Two weeks time at the Geneva Motor Show we’ll see the fastest and most powerful Bentley so far – the new Flying Spur.
Under the bonnet is the wonderful twin-turbocharged W12 engine with 460kW/800Nm driving all four wheels through the ZF eight-speed automatic transmission. But the big news is a significant 50kgs weight reduction over the previous generation means a 14 per-cent improvement in power-to-weight ratio with zero to 100km/h now down to 4.3 seconds.
And the other standout feature is the new looks – more curves lending a lower, wider look plus a revised grille and large outer headlights. The side sees more character lines, new doors and front fender air-vents with the Bentley ‘B’ prominent.
There’s another dramatic change at the rear with a longer, lower bootlid and horizontal LED tail-lights.
Bonnet and front fenders are aluminium and beneath the skin the new Bentley Flying Spur sees substantial structural changes to reduce weight and boost stiffness (which is four per-cent higher than the current model).
Standard wheels are a new 19-inch design with a variety of 20 and 21-inch designs also available.
Inside also sees a total change with only the sun-visors, grab-handles, armrests and some console components and switches carried-over from the current generation. The four or five-seat layout boasts new-design seats and even higher grade leather and the new centre console features an extra storage bin trimmed in veneer to match the rest of the interior.
Underneath spring rates have been softened but the anti-rollbars are stiffer and combine with revisions to the electronic damper control to provide a more compliant ride at low speeds but firmer sportiness at speed.
