Autoblog

2014 Bentley Flying Spur

Seyth Miersma — Tue, 21 May 2013 11:57:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Bentley, First Drives, Luxury

Redefining Super Luxury On A Shrinking Planet

Anyone on Earth with access to the Internet, a television or radio for the last 20 years knows that China is no longer the poor stronghold for strict Communist ideals that it was for much of the 20th Century. (Well, at least not in some places.) Traveling to China twice in less than a month - first to Shanghai for a very international auto show and now to Beijing to drive and review the 2014 Bentley Flying Spur - I've learned that there's no lack of personal wealth, at least in two of the world's largest cities.

And yet, even I think the scene before me is a little bit ridiculous. Here I am, slowly climbing up a hillside to reach a fortification at something called Zhuanduo Pass, where roughly a dozen pristine examples of Western decadence sit idling their hand-built 12-cylinder engines in the shadow of China's revered and awesome Great Wall. Not five kilometers south of here, I'd passed an old man in traditional all-black garb, literally carrying a bundle of sticks on his back from one side of a village to the other. Now as I look through the snug-fitting and silent side glass of my $200,000+ palace on wheels, I'm more apt to see fat German tourists crisping in the hot Chinese sun while blowing the equivalent of an average Chinese monthly paycheck on lunch and a few Great Wall souvenirs.

Of course, it's nothing like the average Chinese person that Bentley is targeting with this new Flying Spur. There is a rapidly ballooning class of rich and super rich in the People's Republic these days; China can now lay claim to around 100 billionaires (in US dollars), as well as some 60,000+ individuals worth more than $16 million and, famously, now more than 1 million millionaires. Considering that Bentley had a booming year in 2012 by selling 8,510 vehicles, the importance of what is quickly becoming the world's biggest luxury car market is easy to see.

And that's why, despite the cost of hauling me from Ann Arbor to Beijing and back, and despite the cognitive dissonance of driving a $200,000+ car through villages whose buildings are probably worth less in total, Bentley jumped through a whole lot of hoops to pull off what it says is the first-ever global vehicle launch in China. I've got to tell you, if this is what being a trailblazer feels like, I could get used to it.

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2014 Bentley Flying Spur originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 21 May 2013 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2014 Bentley Flying Spur makes its Swiss debut

Steven J. Ewing — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 20:14:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Performance, Geneva Motor Show, Bentley, Luxury

Ever since the two-door Bentley Continental GT debuted in 2010, we've wondered how the coupe's new design and technology would carry over to the four-door Flying Spur model. We received official details and images a couple of weeks ago, but we've now had the chance to see the Spur in person here on the eve of the 2013 Geneva Motor Show.

It's a handsome sedan, this 2014 Flying Spur (which has officially ditched the Continental nomenclature, for what it's worth). And even more handsome in the metal. The stock photos don't do this big beast justice - especially in the rear three-quarter and profile views, where aspects of the car (namely its newly horizontal-shaped taillamps) can look a bit awkward.

More impressively, Bentley says that the new Flying Spur will be the "fastest, most powerful four-door" it has ever produced. Makes sense to us, especially considering the fact that the sedan borrows its twin-turbocharged 6.0-liter W12 powertrain from the Continental GT Speed coupe. This twelve-pot mill is good for 616 horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque, able to propel the 5,451-pound, all-wheel-drive sedan to 60 miles per hour in 4.3 seconds. That's quick.

Of course, what's inside the Flying Spur's cabin will be just as impressive as what's under the hood, with every single luxury amenity you can think of available inside the leather-laden cabin. Both four- and five-passenger seating arrangements will be available, and like all Bentley models, the individual customization options will no doubt be endless.

Have a gander for yourself in the high-res image gallery above, and look below for the official press blast.

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2014 Bentley Flying Spur makes its Swiss debut originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 04 Mar 2013 20:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Autoblog Podcast #322

Dan Roth — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 14:45:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Podcasts, Bentley, Jeep, Lincoln, Subaru, Toyota, Tesla, Electric

2014 Jeep Cherokee, Tesla profit, 2014 Bentley Continental Flying Spur, Ford Atlas chief designer Gordon Platto

Episode #322 of the Autoblog Podcast is here, and this week, Dan Roth, Zach Bowman and Jeff Ross talk about the 2014 Jeep Cherokee, Tesla's cautious announcement of a first-quarter profit, the 2014 Bentley Flying Spur and Zach and Dan share an interview with Gordon Platto, chief designer for the Ford Atlas Concept truck from this year's Detroit Auto Show. We wrap with a couple of your questions, and for those of you who hung with us live on our UStream channel, thanks for taking the time. Keep reading for our Q&A module for you to scroll through and follow along, too. Thanks for listening!

Autoblog Podcast #322:

Topics:

In the Autoblog Garage:
2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek
2013 Toyota Prius V
2013 Lincoln MKS

Hosts: Dan Roth, Zach Bowman, Jeff Ross

Runtime: 01:26:23

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Autoblog Podcast #322 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 26 Feb 2013 14:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Submit your questions for Autoblog Podcast #322 LIVE!

Dan Roth — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 16:16:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Bentley, Ford, Jeep, Tesla, Electric

We're set to record Autoblog Podcast #322 tonight, and you can drop us your questions and comments regarding the rest of the week's news via our Q&A module below. Subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes if you haven't already done so, and if you want to take it all in live, tune in to our UStream (audio only) channel at 10:00 PM Eastern tonight.

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Submit your questions for Autoblog Podcast #322 LIVE! originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 25 Feb 2013 16:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2014 Bentley Flying Spur brings new design to four-door Continental

Jeffrey N. Ross — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 19:26:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Performance, Geneva Motor Show, Bentley, Luxury

After showing us a couple teasers recently, not to mention the leakage of official shots earlier today, Bentley has finally pulled the cover off the all-new 2014 Flying Spur, which will receive its global debut next month at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show. The big, bespoke sedan not only promises plenty of luxury in its full redesign, but Bentley is also saying that the new Flying Spur will be the "fastest, most powerful four-door" model it has ever produced.

To make sure it comes through on that bold statement, the 2014 Flying Spur is powered by the same twin-turbocharged 6.0-liter W12 engine used in the Continental GT Speed. In the Flying Spur, this 12-cylinder engine produces 616 horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque, and it sends that power to the ground through a new eight-speed automatic transmission and a rear-biased (40/60) all-wheel-drive system. Launching the 5,451-pound sedan from 0-60 miles per hour will take just 4.3 seconds and 100 mph comes in less than 10 seconds; overall top speed is rated at 200 mph. Even with all that power and mass, Bentley is still expecting the next-generation Flying Spur to return better EPA fuel economy than the current model with projected (but not certified) estimates of 12 miles per gallon in the city and 20 mpg on the highway.

Befitting of its more powerful engine, the Flying Spur also gets a more athletic appearance with a more upright face, arched front and rear fenders and horizontal taillights that better distinguish it from the Continental GT. The new roofline also gives the car a sportier shape and the side windows add a more contemporary look, but this car is almost identical in size to the current model including the massive rear overhang, which helps accommodate 16.8 cubic feet of cargo.

For a car that will surely retain a starting price of just under $300,000 for the base model, there will be no shortage of luxury or technology inside the Flying Spur. The Flying Spur is offered with either seating for five or a four-passenger layout with a full-length center console. Front occupants are treated to the same interior found on the Continental including the dual brow instrument panel, the sporty, three-spoke steering wheel and the large touchscreen display. Some of the optional features for rear passengers to enjoy include a 1,100-watt, 11-speaker Naim audio system, a rear-seat entertainment system with a pair of 10-inch displays and there's even the availability of a WiFi hotspot.

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2014 Bentley Flying Spur brings new design to four-door Continental originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 19 Feb 2013 19:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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