CAR OF THE MONTH March 2006
Bentley Continental Flying Spur Review
Literally Flying
In
short: A super luxurious, super sporty and super
fast sedan.
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Attention,
pilots—the glamour days of the late 40s are back
chez Bentley. The British brand acquired by the Volkswagen Group got a serious injection of cash and now boasts a
state-of-the-art plant in Crewe, England.
From the German side come advanced windtunnels, proving
grounds and prototyping facilities. “The Continental
Flying Spur is a brilliant example of how to match world-beating
technologies with renowned craftsmanship,” says
Dr. Franz-Josef Paefgen, Chairman and Chief Executive
of Bentley Motors. “It is a performance car but
not at the cost of comfort and as such represents a unique
proposition—a sumptuous and spacious four-door Grand
Tourer with the heart and soul of a high performance coupe.”
Indeed,
the Spur boasts a tremendous heritage, from its successful
racing days to its mystical brand name. Our first experience
in a Bentley was in an original 1954 R-Type riding down
the Champs Elysées, passing by the Arc de Triomphe
and turning a lot of heads. This moment stuck in our
minds as a great souvenir. We remember every detail,
from how smoothly doors opened, to the comfortable and
luxurious leather seats, to the engine start push button
launching the performing powerplant. Well, it’s
all still there today, and then some. Not only is the
CFS a brilliant sports car, but all the elements of
luxury, contemporary electronics, safety features are
present—and yes, it still turns heads.
This
edition is inspired by both the 1952 Bentley R-Type
Continental and the 1957 four-door Continental Flying
Spur it borrows its name from. But really, the Flying
Spur is a stretched version of the racy Continental
GT introduced a couple of years ago. All four or five
passengers (depending on the configuration specified
at order time) have plenty of space to relax until
their next destination. The bulk of the engineering
comes from Germany,
and you’ll recognize components from other divisions.
There is no need to discuss pricing (it’s very
expensive) or fuel consumption (it has a voracious
appetite in sports mode—what do you expect?
you are moving 5,500 lbs!), so let’s review
some basics.
There
is a proven twin-turbocharged W12 engine with beaucoup horsepower and a wave of torque from low revs to go
fast, as well as a massive braking system with 405-mm,
ventilated front discs for stopping quickly. To go
fast around corners, a high-tech all-wheel-drive system
has been coupled with an advanced six-speed automatic
gearbox with paddleshift controls. All the expected
electronics are plugged in and nothing is too complicated
to operate. Rear passengers are in for a treat with
a super spacious cabin. Exterior lines are clean,
evoke the past but are definitely modern and incorporate
aerodynamics. Although distinctive, there is nothing
ostentatious about the conception, as focus has been
devoted to function and appreciation of a classy lifestyle,
from the keyless entry system to the massage function
of the driver and front passenger seats.
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This
craft can move. Due to the structural design and components
used, you’ll catch yourself at 100 mph in no
time thinking you’re actually at half that speed
at best. With performance of 0 to 60 mph in 4.9 seconds
and a top speed of 195 mph, you will find yourself
literally flying. That’s a good thing for qualified
pilots in qualified spaces, but overall the CSF is
much, much more than that. Speaking of qualifications,
chauffeurs and owner drivers have the option of attending
the School of Instruction Academy in Crewe. 
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Warranty/Service: Three-year/unlimited mileage
limited warranty.
QUICK
SHEET |
Price as tested: $179,185 |
Technical
Specifications |
Performance
Data |
Engine: 6.0-liter, DOHC twin-turbocharged,
12-cylinder;
552 hp
- Torque: 650 lb.-ft. at 1,600 rpm
Transmission: 6-speed Tiptronic
automatic with manual shift facility and steering
column-mounted gearshift paddles
Safety: driver and passenger
front airbags; front and rear side thorax airbags;
full-length curtain airbags
Top Speed: 195 mph |
Acceleration: 0-60 in 4.9 seconds
Braking: ventilated
disc brakes with ABS; Brake Force Distribution
(EBD); Brake Assist (HBA)
Fuel Economy: 11 city,
18 highway
Handling: continuous all-wheel
drive with torsen center differential; speed sensitive
power-assisted rack and pinion steering |
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Photography: AlphaMedia
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1954
Bentley R-Type |
It
is reported that Bentley built about 2,000 of these cars,
which is a somewhat large number and certainly less than
what Rolls Royce was producing at the time. An in-line,
6-cylinder engine powered some of these in the Monte Carlo
Rally, and its automatic transmission was smooth and effective.
At the time, it was one of the fastest cars on the road,
especially for a luxury sedan. From what you've read above,
history seems to repeat itself! |
(Updated:
12/14/11 NW)
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