For some, pulling up to a destination in a new luxury car is reward enough, but for a lucky few nothing short of an ultra-exclusive ride like the 2021 Bentley Flying Spur will do. From its twin-turbocharged V-12 engine to its opulent leather-and-wood-lined enclave of a cabin, the Flying Spur is built to both pamper its passengers and thrill its driver. Many buyers may choose to be chauffeured—and for good reason: the Spur's rear seat is a relaxing retreat. But for those who plan to drive themselves, this sportiest Bentley sedan offers eyebrow-raising athleticism, marked by surprisingly agile handling and outrageous straight-line speed. All of this prestige comes with a princely price tag, of course, one that soars as you customize it from the company's Mulliner catalog of bespoke options and packages.
Engine, Transmission, and Performance
For now, all Flying Spurs come with an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic, all-wheel drive, and Bentley's powerful twin-turbocharged 626-hp W-12 engine. A 542-hp V-8 engine will join the lineup later on. With the 12-cylinder under the hood, the Flying Spur never wants for power; in fact, it can it can show its taillights to many a top-tier sports car in a drag race. At our test track, it leapt to 60 mph in just 3.5 seconds. When we took the Flying Spur for a brief drive near Monaco, we found it to be a far more athletic driver than we anticipated. Credit for that agility must go to the sedan's adaptive suspension and rear-wheel-steering system. Back in our home state of Michigan, the Flying Spur repeated its performance from our earlier drive and provided a much needed respite from the cratered roads that plague the area near our editorial office.
Highlights:
▪ Flying Spur now available with Bentley V8 powertrain
▪ Customer research leads to increased driver focus, with decline in daily rear seat usage
▪ 4.0-litre, twin-turbocharged V8 petrol engine develops 542 bhp (550 PS) and 568 lb.ft (770 Nm) of torque
▪ 0-60 mph in 4.0 seconds (0-100 km/h in 4.1 seconds); top speed of 198 mph (318 km/h)
▪ Cylinder deactivation in 20 milliseconds, one tenth of a blink of an eye
▪ Grand Touring range of more than 400 miles*, and reduced CO2 emissions
▪ 100 kg lighter than the W12 model, with improved weight distribution and increased agility
▪ Quad exhaust finishers as standard and new optional 22” gloss black Mulliner Driving Specification wheel
▪ Produced at Bentley’s home in Crewe - the world’s first carbon neutral factory for luxury car production
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