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.

Continue reading 2014 Bentley Flying Spur

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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Bentley teases new Flying Spur sedan

Jonathon Ramsey — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 10:57:00 EST

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

Bentley has released another teaser video for its redesigned Flying Spur, and the next generation car is looking less like a grown up Continental GT and more like a junior Mulsanne. A viewing of the first teaser vid revealed a more upright grille, a three-spoke steering wheel, horizontal taillights and quarter panels with angles and curves certifiably lifted from the Mulsanne. After this second video, we can add lower door panels with a more aggressive shape, horizontal vents in the fenders and a rear end with the shape of proper haunches.

The English motorcar maker promises us we'll see more on February 20, when "performance and luxury unite." We'll be there in person when the "Camry for rich people" is revealed at the Geneva Motor Show next month. You'll find the videographic appetizer below.

Continue reading Bentley teases new Flying Spur sedan

Bentley teases new Flying Spur sedan originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 18 Feb 2013 10:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bentley Continental Flying Spur taking shape

John Neff — Wed, 26 Sep 2012 09:31:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Sedan, Performance, Bentley, Luxury

The redesigned Bentley Continental Flying Spur has again been caught undergoing testing, though this time away from public roads while tackling the Nürburgring's 154 turns. The car we see in these new spy shots also reveals more of the Flying Spur's new lines, which we expect to largely mirror the shape already seen on the new Continental GT and GTC models.

Likewise, the new four-door Continental will probably come with the same engine options as the coupe and convertible: the tried and true 6.0-liter W12 making 567 horsepower and the new twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 producing 500 hp. Its two stablemates were also updated with an eight-speed transmission for 2012, so expect the Spur to swap that many gears, as well.

Really, the only unknowns left are how Bentley will be handling the four-door specific design elements like the shape of the rear end, which is somewhat obscured by this car's checkerboard camo, as well as when the sedan will debut. We've received no indication thus far that Bentley is planning to use the Paris Motor Show, which happens later this week, for the Flying Spur's unveiling. That leaves a string of upcoming shows where it could happen, including the LA Auto Show, Detroit Auto Show and Geneva Motor Show.

Bentley Continental Flying Spur taking shape originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 26 Sep 2012 09:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Next Bentley Continental Flying Spur caught

Zach Bowman — Tue, 31 Jul 2012 13:31:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Sedan, Bentley, UK, Design/Style, Luxury

It looks as if Bentley is working on a new Continental Flying Spur. Spy photographers recently spotted this machine out for a little testing. Look through the veil of Mercedes-Benz S-Class camouflage, and you can spot a new set of a headlamp arrays paired with an upright grille and more aggressive front fascia. New door handles sit lower on the body than before and designers have also rolled in reworked side mirrors. Otherwise, the design looks awfully familiar, though Bentley has been sure to underscore the next Flying Spur will be an all-new generation instead of a simple facelift. As before, we expect the Flying Spur to look like a four-door version of the Continental GT coupe, which got a fresh look and updates for 2012.

Bentley has kept its lips sealed on what sort of drivetrain advancements we can expect to see, though we wouldn't be surprised if the model bowed with the same twin-turbocharged V8 as the Conti GT complete with 500 horsepower on hand. If that's the case, buyers can expect to find an eight-speed automatic transmission handling shifting detail as well. The W12 will doubtlessly also continue, though, just as it has with the coupe.

Next Bentley Continental Flying Spur caught originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 31 Jul 2012 13:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bentley goes even more Bentley with Linley edition Flying Spur [w/video]

Noah Joseph — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 18:31:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, China, Videos, Bentley, UK, Luxury

We've heard the accolades applied by eager salesmen to countless items: This thing you're shopping for is the Rolls-Royce of its category. It's the Mercedes-Benz of somethingorother. Usually it isn't. But if any craftsman could be called the Bentley of furniture, it's certainly David Linley.

The child of photographer and architect Anthony Armstrong-Jones, 1st Earl of Snowdon, and Princess Margaret, Linley has established a name for himself as the finest designer and crafter of luxurious furniture in all of the UK, if not the world. He and his team manipulate wood, metal, glass and leather into some of the most sumptuous and striking pieces available. The Bentley of furniture, in other words. How fitting, then, that Bentley itself should collaborate with Linley for an exclusive special edition Continental.

Previewed about a month ago, the Linley edition Flying Spur has now been fully revealed at London's Jack Barclay dealership. It features the finest Santos rosewood veneers covering the fascia, console, waistrail and roof console of the sedan's interior. The waistrails and fold-down picnic tables feature Linley's trademark Helix motif inlayed from four different types of wood into an intricate pattern. It's also fitted with a custom Linley humidor - complete with cigar cutter and ashtray - burnt oak stitching on the upholstery, a rhodium-plated dedication plaque and even a special cashmere blanket.

In other words, you might call this the Bentley of Bentleys. But try not to like it too much: only 10 examples will be made, each earmarked for monied Anglophiles in the Chinese market. If you don't meet those narrow criteria, you can still check it out in the fresh high-resolution image gallery, and in video footage and press release after the jump.

Continue reading Bentley goes even more Bentley with Linley edition Flying Spur [w/video]

Bentley goes even more Bentley with Linley edition Flying Spur [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 03 Oct 2011 18:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bentley teams up with Linley on exclusive Continental Flying Spur for China

Noah Joseph — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 14:30:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, China, Bentley, Luxury

Luxury automakers like Bentley have been enjoying increasing success in the Chinese market. But with every factory owner and their cousin clamoring for a new Continental Flying Spur, some will invariably demand something a little more unique. So to satisfy its most demanding clientele, Bentley has teamed up with high-end furniture craftsmen Linley to create a special edition specifically for China.

Only ten examples of the Linley special edition will be offered in the Asian country, each outfitted with such unique features as Santos rosewood veneers around the cabin with intricate marquetry inlay, a specially crafted humidor in the rear console, branded treadplates, rhodium-coated plaque, contrasting piping on the leather upholstery and a leather bag with cashmere blanket.

We won't ask how many yuan the special edition will sell for, because even if we lived halfway around the world, this would still be far out of reach. The closest we'll get, then, is the press release after the jump and the high-resolution images in our gallery.

Continue reading Bentley teams up with Linley on exclusive Continental Flying Spur for China

Bentley teams up with Linley on exclusive Continental Flying Spur for China originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 06 Sep 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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How Very Continental: Bentley launches Flying Spur Series 51

Noah Joseph — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 13:58:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Bentley, Luxury

2012 Bentley Continental Flying Spur Series 51 - Click above for high-res image gallery

The Bentley Continental has become the default choice for the upper crust of car buyers that it's become known as the Toyota Camry of the luxury market. The thing is, not everyone wants to pull up the country/yacht/private club in the same thing everyone else is driving. It'd be a shame, though, if more individualistic customers were deterred from considering the Bentley, because it's one heck of a car. So to offer a little extra touch of individuality, Crewe has rolled out the Series 51.

Already available on the Continental GT coupe and Continental GTC convertible, the Series 51 edition can now be ordered as well on the Continental Flying Spur sedan. The choice trim level gives customers a broader range of color options, including two-tone exteriors, three-tone interiors, special veneer choices, and new nine-spoke, graphite-finish 19-inch alloys unique to the Series 51 (and different from the 14-spoke dubs on the coupe and convertible versions). Crewe's design team has put together 14 special color combinations for the Bentley Continental Flying Spur Series 51 (which also challenges for the title of longest name yet), but buyers can specify an infinite array of combos of their choosing.

Along with the Series 51, Bentley has announced new front-fender air vents for any Flying Spur, as well as blue brake calipers, and the inclusion of a new touchscreen infotainment system on the Spur or the Supersports coupe and convertible - an upgrade that was far overdue. Full details can be found in the press release after the jump, along with the high-resolution images in the gallery below.

Gallery: 2012 Bentley Continental Flying Spur Series 51

[Source: Bentley]

Continue reading How Very Continental: Bentley launches Flying Spur Series 51

How Very Continental: Bentley launches Flying Spur Series 51 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 11 Nov 2010 13:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wald gives the Bentley Flying Spur the Black Bison treatment

Noah Joseph — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Sedan, Bentley, Luxury

Wald International Bentley Continental Flying Spur Black Bison - Click above for high-res image gallery

With the new Bentley Continental GT on its way, you can bet it's just a matter of time before the rest of the Continental family - GTC convertible and Flying Spur sedan - join the coupe under the knife. But if you can't wait for the new Spur - or fear your existing one will soon look out-of-date - Wald International has announced a series of aftermarket upgrades to the big sedan that ought to set yours apart.

The package is primarily visual, adopting a fresh aero kit comprised of a new front bumper (incorporating bigger vents and LED running lights), side skirts, a rear bumper with faux-diffuser, and itty-bitty little spoilers on the trunk lid and side windows. A quad-pipe exhaust system is also on offer, along with extra carbon fiber trim and spoke-tastic new wheels.

Check it out in the gallery below, and keep your eyes peeled on this space for the next-generation Spur to come Flying along any month now. Thanks to everyone for the tips!

Gallery: Wald International Bentley Continental Flying Spur Black Bison

[Source: Autoblog.nl via Carscoop]

Wald gives the Bentley Flying Spur the Black Bison treatment originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 14 Sep 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bentley launches two Middle East-only editions of Flying Spur

Sam Abuelsamid — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 13:31:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Bentley, Middle East, Luxury

Bentley Continental Flying Spur Speed Arabia - Click above for high-res image gallery

If you're a Bentley dealer in the Middle East, you've got it easy. With mounds of disposable income littering that part of the world, it's a prime target for high-end luxury brands. To that end, Bentley has announced a special run of 50 Continental Flying Spur sedans that will only be available in the Middle East. Called the Flying Spur Arabia and Flying Spur Speed Arabia, these two special editions feature special Arabia badges on their fenders, door sills and ash-tray lid. The non-Speed Flying Spur also gets a new unique 14-spoke wheel design while the higher performance Speed model (above) gets 20-inch, ten-spoke wheels.

Bentley says the Middle East now accounts for one-tenth of its worldwide sales and supports the region with nine dealers. No doubt we can expect more of these special editions to come from Bentley and other brands both in the Middle East and China, as both markets become increasingly important to ultra high-end automakers.

Gallery: Bentley Continental Flying Spur Arabia

[Source: Bentley]

Continue reading Bentley launches two Middle East-only editions of Flying Spur

Bentley launches two Middle East-only editions of Flying Spur originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 10 Aug 2010 13:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: Bentley prepares for market recovery by advancing new Continental debut

Noah Joseph — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Bentley, UK

Bentley Continental GT Speed in the Autoblog Garage - Click above for high-res gallery

While other automakers cut back their development programs in hopes of streamlining overhead during this difficult economic climate, Bentley is taking the opposite approach. Rather than cut back on developing new vehicles, they're actually pushing to move things ahead on their calendar.

According to Automotive News, the logic is based on the projection that the economy is on the road to recovery, and Bentley wants to be there when its wealthy clientele has got more fluid cash on hand to splurge on new six-figure luxury cars. While the replacement for the range-topping Arnage is expected to carry on unchanged, the successor to the Continental range is being moved forward, as confirmed by Crewe's own sales and marketing chief Stuart McCullough.

So whereas the next Continental GT was previously slated for introduction in 2011, the new coupe is now being prepared for its debut next year. No official word on rescheduling the introductions of the Flying Spur and GTC models to go along with it, but we'd expect the sedan to move forward from 2012 to 2011, with the convertible to follow in 2012 instead of 2013 as previously reported.

[Source: Automotive News - subs. req'd]

REPORT: Bentley prepares for market recovery by advancing new Continental debut originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 20 Apr 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bentley to release Continential Flying Spur Speed at British Int'l Motor Show

Dan Roth — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 17:02:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Bentley, Misc. Auto Shows

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.

Gallery: 2009 Bentley Continental Flying Spur Speed

[Source: Bentley]

Continue reading Bentley to release Continential Flying Spur Speed at British Int'l Motor Show

Bentley to release Continential Flying Spur Speed at British Int'l Motor Show originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 08 Jul 2008 17:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bentley holding the line on production for now

Frank Filipponio — Mon, 15 Jan 2007 16:58:00 EST

Filed under: Plants/Manufacturing, Bentley

UPDATE: Due to a reporting error in the source material, we had the wrong North America sales total for Bentley. The correct number now appears below.

Coming off a record year in 2006, Bentley says that we shouldn't expect similar stellar figures in the near future. After building 10,087 units last year (more than any other ultra-luxury marque), Bentley acknowledged that it's at full production and will probably see a leveling off of sales in the next few years. CEO Franz-Josef Paefgen told reporters in Detroit that they are still investigating adding new models to the Bentley lineup, but that the decision process is incredibly difficult because the image of Bentley must remain intact. That means no SUVs or small sedans, most likely.

Other tidbits that came out of the meeting were that the North American market accounted for about 40% of Bentley sales last year (4,017 units sold), the wait list for a new Bentley is still about 18 months in most markets, and that the company will no longer use the VW Phaeton plant in Dresden that was temporarily used when they launched the Conti Flying Spur. On a partially related note, we had another brief spin in a GTC a couple of days ago and can attest to the fact that chopping the top off does nothing to the driving dynamics of this ultra luxury coupe. Hopefully we'll be able to provide more details soon.

[Source: Automotive news, sub req]

Bentley holding the line on production for now originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 15 Jan 2007 16:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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In the Autoblog Garage: 2006 Bentley Continental Flying Spur

John Neff — Wed, 30 Aug 2006 12:01:00 EST

Filed under: In the Autoblog Garage, Sedan, Bentley

Click above for high-res gallery of the 2006 Bentley Continental Flying Spur

In case you haven't noticed, we're a blog. You know, one of those Web sites run by people who don't shower and refuse to change out of their pajamas? That's us in a nutshell. So imagine our shock when Bentley not only responded to our e-mail, but told us it would be granting our request to review the 2006 Bentley Continental Flying Spur. Man, we're still trying to get a Yaris from Toyota to review and Bentley just gave us the green light? The universe has gone nuts, but fortunately, today we find ourselves in its favor.

The Bentley Continental Flying Spur is a sedan that makes other super saloons like the BMW 7-Series, Mercedes-Benz S-Class, and even its own very distant cousin, the Audi A8, seem practical in comparison. At an out-the-door asking price of $183,825 (including destination charges and a hefty $3,700 gas guzzler tax), the Continental Flying Spur costs more than ...

All of the above are perfectly acceptable forms of transportation, some even exceptional. After a few days with the Bentley Continental Flying Spur, however, each is but a distant memory from a different tax bracket.

Gallery: In the Autoblog Garage: 2006 Bentley Continental Flying Spur

Continue reading In the Autoblog Garage: 2006 Bentley Continental Flying Spur

In the Autoblog Garage: 2006 Bentley Continental Flying Spur originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 30 Aug 2006 12:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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