Bentley to release Continential Flying Spur Speed at British Int'l Motor Show
Click above for a high-res gallery.
Big, blocky, heavy, low – whatever. The one and only phrase you need to remember is "hellaciously fast." Bentley's Continental Flying Spur Speed, officially announced in June, is pretty much what it'd be like to strap an EMD powertrain from a freight locomotive into a car, without all the noise and industrial fumes. Set off by subtle cues, the Flying Spur Speed turns the burner up on the already hot Flying Spur, boosting horsepower out of the twelve cylinder powerplant to an even 600 hp from 552 hp. It's enough to hurtle this elegant block of English-cum-Germanic automobile to 60 mph in 4.5 seconds, and filthy automotive types will be able to crawl all over this fine automobile at the British International Motor Show. In a mere 15 days, the special brightwork, rifled exhaust tips, and smooth as glass paint will be littered with fingerprints once the show opens to the public July 23rd at the ExCel London. Pardon us while we scour the intertubes for cheap airfare. Press release after the jump.
[Source: Bentley]
PRESS RELEASE
2009 CONTINENTAL FLYING SPUR AND CONTINENTAL FLYING SPUR SPEED TO MAKE DEBUTS AT BRITISH INTERNATIONAL MOTOR SHOW
Crewe. 8 July 2008 The 2009 Bentley Continental Flying Spur and Continental Flying Spur Speed will make their official international motor show debuts at ExCel (London) later this month.
"We are delighted that the next chapter of the Flying Spur success story will begin in our home market and at the British International Motor Show, notably as our British customers have played a key part in making this Bentley the most sought-after 12-cylinder luxury saloon in the world," comments Stuart McCullough, Member of the Board for Sales and Marketing.
With its combination of exhilarating performance, luxury, craftsmanship and four-door practicality the 12-cylinder Continental Flying Spur has been at the forefront of Bentley's revitalisation since its launch in 2005 and the range is now refined and expanded with two highly distinctive models.
The instantly recognisable style of the Flying Spur undergoes a subtle evolution with changes to the front and rear design. The new, more upright grille and bolder lower air intake accentuate the distinctive Bentley profile, while a new rear bumper delivers a sleeker and more aggressive appearance.
The 552bhp Continental Flying Spur offers enhanced levels of comfort and choice. A comprehensive range of noise-absorbent measures including acoustic glazing ensure that cabin refinement, already a hallmark of the Continental Flying Spur, is best in class.
Bentley's famous commitment to the highest quality of craftsmanship and customer personalisation is highlighted with an enhanced choice of beautifully crafted marquetry and chrome inlays. In addition, seat piping, a traditional Bentley feature, has also been introduced with two new hide colours.
Joining the Continental Flying Spur in London is the 600bhp Flying Spur Speed which unleashes the potent performance and intense levels of driver engagement of its highly acclaimed stablemate, the Continental GT Speed.
Inspired by Bentley's legendary 'Speed' models that first appeared in 1923, the Flying Spur Speed offers a range of headline performance figures including a 0-60mph sprint time of 4.5 seconds and a top speed of 200mph.
The Flying Spur Speed is distinguished by unique design cues which underline its performance credentials, including dark-tinted radiator and air intake grilles, wider rifled exhaust tail pipes and unique 20-inch multi-spoke alloys.
Both Continental Flying Spur models can now be specified with Bentley Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC). The ACC uses a long-range radar sensor, mounted in the lower front grille, to monitor the road ahead for other vehicles. When a slower moving vehicle is detected, the system automatically adjusts braking and acceleration to maintain a 'time gap', as selected by the driver.
The 'time gap' also controls the vehicle dynamic response. The larger the time gap the more relaxed the acceleration and braking, allowing the driver to tune the ACC system to suit their preferred driving style or to the prevailing traffic conditions.
Bentley Motors will also highlight its unique partnership with the renowned British hi-fi manufacturer, Naim. Designed exclusively for Bentley and available as a further option for both the Continental Flying Spur and Flying Spur Speed, the Naim system features an 1100 Watt amplifier (the most powerful in a production car) and 15 custom-built speakers. A next-generation Digital Signal Processor further enhances the listening experience. The Naim system will also be available on all Bentley models from August 2008 onward
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
S S 5:12PM (7/08/2008)
I know this may be ... off subject a little... but does anyone know where the photos were taken ? ... the first 3.
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Torrent 5:16PM (7/08/2008)
After seeing the CTS-V, why get this? The CTS-V has edgier styling, a smaller price tag and 4 less cylinders that work just as hard. the 0-60 times are close, too.
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JR 5:27PM (7/08/2008)
If you are interested in this car, you wouldn't buy the CTS...different worlds. I see a Flying Spur going to work, it's nice, but I would still take a Quattroporte. If only someone else would pay for it.
HotRodzNKustoms 7:03PM (7/08/2008)
Hard to cross shop a $200k car with a $70k car. For the price of this Bentley you could have a CTS-V, a ZR1, and a Saturn Sky Redline and probably still have some change left for Starbucks.
Torrent 8:20PM (7/08/2008)
I'm talking speed-wise, HotRodzNKustoms.
User 9:13PM (7/08/2008)
You must have never seen the Flying Spur. It's much larger and much more elegant than the CTS-V. It's also a Bentley. (The Bentley part is probably the largest reason why anyone is buying this car. The second reason: To tell your buddies that it goes 0-60 in 4.5 seconds. The third reason: To tell them that it costs more than their house.)
Alex 9:23PM (7/08/2008)
Because your living room can't fit in the CTS-V at those speeds. Luxury saloons are just a different world my man ;)
As far as the Maserati, the Quattroporte was ok, its nice inside but very dated electronically, its not as big as any of the German cars, and its just not as fast. Yea its fun to drive around, but after a heated debate I settled for a Benz over a Maserati. Personally, I like the styling of the FS much more too. Going to test drive the "regular" Flying Spur this weekend, am very interested to see how this car rides!
baffledu2 5:26PM (7/08/2008)
Amazing .... from a front perspective the front fender and side of the Bentley look just like a Mercury Sable. Different headlight treatment and grill but the side is very similar.
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jamie 5:39PM (7/08/2008)
This is the type of automobile that could save Lincoln from extinction. Don't hold your breath though.
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baffledu2 5:59PM (7/08/2008)
If Lincoln (or caddy) built a car like this and put the same price tag on it they would sell about the same number as Bently .... maybe 25
Geeky1 5:52PM (7/08/2008)
If Bentley's 4.5s-to-60 claim is accurate, it still can't touch the S600, let alone the S65. It's just a pity Mercedes refuses to remove the 155mph limiter on their cars, as I suspect both the 600 and the 65 would easily top 200MPH. And neither one of them is built on a Volkswagen Phaeton chassis and drivetrain. The Arnage is a beautiful car... this thing is a VW with a Bentley badge and a nice interior.
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The Doctor 6:35PM (7/08/2008)
The reason the Bentley doesn't need a limiter is that the Phaeton was designed to go at 186mph all day and the S-Class wasn't.
HotRodzNKustoms 7:06PM (7/08/2008)
As much as I hated the Phaeton, you cannot bash it's chassis. It is of of the finest sedan chassis in the world.
Garibaldi 7:07PM (7/08/2008)
Nissan did a GREAT job redesigning the '98 Maxima! It'll probably be more expensive, though. If it were $30k, I'd jump on it in a heartbeat. I betcha it's super reliable, too. I bet you could score lots of babes...
Italian Revolutionary
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User 9:17PM (7/08/2008)
Pictures don't do this car justice. I see these often and they are stunning.
Garibaldi 6:31PM (7/09/2008)
User:
Of course you're correct. I was being glib. Here in Maine we don't see too many Bentleys. One day while driving the Maine Turnpike, I saw someone coming up in the left lane at a monstrous rate. I thought it was a LEO in an incredible hurry. Problem was, it was the wrong color. In about two seconds, a Bentley went by at about a buck twenty. Some guy about 75 driving it. With diplomatic plates. Not too shabby.
Italian Revolutionary
Ferfinand 10:15PM (7/08/2008)
This car is too heavy, a reskinned VW Phatheneon. A Lexus LS460 is far superiorly engineered vehicle.
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Xcountryflyer 12:11AM (7/09/2008)
Not my choice, but its all about image and prestige. I really dislike how this car is so expensive and they use parts that have the same shape as the VW parts. For that much money, there shouldn't be anything that looks like it came out of Passat, i.e. AT design.
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tubular_smells 5:54AM (7/09/2008)
All this nonsense about the Phaeton is absurd - nobody complains that VW makes the the Veyron (or that Fiat own Ferrari, or that the Gallardo is an Audi, for that matter) - but stick their own badge on a car and everyone slates it. Whatever. I like these Bentleys, if I decided to go into the cocaine or diamond industry, I'd definetely be interested. Oh - like Geeky said, other cars have limiters so that they don't need 200 mph tyres, 200 mph brakes, 200 mph suspension - you get the point. It's to save money, not to make them safer.
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the vegas style guy 1:48PM (7/22/2008)
I live in one of those million dollar tract house areas (Don't hate, I live in an apt), I see these all the time. They are BORING! Everyday I see Lambos, Bentley coupes and convts, Quattroportes and GTs andfor some reason even the maids seem to have Aston Vantages and this is the most boring of all the cars I see regularly. I'm a total car nut so my 'hood is like a car zoo for me and after seeing a De Tomaso Mangusta! the other day, well, grandma Bentley just aint it.
Btw, I don't think performance is even an issue with Bentleys. All I ever see driving them are second wives. Strangely, same with the Ferraris and Lambos in the area.
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