Bentley establishes a new luxury
performance sedan benchmark with the launch of the new Flying Spur. With its
unrivalled blend of effortless driveability, exquisite luxury and
craftsmanship, sculpted design and state-of-the-art technology, the new Flying
Spur takes the worldwide success of its iconic predecessor further. Bentley’s
most powerful four-door model ever makes its global debut at the 2013 Geneva
Motor Show on 5th March.
Bentley’s styling team has developed an athletic design for the
new Flying Spur that combines traditional Bentley styling cues with a sporting
stance and contemporary details. Sharp feature lines complement muscular rear
haunches, while LED day-time running lights, dipped headlights and taillights
characterise the front and rear profiles. The interior designers have created a
luxurious, spacious cabin that dresses advanced acoustic and electronic
technologies in exquisite hand-crafted leather hides and wood veneers.
Driver and passengers alike interface with the car and the outside
world through touch-screen infotainment, mobile connectivity including Wi-Fi, a
Rear Seat Entertainment suite and a new hand-held Touch Screen Remote which
allows rear-cabin occupants to control an extensive range of features from the
comfort of their seat. An eight-channel, eight-speaker audio system with
Balanced Mode Radiators provides high quality sound clarity, with the 1100W
Naim® for Bentley
premium system available as an option.
Powering the new Flying Spur is Bentley’s renowned 6.0-litre, twin
turbo W12 engine, coupled to a ZF eight-speed transmission. Developing 625 PS
(616 bhp) and 800 Nm of torque, the new Flying Spur features more power than
any other Bentley four-door in history. A 14 per cent improvement in the
power-to-weight ratio over the outgoing model delivers a breath-taking 0-60 mph
time of 4.3 seconds and a top-speed of 200 mph (322 km/h). In the modern
Bentley tradition, power is delivered to the road via all-wheel drive with a
40:60 rear-biased torque split for a sure-footed, engaging drive in all road
and weather conditions.
Bentley Chairman and Chief Executive, Dr Wolfgang Schreiber,
comments: “Bentley’s new Flying Spur is the ultimate luxury performance sedan.
Our engineers have worked tirelessly to ensure that the Flying Spur is the
perfect combination of power, comfort, refinement and hand-crafted quality.
Fitted with the very latest technology, the new Flying Spur is equipped both
for business and relaxation whilst remaining a car to enjoy from behind the
wheel.”
A SLEEK AND STRIKING EXTERIOR
The styling of the new Flying Spur establishes a new design
character for Bentley’s performance sedan. An elegant direction is reflected by
a lower, wider appearance with sharp lines and gently curvaceous surfaces. A
lower roof line, deeply sculpted panels, precise feature lines and a muscular
rear haunch give the Flying Spur a more aggressive stance and a powerfully
dynamic profile.
The front fenders feature a striking new wing vent complete with
an elegant Bentley “B” motif. From here, an additional feature line forms a
sharply defined edge running from the front wheel all the way to the rear
bumper, underlining the shape’s dynamic character.
At the front of the car, a more upright chrome grille sits between
the pairs of jewel-like LED headlamps. Emphasising the lower, wider stance, the
outer lamps are the larger of the two. Beneath the front grille, the lower
intake is now full width with no vertical divisions, but instead with a chromed
horizontal accent that completes the dramatic face of the new Flying Spur.
At the rear, a longer and lower boot lid lends a more swept
appearance to the side profile. Horizontal single ellipse LED tail lamps
combine with a new interpretation of the Bentley “Horse Shoe” feature line, now
running the full width of the car and encapsulating a graceful concave section.
Beneath the elegant skin of the new Flying Spur, a wide range of
materials is applied in an intelligent and efficient manner. Designed to
improve overall body stiffness and refinement whilst meeting stringent crash
performance targets and pedestrian protection legislation, the new body
structure includes reinforcement to the B-posts, sills and front crossmembers
together with deformable components in the floorpan for optimal load transfer.
A deployable bonnet that includes both new reinforcement panels and deformation
elements helps to improve pedestrian impact performance.
The bonnet and front fenders are constructed in aluminium, with
the fenders shaped using the aerospace-industry superforming technique,
employing compressed air to shape heated sheets of alloy into the required form
at over 500°C. Exceptionally clean lines with sharp radii and lighter-weight
components are the result, giving the new Flying Spur an unmistakeably Bentley
front end with extremely taut shut lines.
The new door structures are completely redesigned with fewer
individual parts for improved quality and refinement. An optimisation of the
doors realised through efficient use of materials contributes to much improved
door kinematics and feel. Meanwhile, further weight savings are achieved
through the crafting of the bootlid in a polymer composite material that also
integrates the main antennae for the car’s electronic systems.
The exterior design, manufacturing processes and carefully
optimised materials selections combine to provide a bodyshell that is not only
muscular and clean, with minimal shutlines, but also one that performs
exceptionally well on the road. With a torsional stiffness of 36,500 Nm/degree,
a 4% increase over the previous generation Flying Spur, the new bodyshell
provides an extremely rigid platform for the chassis components and a stable
foundation for NVH reduction. The sleek shape also has outstanding aerodynamic
properties for a large sedan, with an overall drag coefficient of just 0.29 and
ensuing benefits to emissions performance.
Weight savings in the body structure and throughout the car mean
that the new Flying Spur is 50 kg lighter than the first generation car,
despite the additional refinement measures, enhanced technology specification
and stronger structure.
A CONTEMPORARY CABIN OF HAND-CRAFTED MATERIALS
The sumptuous interior of the new Flying Spur includes 600 new
parts, with only the sun visors, grab handles, armrests and some of the front
console and controls carried over from the previous generation. Class-leading
entertainment and information technologies are married with traditional
hand-crafted materials and stunning contemporary design to create the ultimate
high-luxury sedan cabin.
Available in both four- and five-seat configurations, the new
Flying Spur features redesigned front and rear seats trimmed in natural
premium-quality leather. The new seats use a softer yet more durable hide
unique to Bentley and available in twelve different colours.
Careful use of different foam specifications and densities creates
seats that are both supremely comfortable and supportive, with 14-way
adjustment including memory and lumbar functions. Every occupant is offered
seat heating as well as seat ventilation, while additional stowage sections are
incorporated to the rear of the front seats.
For the four-seat variant, the centre console sweeps from the
front to the rear cabin and introduces an additional storage area together with
a beautifully crafted stowage case, trimmed in veneer to match the car.
The interior designers, together with the craftsmen and women of
Bentley’s renowned woodshop, have applied the finest wood veneers to finish the
cabin of the new Flying Spur. Utilising almost ten square metres of sustainably
sourced natural wood per car, the Flying Spur features book-matched and
mirror-polished veneer to the fascia panels, consoles, waistrails and picnic
tables. To enhance the “wrap-around” feel of the forward cabin, the veneer of
the dashboard meets that of the doors in a perfectly aligned curve, giving the
impression of an unbroken arc of wood around the interior. Crafted entirely by
hand, cured for 72 hours and clear-lacquered to enhance the natural beauty of
the wood, a range of seven sophisticated veneers is available (two as standard
- burr walnut or dark fiddleback eucalyptus).
To complete the luxurious and opulent nature of the cabin, the
roof lining and pillars are also trimmed in natural leather. Layers of supple
foam are applied to all tactile surfaces beneath the hide, harmonising the
touch and feel of all areas of the cabin. Electrically-operated rear side
blinds, fitted as standard, permit privacy for rear-seat passengers if desired.
Customers may also specify an optional glass sunroof at no additional cost.
Behind the central rear armrest, a nine-litre bottle cooler can be specified to
keep drinks perfectly chilled. The interior designers also focused on improving
interior stowage around the cabin, whilst including new electronic technologies
discretely throughout the interior.
CONNECTION TO THE OUTSIDE WORLD
Complementing the hand-crafted interior, the Flying Spur is
equipped with carefully selected state-of-the-art technology, for both the
driver and passengers. Central infotainment is controlled through a high
resolution 8” touch-screen interface, complete with Bentley’s advanced
satellite navigation system and Bluetooth connectivity, while infotainment
features can be controlled by voice activation.
An eight-channel, eight-speaker audio system featuring Balanced
Mode Radiator technology for optimum sound clarity and frequency range can play
music from an on-board hard drive, CDs, DVDs, SD cards and via an iPod. The
Naim® for Bentley
Premium Audio System, featuring redesigned separate subwoofers for improved
bass extension and 1100 Watts of power, is available as an option for those
wishing for the ultimate in-car audio experience.
Rear seat passengers have access to an extensive array of
infotainment technology. A new Touch Screen Remote (TSR), deployed from a
housing in the rear console at the touch of a button, allows passengers to
control a variety of different systems. From climate controls and seat heating
and ventilation through to the satellite navigation and multimedia systems, the
TSR means passengers can interface with the car from the comfort of their seat.
Customers wishing to work on the move may order the new Flying
Spur with the new Multi-Media Specification. Central to this is the Bentley
Connectivity Unit (BCU) which allows portable devices, laptops and tablet
computers to connect to the internet through the car’s own Wi-Fi hotspot with
an active SIM and includes 64 GB of internal storage capacity. Two 10” LCD
screens are installed to the backs of the front seats, while top-loading
multimedia players sit in pockets fitted beneath, allowing the user to load and
enjoy video, photo and music content from DVDs, SD cards, USB devices including
iPods and iPads, and HDMI devices.
Each rear passenger can view separate content, or stream media
from the BCU. A USB charging port keeps batteries fresh, and wired headphone
ports complete the connections, allowing music and internet radio to be played
directly through the BCU. Bentley wireless headphones complete the
specification for the ultimate in rear-seat infotainment.
DESIGNED FOR EXCEPTIONAL COMFORT
Achieving class-leading comfort and refinement was a priority
during the development of the new Flying Spur and the acoustic isolation of the
cabin from external noise inputs was a particular focus. Bentley’s development
and use of lightweight acoustic underfloor panels to minimise road noise
continues, with aerodynamically optimised insulating sections applied to almost
the entire underfloor of the car. Side glazing and both front and rear screens
are made in acoustic glass, featuring a specially developed interlayer that
reduces noise transmission. An improved sealing system around the side glazing
now features two individual sealing points to reduce wind noise to a minimum
regardless of road speed. The redesigned doors are also fitted with additional
insulation to the outer skin, reducing noise diffusion in to the cabin.
Enlarged rear mufflers reduce exhaust noise by 12 dB at 3000 rev/min for
enhanced passenger comfort.
The heating and ventilation system is improved with the addition
of a new Thermostatic Expansion Valve which drastically decreases the time
taken to cool the cabin. An optional Climate Boost function features an
enhanced blower system for improved cooling of the rear cabin.
With comfort paramount for the new Flying Spur, a new 19” tyre has
been specifically developed, utilising a 12% relative increase in sidewall
height combined with greater vertical compliance to improve impact isolation.
During development, 12 different tyre constructions were tested and refined to
find the optimum balance between refinement and handling performance.
EIGHT GEARS, SIX LITRES AND FOUR DRIVEN WHEELS
As Bentley’s most powerful engine, the 6.0-litre, twin
turbocharged, 48-valve W12 is the natural choice to power the fastest ever
Bentley four-door. Now delivering 625 PS (616 bhp) at 6,000 rev/min and a
staggering 800 Nm (580 lb ft) of torque from only 2000 rev/min, the W12 has
recently undergone a complete engine management system upgrade to the latest
Bosch ME17 interface. Improved torque management, turbocharger control,
driveability and emissions performance all result from the adoption and
optimisation of the new system, with a resulting improvement in low speed
responsiveness.
Coupled to the W12 is the very latest eight-speed, quick-shift
automatic transmission from ZF. All Bentley models now feature this
state-of-the-art gearbox. Delivering seamless and imperceptible shifts in under
200 milliseconds, the gearbox is not only designed to handle the mighty torque
output of the W12 but also to ensure smooth and refined delivery of power to
the wheels. An optimised set of gear ratios keeps the engine in its most
efficient operating range under light loads and when cruising, contributing in
an overall improvement in fuel consumption and CO2 emissions of more than 13 per cent
over the outgoing model. The new Flying Spur delivers a combined cycle fuel
economy of 19.2 mpg (14.7 litres/100 km), and CO2 emissions of 343 g/km –
impressive figures for a 12-cylinder ultra-luxury, high performance sedan.
The transmission feeds power to all four wheels via Bentley’s
renowned all-wheel drive system. With a standard torque split of 60 per cent to
the rear wheels and 40 per cent to the front, but the ability to vary this
division up to 85 per cent to the rear axle or 65 per cent to the front
depending on available traction, the Flying Spur’s drivetrain ensures optimal
grip regardless of prevailing road or weather conditions. The assurance
provided by such a sure-footed set-up means that the spirited driver can deploy
all of the car’s available power and torque in a controlled and dependable
manner, in virtually any circumstances.
A REFINED RIDE WITH DYNAMIC DELIVERY
With outstanding ride comfort of vital importance, the independent
computer-controlled air suspension of the new Flying Spur is redesigned to
maximise impact absorption and isolation. Compared to the outgoing model,
suspension spring rates are softened front and rear by 10 per cent and 13 per
cent respectively, for improved ride comfort in the normal operating region.
The rate of stiffness increase during harder cornering has been increased for
improved control of heave, pitch and roll. Anti-roll bars are softened by 13
per cent and 15 per cent to improve single wheel impact absorption. Suspension
lever bushes all-round are softened by at least 25 per cent for reduced road
surface-induced noise and vibration.
Working with the new springs, a damper hydraulic specification has
been developed to maximise ride comfort. Working with a revised damper
electronic control (CDC) strategy, this enables exceptional low speed ride
performance while damping force increases significantly with speed, providing
the optimum balance between body control and stability at all speeds. A
four-position suspension control, with a widened range of settings, allows
drivers to choose the level of damping to suit their preference.
The power steering system provides a comfort-orientated balance
whilst maintaining optimum steering feel and precision throughout the speed
range. A new specification of steering gear, together with a new calibration of
the speed-sensitive system that regulates hydraulic fluid flow, provides
variable assistance depending on vehicle speed. The new system delivers both
high levels of isolation from surface deformations whilst ensuring driver
confidence through the combination of accurate steering precision and a
measured increase in steering effort when cornering.
As the new Flying Spur approaches its 200 mph (322 km/h) top
speed, the ride height is automatically lowered via the air suspension system
in order to compensate for aerodynamic forces. This helps not only to improve
vehicle stability by optimising aerodynamic balance along the car, but also
reduces drag, with benefits both to top speed and CO2 output. The new car has a two-stage
lowering strategy, firstly lowering by 5 mm at the front and 10 mm at the rear
at 121 mph (195 km/h) and then by a further 8 mm and 13 mm respectively at 149
mph (240 km/h).
The multiple-mode Electronic Stability Control (ESC) system is
recalibrated to work in combination with the new chassis specification. The
system is calibrated to ensure that the enthusiastic driver is not hindered by
stability interventions and, where appropriate through the selection of the ESC
Dynamic Mode, the driver can further explore the handling limits of the vehicle
whilst still maintaining appropriate levels of stability control.
THE PERSONAL CHOICES
As with the entire Bentley range, the new Flying Spur is built to
individual customers’ exacting specifications. A range of seventeen standard
exterior paint colours includes Dark Cashmere, a sophisticated and contemporary
addition to the Bentley palette. The extended paint range of over 100 colours
is joined by Damson, a rich hue inspired by the extremely rare purple diamond,
and one that is complemented by an optional matching hide colour.
A new 19-inch Classic wheel is fitted exclusively to the new
Flying Spur, either bright-painted or with a diamond turned finish. The new
design consolidates a wider range of 20-inch five-spoke, 21-inch six-spoke and
21-inch ten-spoke wheels available as cost options.
Customers wishing to extend the range of available options further
can choose to include the Mulliner Driving Specification. This includes five
additional hides, expanding the number of available shades to 17, and five
further wood veneers. Bentley’s traditional diamond quilting is incorporated to
the seats and door panels, together with an indented leather headlining and
embroidered Bentley wings to the headrests. Drilled alloy foot pedals, a
knurled sports gear lever, jewel filler cap and 21” two-piece five-spoke alloy
wheels in painted or polished finish complete the Mulliner suite of options.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
|
|
New Flying Spur
|
|
Engine
|
|
|
Type
|
6-litre twin-turbocharged W12
|
|
Max Power
|
616 bhp / 460 kW / 625 PS @6000 rev/min
|
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Max Torque
|
800 Nm / 590 lb.ft @ 2000 rev/min
|
|
Transmission
|
|
|
Type
|
ZF 8-speed automatic with Quickshift, Block Shifting and
wheel-mounted paddleshift
|
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Driveline
|
Continuous all-wheel drive (40:60 rear bias)
|
|
Ratios
|
1st : 4.71; 2nd: 3.14; 3rd:
2.1; 4th: 1.67; 5th: 1.29; 6th: 1.00; 7th:
0.839; 8th: 0.667
|
|
Final Drive
|
2.85
|
|
Brakes
|
|
|
Front
|
405mm ventilated discs (optional 420mm Carbon Silicon Carbide,
cross drilled)
|
|
Rear
|
335mm ventilated discs (optional 356mm, Carbon Silicon Carbide,
cross drilled)
|
|
Wheels and Tyres
|
|
|
Wheels
|
New 19" (2 finishes), opt 9.5J x 20", opt 9.5J x
21" (3 designs)
|
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Tyres
|
275/45 ZR19, 275/40 ZR20, 275/35 ZR21
|
|
Steering
|
|
|
Type
|
Rack & pinion, power assisted, speed-sensitive ZF
servotronic
|
|
Turns lock-to-lock
|
2.8
|
|
Turning circle
|
11.7 m / 38.4 feet
|
|
Suspension
|
|
|
Front
|
Four link double wishbones, computer controlled self-levelling
air suspension, with anti-roll bar
|
|
Rear
|
Trapezoidal multi-link, computer-controlled self-levelling air
suspension, with anti-roll bar
|
|
Damping
|
Continuous Damping Control
|
|
Dimensions
|
|
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Wheelbase
|
3065 mm / 120.7 in
|
|
Overall length
|
5295 mm / 208.5 in
|
|
Width (across body)
|
1976 mm / 77.8 in
|
|
Width (inc. mirrors)
|
2208 mm / 86.9 in
|
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Overall height
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1488 mm / 58.6 in
|
|
Fuel tank
|
90 litres / 20 UK gallons / 24 US gallons
|
|
Boot volume
|
475 litres / 16.8 cu ft
|
|
Kerb weight (EU)
|
2475 kg / 5451 lb
|
|
Gross vehicle weight
|
2972 kg / 6546 lb
|
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Performance
|
|
|
Top speed
|
200 mph / 322 km/h
|
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0-60 mph
|
4.3 secs
|
|
0-100 mph
|
9.5 secs
|
|
0-100 km/h
|
4.6 secs
|
|
0-160 km/h
|
9.5 secs
|
|
Fuel Consumption (EU cycle)*
|
|
|
Urban
|
12.6 mpg (22.4 litres/100 km)
|
|
Extra Urban
|
27.8 mpg (10.2 litres/100 km)
|
|
Combined
|
19.2 mpg (14.7 litres/100 km)
|
|
CO2 emissions
|
343 g /km
|
|
Fuel Consumption (EPA cycle)**
|
|
|
City (US mpg)
|
12
|
|
Highway (US mpg)
|
20
|
|
Combined (US mpg)
|
15
|
|
Emissions Controls
|
EU 5 and US LEV II
|
*
Fuel consumption figures are provisional and subject to Type Approval.
**
Fuel consumption figures are provisional and subject to EPA certification.
