Used 2020 Bentley Flying Spur

Bentley engineers tackled a doubly challenging task with the new Flying Spur. On one hand, they wanted the back-seat experience to become more luxuriant and spacious, so they lengthened the car’s wheelbase by a considerable 5.1 inches. Rear occupants get amenities like heated, cooled, and massaging seats, as well as a removable 5-inch multifunction touchscreen remote for climate, lighting, and comfort settings.

While the top-end offerings from Audi, BMW, and Mercedes offer similar features, Bentley differentiates itself with design-driven touches that feel a bit more handmade and special, including a new 3-dimensional quilted-leather surface and diamond-cut knurling surfaces. In keeping with Bentley’s century-old ethos, the driver is also treated to strong performance. That pairing of exceptional amenities and satisfying dynamics sets the Flying Spur apart from competitors, making a strong case for choosing the Flying B over higher-volume brands.

At least within the myopic prism of British ultra-luxury cars, Rolls-Royce has long been considered the car to be driven in while Bentley has become pigeonholed as the driver’s car. Though the former has made strides toward becoming more driver-engaged, the new Flying Spur takes a quantum leap forward in both arenas. Despite its considerable 5,300-plus-pound curb weight (which is nearly 84 pounds lighter than before, despite new features added), the Flying Spur’s 626 horsepower 12-cylinder engine can launch to 60 mph in a mere 3.7 seconds and reaching a top speed of 207 mph.

Since lengthening the wheelbase would be anathema to sharp handling, Bentley’s first-ever use of 4-wheel steering has the effect of shrinking that mass, enabling tight turning circles with the added benefit of greater high-speed stability. The Flying Spur feels like it has a remarkable range of behavior on the road, going from a plush cruiser to a sharp handler thanks to a 48-volt suspension system with active anti-roll technology.

Maneuverability is also aided by an all-wheel-drive system that can vector torque to individual wheels. Driver-adjustable modes determine the settings, which are also automatically adaptable based on speed and conditions. While sedate and quiet around town, the Spur can feel downright taut and frisky on mountain roads, negotiating corners with surprising tenacity. That duality makes it pleasurable to drive slow and thrilling to drive fast.

The 2020 Flying Spur’s interior takes a significant step up, offering a finely finished space that feels more special than its predecessor. Some of that impression comes from the added room, but most is due to the intangible feeling of quality thanks to refinements in detailing. The 3D-quilted-leather panels on the door have a unique look and feel, as does the 2-layer veneer option first seen in the Continental GT coupe.

While the Flying Spur does borrow more than a few interior design details from the coupe, it manages to retain traditional Bentley details like the bull’s-eye air-conditioning vents while incorporating new elements, among them a B-shaped central vent that’s finished with a diamond-shaped knurled surface. The vent has a total of 5,331 individually carved diamond shapes, echoing the “carved crystal” effect of the faceted headlights — a neat touch that ties the interior and the exterior together nicely.

Following in the footsteps of its Continental GT stablemate, the Flying Spur’s exterior body panels are now constructed of superformed aluminum, a process which involves heating the metal to over 932 degrees Fahrenheit, then cutting it with lasers. The resulting shapes are deeper and more dramatically creased, offering a sharper, crisper look.

While the W12 is the debut model, future variants are likely to offer different exterior treatments. Until then, the W12 can be ordered in Blackline specification, which darkens bits like the hood mascot, radiator vanes, window surrounds, and bumper blades. The effect is sleeker and more contemporary than the traditional chrome treatment.

ALL-NEW FLYING B
The Flying Spur’s hood emblem is a fresh reinterpretation of the century-old symbol, only now equipped with crystal details that illuminate at night and a retractable design that hides at the touch of a button.

ROTATING SCREEN
The Flying Spur’s dashboard features a rotating screen that alternates between a 12.3-inch touchscreen with analog gauges, or a veneer surface that offers what Bentley calls “digital detox.”

Bentley’s Flying Spur comes standard with all-wheel drive, a 4-mode drive-setting feature, and a 12.3-inch touchscreen that manages Apple CarPlay, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi streaming, and a 60-GB hard drive. You’ll have to spring for extras like adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assist.

While the Flying Spur comes standard with many of the amenities you’d expect in a car with a 6-figure price tag, the available color and trim specs are copious, let alone the bespoke options that can create a truly one-of-a-kind vehicle. Opt for the Mulliner Driving Specification, and the package adds 22-inch wheels, 3D-quilted-leather door panels, a leather headliner, and a few other details.

An array of veneers is available, from walnut and ash to Hawaiian-sourced Koa. Veneers can be ordered in dual-finish, which stacks them above a layer of piano black. The Touring Specification package adds lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, night vision, and a head-up display. One must-have option: the rotating display and the top-level, 19-speaker/2,200-watt Naim stereo, one of the finest sound systems available in a car today.

Though it’s not an all-new unit, the Flying Spur’s updated twin-turbocharged 12-cylinder engine receives improvements that help it achieve 15 percent more efficiency than its predecessor. The powerplant can cut half of its cylinders when they’re not needed, seamlessly reducing it to a 6-cylinder on demand to save fuel. Aligned to the Continental GT’s dual-clutch 8-speed transmission, the drivetrain was repositioned along with moving the Flying Spur’s front axle forward to enhance weight distribution.

6.0-liter twin-turbocharged W-12
626 horsepower @ 6,000 rpm
664 lb-ft of torque @ 1,350-4,500 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 12/19 mpg