant for a person who wants no compromise and is ready to pay for whatever he or she wants their car to be. Like the exterior, the interior color is bespoke as per customer’s demand or they can select from the preset colors. It’s a mix of leather and wood everywhere. You know it screams luxury and refinement the moment you sit in the car and look at the plush interior. There is also the Mulliner trim option for those who want to stand out from the rest.
The one thing I felt could be improved was the noise cancellation. For a car which costs almost a million Dirhams, I was expecting less or no road/wind noise. Thankfully, the engine is quiet and makes for a relatively quieter cabin experience.
It is a Bentley so expect oodles of space for both front and second row – especially second row. The rear seats feel like sitting in a business class of a plane considering the leg space provided. The boot as well is big enough to hold all your travelling needs with ease.
As for the visibility, the lack of blind spot detection does come as a surprise but thankfully all the windows are well designed to have a pretty good view of your surroundings. All in all, no complains.
Coming to the features, you have all the usual suspects, massage seats, seat coolers, hi definition touch screen etc. but we all know that since it's expected from Bentley and anything less just won’t do.
Drive
The 6.0 litre W12 engine delivering 616 BHP and 800 Nm torque mated to an 8-speed automatic powers this 3 ton monster. The thing I liked most about the drive was the unlimited torque available at any speed without any delay. You don’t need to floor the gas pedal to get the Spur to go fast. In fact, while I was driving, I did not even push the RPM above 4000 as I was mesmerized by the way it accelerates. I finally got a chance to floor it on one long stretch of road and it instantly brought a smile on my face. The Flying Spur accelerates from 0-100 in 4.6s though I could only manage in no less than 6.0s. For those of you intrigued by its fuel consumption, well, it is on the heavier side. During the test run, the Bentley consumed 18.7 liters of fuel in every 100 km. But, that was expected given the engine size as well as the girth of this beast.
The seamless power was accompanied by fantastic brakes and suspension. Result? This Spur wants to be driven – especially when the road starts bending. On the roads, where speed limit is advised to be around 40 kph on the bends, this car was going easily above 100 kph without any hassle. This is amazing, especially if you consider how heavy this car is. Moreover, the brakes work astonishingly well. This behemoth halts from 100 to a standstill in 2.8 seconds – that’s sports car territory. Kudos!
Verdict
Flying Spur is what it is - a luxurious driver's car.
