Flying Spur W12

Having driven the Bentley Mulsanne, and the Continental GT V8 S, we now finally have a spin in the Flying Spur, also our first W12 Bentley. It was simply glorious…

The interior of the Flying Spur is simply a lovely place to be, with huge amounts of space and comfort.

So whaT IS ThE FlyING SPuR?

Ostensibly, it is simply a four-door sedan version of the Continental GT. In fact, when it was first released it was called the Continental Flying Spur. Now the Flying Spur is a stand alone product with its own range, comprising the W12 and the significantly more economical V8 for the eco-conscious millionaire. Having no similar green-guilt when it comes to cars, I took delivery of my W12, and headed off into the city.

First impressions: it’s manageable. Despite being a big luxury sedan, the Flying Spur is a breeze to drive, gliding through traffic like a dream. A touch of the gas has the mighty W12 instantly coming to life, surging past any slow moving traffic in seconds.

The layout of the model we drove was geared towards chauffeured passengers, with a split rear seat with centre console, and a rather impressive detachable wireless device that looked a bit like a smartphone that could control the climate, stereo and view various vehicle functions.

Any of the seats front and back were hugely comfortable places to be, with enough legroom in the back to make the business class of some airlines jealous!

On the move, the Flying Spur simply glides. There is practically no road or engine noise making its way into the passenger cabin, with unnoticeable gear changes, and the smooth silence almost gives the eerie impression of driving an electric car.

It’s only when you really put your foot down that you can just about make out the big 616hp 6.0l twin turbo W12 doing its thing, which is an incredible testament to the soundproofing abilities of Bentley. Hitting 100km/h in 4.3 seconds has never been so relaxing!

However, I really wanted to hear the W12 in all its glory, so I took it to a tunnel, and let her rip. At this point, I learned that the W12 really isn’t built to make noise. Soundproofing cossets the engine too, and muffles the exhaust note, which makes for a rather surreal sensation as you accelerate like a supercar with very little noise or sensation.

Being a bit of a boy racer, I couldn’t help but fondly remember the magnificent bellow of the Continental GT V8 S, and how much I missed it now. If your inclinations are towards quiet and refined luxury, but you still like to drive your own car, the Flying Spur is as close to perfection as you’re likely to get. However, if you’re all about the theatrics and you like to hear your engine when you put your foot down, the Continental GT V8 S will fire you up every time!