Bentley Flying Spur 2013 Review

Fast four-door saloons aren't exactly rare. But monumentally fast four-doors capable of out-accelerating a Porsche 911, without threatening world oil reserves despite weighing as much as a full-size off-road vehicle, aren't common either.

Bentley's Flying Spur saloon (or sedan in Oz-speak) was never slow, but the latest iteration of this stretched four-door version of the Continental GT has, in terms of bulk and speed, more in common with a 300km/h bullet train than a run-of-the-mill passenger car.

It occupies more road space than just about any other sedan short of a Rolls-Royce Phantom, yet accelerates into the distance with a distinctively serene haughtiness that would shame many a lightweight sports coupe

The Flying Spur transports driver and passengers not just in a physical sense; it takes them into a different realm of driving experiences. With all four wheels playing a part in sling-shotting 2.5 tonnes of hand-crafted metal, aluminium and polymer composite forward courtesy of a 6.0-litre W12 engine that would seem perfectly at home in a WWII fighter plane, it recalls the sheer bulk, power and audacity of early Bentleys.

But while these super-fast behemoths from the early 1900s were described with a mixture of contempt and respect by competitors at the time as the “world's fastest trucks”, modern-era cars like the Flying Spur mix it with the best in terms of technological refinement.

The Volkswagen-owned British brand doesn’t appear to have lost any of its identity as a result of its 'continental' connection. The Flying Spur has an unmistakable British opulence in terms of on-road presence, interior fittings and passenger comfort – although, as is common with luxury marques, the options list is rich in more ways than one.

For example, if you specify the Flying Spur's alternative 21-inch wheel “Mulliner Pack” that includes embossed leather seats with soft ruffle inserts, wood grain shift lever, sports pedals and a polished fuel filler cap, you’ll be adding $32,642 to the base price of $423,160.

Not so much maybe in percentage terms, but still the price of a Highline Golf 103 TSI! If you want the best in braking, a set of composite ceramic discs will set you back a cool $28,642.

And unlike our loan car, which lacked them, it's unlikely any Flying Spur buyer would fail to specify adaptive cruise control ($5631) or a reversing camera ($2508). It came as something of a surprise these simply are not included in the regular equipment list, but then again we’re talking here about a rarefied market segment where what you get for your money is less relevant than what your money will get for you.

Seen in the context that it represents the pinnacle of auto aspirations, the Flying Spur is far from a disappointment.

From the super-hushed, double-glazed interior to the carefully considered throttle modulation ensuring that, despite the prodigious power, you always accelerate off the line smoothly rather than abruptly, the experience is almost otherworldly.

Given free reign, the 460kW/800Nm W12 exerts massive force, relentlessly hammering away and throwing all 2475kg froward to compress distances and bring the horizon closer and more rapidly than you would normally expect. It's the classic iron fist in a velvet glove.

In fact the Bentley is so quiet and the speed so unobtrusive that the car's pace is not telegraphed in the normal way. Until you acclimatise, corners often tend to come up with unexpected abruptness.

To borrow a term from Rolls-Royce, the Flying Spur “wafts” like few other cars. Apart than feeling the odd impact from the big 19-inch wheel/tyre combination, the suspension makes the best of the low unsprung mass ratio and the long 3.065-metre wheelbase to glide beautifully where lesser cars tend to pitch, bump and roll.

It’s irrelevant in Australia, but the suspension also drops ride height at 200km/h and above to improve stability and aerodynamics.

The new eight-speed ZF automatic (shift paddles are an option) is about as seamless as they come and plays a part not just in the 4.6-second zero to 100km/h performance, but also in the 14.7L/100km fuel economy (we actually recorded 10.3L/100km on test, mainly covering country roads and freeways).

The big car steers confidently, even with a touch of lightness, and the standard 19-inch wheels with their  275/45 ZR19 tyres combine quietness and bump absorption to maximise the ride comfort.

There's never any doubt the Flying Spur is a very big, very heavy car but, even without calling in  assistance from the variable-damping system, it can actually be pushed through corners with confidence. Same with the brakes.

The all-ventilated discs might not be the premium ceramic system, but they’re clearly up to the job with a well modulated pedal and steady, powerful retardation.

All the while, passengers are sublime in the massive interior with its deeply-cushioned seats and British leather and wood ambience. The powered window shades are not exactly a rare thing these days, nor are the soft-close assisted doors, but they still add to the Bentley experience.

And the quite extensive re-style changes things more than a first glance might indicate. It brings a cleaner, smoother and more contemporary look that tends to hide the car’s bulk a little more than the slightly fussier lines of the previous model.

That said, the engine bay was a disappointment. Knowing what is lurking within, it’s a pity everything is hidden behind the usual plastic shrouds. All the exquisite mechanicals remain a mystery to whoever might be desirous of a casual look.

None of that’s likely to bother Flying Spur owners. The main thing is the famous badge is well justified by a car that never forgets for a moment its place on the world stage.

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