Used 2018 Bentley Flying Spur

Starting around $200,000, the 2018 Bentley Flying Spur is one of a handful of ultra-luxury sedans attempting to establish itself as the epitome of automotive excellence. In the Flying Spur, old-world craftsmanship meets 21st-century technology, with a sophisticated all-wheel-drive system as standard and a cabin filled with modern electronic conveniences. V8-powered models include the Flying Spur V8 and V8 S, while the 12-cylinder models are dubbed W12 and W12 S. At its most potent, the Flying Spur touts 626 horsepower and a top speed of 202 mph, although we doubt many will ever be pressed to prove it. Fuel economy is not the Flying Spur’s strong suit, but a 4.2-second zero-to-60-`mph run is certainly impressive.

If you read its spec sheets, you’d swear the 2018 Bentley Flying Spur was an all-out racer with an uncomfortable ride and a noisy interior. The kind of car that’s only useful for an early morning coffee run on Sunday. A toy. That’s not the case. The all-wheel-drive Spur is a luxury sedan first. Sure, it packs massive amounts of horsepower, enough to propel this 5,000-plus-pound car to dizzying speeds in an eye blink, but its interior is quiet, its air suspension provides a proper ride and its steering is light. The Flying Spur is easy to drive, but fun to drive fast and it feels smaller the harder you push it, which is saying something since this car is more than 17 feet long. Dial it back, and it is hushed, refined and exceedingly comfortable, even though the 21-inch wheels tend to pound over smaller bumps.

The interior of the 2018 Bentley Flying Spur is a happy marriage of world-class leather and wood finishes with cutting-edge technology. The feeling is akin to what Apple headquarters might have looked like if Steve Jobs were born a Brit. The seats are wide and comfortable, designed to fit the human torso without squeezing it. Occupants can rest their feet in lush lamb’s-wool carpeting, while rear-seat passengers will enjoy an optional full-length console and refrigerated bottle cooler. High tech is on full display inside the Flying Spur, although the 8-inch infotainment screen does seem a bit small and dated.

There’s an old-world charm and understated elegance to the Flying Spur, but, like Daniel Craig’s James Bond, this ultra-luxury sedan combines that British sophistication with a modern muscularity and masculine attitude. Its wide stance and long, flowing lines are shared with Bentley’s Continental Coupe and Mulsanne flagship, and the result is proper and understated with minimal ornamentation aside from an artful use of bright trim and the brand’s unmistakable horizontal grille. The four headlights, surrounded by LEDs, float in the sheet metal, and its tail tapers beautifully as it appears to push the all-wheel-drive sedan to the road.

TWIN-TURBOCHARGED W12 ENGINE
While the common man may think a 500-horsepower V8 is adequate, the upper class will settle for nothing less than the 626 horsepower associated with the Flying Spur W12 S’s 6.0-liter 12-cylinder engine. The reward for going big is a sub-5-second 0-60-mph time and a 200-mph top speed.

BOTTLE COOLER
Nestled behind the rear-seat’s folding armrest, the Flying Spur’s refrigerated bottle cooler is exactly the kind of upscale opulence that separates it from lesser cars. The cooler is large enough to fit a bottle of champagne and includes two bespoke glasses.

That big price tag gets you a big sedan, filled with big-ticket items. The interior is awash in wood and leather, the front seats are power-adjustable 14 different ways, and there are multi-zone climate control, bright bi-xenon headlights, a turbocharged V8, and standard all-wheel drive. The infotainment system standard on the Flying Spur features an AM/FM/CD/DVD player that plays through an 8-channel/8-speaker audio system. Navigation is also standard as is the rearview camera. Interestingly, while Bluetooth wireless connectivity and an SD-card slot are standard, there’s no standard USB connection.

Options include the praiseworthy 14-speaker Naim audio system, and rear-seat passengers can indulge with their own rear-seat entertainment system, complete with tablet-style remote control, wireless headphones and built-in Wi-Fi hotspot. Rear-seat occupants also have access to a built-in bottle cooler for drinks and snacks. The Mulliner models offer even larger wheels and finer interior details. The Bentley Flying Spur offers adaptive cruise control, but curiously, neither blind-spot monitoring nor lane-departure warning — features common on modern budget compacts — is available.

Every Bentley Flying Spur is twin-turbocharged and powerful enough to dust many exotic sports cars and German super sedans. The Flying Spur V8 gets a twin-turbocharged V8 that makes an impressive 500 horsepower. In the V8 S model, that engine gets additional torque and output surges to 521 horsepower. The Flying Spur is powered by a 6.0-liter W12 (yes, the cylinders are arranged in a “W”) that adds four more cylinders and a solid 116 horsepower to the sedan. And in the W12 S model, that engine generates 626 horsepower, enough for a 202-mph top speed. Both engines are connected to an excellent 8-speed automatic transmission, which can be shifted manually using paddles on the steering wheel. All Bentley Flying Spurs feature all-wheel drive, which enhances traction.

4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8
500 horsepower @ 6,000 rpm (521 horsepower in V8 S)
487 lb-ft of torque @ 1,700 rpm (502 lb-ft in V8 S)
EPA city/high fuel economy: 13/22 mpg

6.0-liter twin-turbocharged W12
616 horsepower @ 6,000 rpm (626 horsepower in W12 S)
590 lb-ft of torque @ 1,700 rpm (605 lb-ft in W12 S)
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 12/20 mpg