Bentleys built for comfort - and speed
PETER BLEAKNEY FOR THE TORONTO STAR
The Flying Spur Speed adds another 48 hp to the 552 hp of the regular Spur, making it the world’s fastest four-door sedan with a top speed of 322 km/h.
Boston–In this time of soaring fuel prices, global warming and widespread eco-awareness, one would think a 600 hp twin-turbo 12-cylinder luxo-behemoth would have all the marketability of a home vasectomy kit.
One would be wrong.
Bentley builds about 10,000 cars per annum, and last year, the all-wheel-drive Flying Spur sedan accounted for roughly a quarter of those. Since its 2005 launch, Bentley has moved 10,000 of these ultra-luxury saloons. While the U.S. market (Bentley's largest) is showing a dip, emerging markets such as Russia, China and the Middle East are hungry for Bentley's brand of exclusive British luxury.
For 2009, this iconic marque (bought by VW in 1998) wants to broaden the Flying Spur's appeal by offering two distinct takes on the same car: the 552 hp Flying Spur ($189,990 in Canada) and the new 600 hp Flying Spur Speed ($216,990).
The former is a more refined and slightly softer version of the last year's Flying Spur, while the Speed incorporates all the go-fast essentials of the Continental GT Speed.
Both cars get a more upright front grille, larger air intakes and a sleeker rear bumper.
They will be arriving in the fall.
Wafting away from the Boston Harbor Hotel in the "base" model, it was clearly evident that the essence of Bentley is wholly intact here. As if by magic, the throng of proletariat conveyences parted like the Red Sea as we motored forth.
The Flying Spur's interior may have all the conveniences expected of a modern vehicle at this lofty price point, but its Olde Worlde ambience speaks of the handcrafted leather and fine woodwork. I couldn't keep my hands off the old style chrome organ stops that operate the HVAC vents.
Personalization is a big part of the Bentley equation, and the possible combinations of leather colours, piping, stitching, back seat configuration, aluminum trim, chrome and wood inlays and wood type are endless. One U.K. customer recently had the Bentley folks to his estate to harvest a maple for his interior.
There were several cars at this press launch, and every interior was completely different and stunning in its own right.
With the 2009 Flying Spur, Bentley has vigorously pursued a quieter cabin by fitting the rear and side windows with triple-paned acoustic glass and adding a high-tech acoustic insulation to the floor and wheel wells. Bentley claims a 70 per cent reduction in outside noise entering the cabin. I don't doubt them. On the "dual carriageway," the Flying Spur is quieter than a Scottish pay toilet.
The suspension has also been softened slightly in the Flying Spur to separate it from the more aggressive Speed. It truly does provide a magic carpet ride, yet body control is surprisingly good. Hustling this 552 hp, 2 1/2 tonne (2,475 kg) sedan over the winding New England test route was certainly no chore.
Every self-respecting high-end car company is in bed with a high-end audio manufacturer these days, and Bentley is now partnered with Naim, a British maker of hi-fi systems that audio geeks mortgage their granny's homes for.
Naim spent two years developing an 1,100-watt, 15-speaker system for the Flying Spur and it is hands-down the most spectacular audio I have ever heard in a car. By time-delaying the speakers, they can optimize the sound from the $7,550 system for the back seat, the entire cabin, or just the driver.
Step into the Speed model, and its more driver-oriented bent is immediately apparent. The three-spoke sports steering wheel is connected to a sharper rack, there's more urge from under the bonnet and minor signals from the road surface, that were all but filtered out of the base car, make their way to your butt and hands.
The Speed's visual cues are subtle: 20-inch multi-spoked alloys, dark-tinted chrome mesh in the grille and intakes, and wider "rifled" exhaust tips.
Bentley has liberated an extra 48 ponies and 74 lb.-ft. of torque (553 lb.-ft. from 1750 rpm) from the VW-sourced twin-turbo 6.0 L W12 engine by massaging the internals, improving intake flow and increasing turbo boost pressure.
When the six-speed ZF transmission is in sport mode, the exhaust opens, blessing the unwashed with a good rumble, and for those in the cabin, a basso profundo wuffle that sounds like distant thunder.
Fuel economy, er, consumption is the same for both models and is slightly better than last year's Spur.
To help the Speed feel lighter on its feet, the ride-height has been lowered by 10 mm, larger sway bars fitted, and the damper and spring rates have increased. Additionally, the front subframe is directly mounted to the vehicle without the rubber bushing of the base car.
All the Speed testers were fitted with $18,330 optional carbon ceramic brakes and $3,350 ACC (Advanced Cruise Control).
Bentley commissioned Pirelli to develop bespoke 275/35 P Zero Rosso tires that would allow the Speed to reach its 322 km/h terminal velocity. If you're looking for the world's fastest four-door sedan, the 2009 Bentley Continental Flying Spur Speed is she.
Bentley expects the standard car to account for 60 per cent of Flying Spur sales. If I were in the market, that would be my choice as I preferred the full-on cosseting experience of the base car. While strafing onramps and defying the laws of physics in the Speed is a fascinating exercise, it almost seems incongruous in a Bentley saloon.
Nonetheless, there are those for whom only the baddest, boldest Bentley will do.
Travel was provided to freelance writer Peter Bleakney by the automaker pebleakney@sympatico.ca
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