Bentley Continental Flying Spur

Vehicle Overview

Long known for costly British-built motorcars, Bentley turned to a lower-priced model in 2004: the Continental GT coupe. For the 2006 model year, a companion sedan enters the picture.

First seen at the 2005 Geneva Motor Show in Switzerland, the Continental Flying Spur is the fastest four-door Bentley ever. Inspired by the company's Continental Flying Spur sedan of 1957, the new sedan is called a "grand tourer born of a coupe." Essentially, you get everything offered in the Continental GT, including a 552-horsepower turbocharged W-12, along with enhanced luxury and space.

The Continental Flying Spur was developed to "match world-beating technologies with renowned craftsmanship," said Bentley chairman Dr. Franz-Josef Paefgen. "It is a performance car but not at the cost of comfort ... a sumptuous and spacious four-door grand tourer with the heart and soul of a high-performance coupe.

"Like the Continental GT coupe, the Continental Flying Spur has all-wheel drive. Bentley claims acceleration from a standstill to 60 mph occurs in 4.9 seconds. The Continental Flying Spur's global launch began in April 2005.

Exterior

The Continental Flying Spur's design is understated in the Bentley tradition. The company refers to the sedan as "evocative, timeless and unostentatious.

"Flowing body lines on the Continental Flying Spur include rounded C-pillars — called the "hockey stick" curve — like those found on many early Bentleys. A mesh-pattern grille is installed up front between recessed round headlights. At the rear, a humped trunk lid sits above integrated oval exhaust pipes. Chrome detailing is similar to that of the company's Arnage sedan. The additional body length emphasizes the car's waistline.

Bentley says the Continental Flying Spur is more aerodynamic than the Continental GT coupe; it has a slightly better coefficient of drag. One-piece 19-inch alloy wheels are used, and the automaker claims the car's front disc brakes are the largest on a production passenger car. An adjustable air suspension is installed.

Interior

Leather surfaces and wood veneers provide a sumptuous feel to the inside of the Continental Flying Spur, which can be equipped with either a four- or five-occupant interior. Leather hides come from Northern Europe, and each car uses about 11 of them. Rear occupants can expect abundant legroom. Naturally, the Continental Flying Spur is amply equipped. According to Bentley, "customers only have to choose options in order to personalize their car, rather than complete it.

Under the Hood

Breathing with the assistance of twin turbochargers, the Continental Flying Spur's 6.0-liter W-12 cranks out 552 hp and 479 pounds-feet of torque at a low 1,600 rpm. The six-speed-automatic transmission features a Tiptronic manual-shift provision that's operated by the gearshift lever or paddles behind the steering wheel. All-wheel drive is standard.

Safety

Eight airbags, including full-length side curtain-type airbags and side-impact airbags for both front and rear outboard occupants, are installed.

An electronic stability system is standard.

More Bentley Cars:
Bentley Brooklands
Bentley Continental GT
Bentley Azure

Bentley Azure

BENTLEY AZURE





By Jim Flammang
Cars.com
October 11, 2005

Vehicle OverviewThe Azure convertible is manufactured in Crewe, England, at the same facility that turns out Bentley's Arnage sedans and special Mulliner editions.
At a dedicated Azure assembly area, about 6,500 spot welds are performed by hand using robotics to locate and clinch all closure panels. Finishing work is done in the Mulliner department, and the use of lightweight carbon-fiber cross braces contributes to the Azure's "exceptional levels of body stiffness," according to the company.

The car hits U.S. dealerships in spring 2006.ExteriorBentley says the new model's design was inspired not only by the 1995 - 2002 Azure, but also by the 1955 Park Ward S1 drophead coupe. In addition to borrowing its double-wishbone suspension and rigid body structure from four-door Bentleys, the new two-door Azure shares its front fascia with the current Arnage sedan.
The bumpers are body-colored, and chrome trim runs the length of the car's lower sides. The Azure's three-layer fabric top is hydraulically operated and can stow beneath a hide-trimmed tonneau cover in less than 30 seconds.InteriorUp to four people can fit inside the Azure. The company's stated goal was clear: to create an opulent and inviting seating area that reflects its status as a car that is at home in Palm Springs or the Riviera.
Under the HoodThe Azure's twin-turbocharged 6.8-liter V-8 develops 450 horsepower and 645 pounds-feet of torque. A four-speed-automatic transmission is standard. SafetyFront and rear side-impact airbags and an electronic stability system are installed. Pop-up bolsters can deploy in the event of a rollover, and the windshield has been reinforced.



More Bentley Cars:
Bentley Brooklands
Bentley Continental GT
Bentley Continental Flying Spur

ULTRA LUXURY VEHICLE

BENTLEY ARNAGE




Notable Features
400-hp V-8 in Arnage R
450-hp V-8 in Arnage T
Standard- or extended-length models

What You Need to Know About Luxury Cars and Safety

We avoid deeming a vehicle "safer" than another because there are innumerable unquantifiable factors that contribute to a vehicle's overall safety. That said, we're comfortable calling the luxury vehicle category one of the safest. Real-world safety data don't separate the vehicle from the type of driver, and luxury drivers tend to be more careful than most. But crash tests and other factors reflect that the luxury designation itself raises the crashworthiness of the vehicle itself, as explained below.

Best of the Best: Top Crash-Test Scores

As a class, luxury vehicles have the best crash-test ratings.

As of the beginning of the 2006 model year, every single model listed in the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's three luxury/near-luxury categories has scored Good in the frontal test, including the SUVs.

(The same applies for the two models in their "moderately priced" category that cars.com classifies as luxury.) Many but not all of the cars tested have been rated Good in the side-impact test. Some cars and all sport utility vehicles have not yet been tested for the side impact. Refer to the SUV Buying Guide and our Guide to Crash Tests and Rollover Ratings for more details.

Castagna-Aznom, Roll Royce, BMW,
Alfa