Skip advert
Advertisement

Bentley Continental Flying Spur

We drive the new Bentley Flying Spur, which gets a 616bhp 6.0-litre W12

Overall Auto Express rating

4.0

How we review cars
Find your Bentley Flying Spur
Compare deals from trusted partners on this car and previous models.
Or are you looking to sell your car?
Value my car
Fast, no-nonsense car selling
Value my car

Bentley never anticipated the success that the original Flying Spur would find in China. When it was launched back in 2005 they didn't even consider the Chinese market, but in recent years it's become a runaway success. The extensive revisions have certainly sharpened it up – even if they come with a £10,000 price rise – but it's hard to see it being of anything more than minority interest to British buyers.

Advertisement - Article continues below

There were 125 sales of the Bentley Continental Flying Spur in the UK last year – and nearly 10 times that number in China. With this new version, Bentley is hoping for even more export success, which is why we were flown all the way to Beijing to test it.

Although every exterior panel is new, the Continental Flying Spur still shares its predecessor's mechanical underpinnings – and it's 6.0-litre twin-turbocharged W12 engine. But the Flying Spur is faster, lighter, more economical – and vastly better looking than before, with a new front end to distinguish it from its Continental GT sister and a new muscular shoulder line at the back.

Power has risen from 552bhp to 616bhp, giving the Flying Spur the combination of a 4.3-sec 0-60mph time and a claimed 200mph top speed. That means it's the fastest four-door that Bentley has ever produced, and there's the near-certainty of an even quicker ‘Speed' version to follow later.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

Used - available now

Qashqai

2018 Nissan

Qashqai

52,849 milesManualDiesel1.5L

Cash £10,900
View Qashqai
5008

2022 Peugeot

5008

46,225 milesManualDiesel1.5L

Cash £18,506
View 5008
Puma

2023 Ford

Puma

67,042 milesManualPetrol1.0L

Cash £12,506
View Puma
EQC

2023 Mercedes

EQC

21,307 milesAutomaticElectric

Cash £26,000
View EQC

Buyers looking for Bentley's new 4.0-litre V8 engine, as seen in the Continental GT and GTC will have to wait. We're told it will be ‘at least a year' before it makes an appearance.

As before, the 6.0-litre W12 is a remarkable engine, albeit one that only those with the very deepest pockets will be able to run. Performance is every bit as brutal as the official figures suggest, with the engine's enormous 800 Nm of torque (available from just 2000 rpm) giving it enormous straight-line urge. It has four-wheel drive and a new eight-speed automatic gearbox, which works well when left to its own devices, but suffers from an irritating delay when you try to change gears using the paddles behind the steering wheel.

Advertisement - Article continues below

Bentley has engineered a new full-length acoustic shield that sits under the Flying Spur's floor to cut down on road noise. The company claims the Spur is now one of the quietest cars in the world at cruising speeds, and it was whisper quiet at a fast motorway pace. But this near-silence demonstrates the engine's lack of a compelling soundtrack, the W12 lacking the aural fire of the new V8.

Suspension settings have been changed substantially, with the new Flying Spur's set-up far more pliant than the original. Springs, bushes and anti-roll bars are all softer, while the active electronically controlled dampers are now quicker to react, and capable of becoming stiffer when called upon to control the chassis. Having experienced the car on China's often-horrendous road surfaces it's easy to see why the decision was made, our test car never lost its composure, despite wearing optional 21-inch wheels (19-inch are standard).

You'd expect the softer settings to take the dynamic edge off the driving experience, but the new Flying Spur doesn't feel any less sharp than the original. You're never in any doubt as to the car's considerable size and bulk – despite a 50kg weight saving over the old version, it still tips the scales at a sizeable 2475kg. But grip levels are good and, although ultimately the Spur's front end runs wide, it can be hustled along a twisty road at an impressive pace. It's happiest when cruising, though.

Perhaps the biggest question posed by the new Spur is why Bentley didn't treat the Continental and GTC to a similarly comprehensive makeover when it refreshed them last year. Next to it, its two-door siblings look a bit old-fashioned.

Skip advert
Advertisement

New & used car deals

Vauxhall Corsa

Vauxhall Corsa

RRP £18,725Avg. savings £4,199 off RRP*Used from £15,337
Renault Clio

Renault Clio

RRP £16,160Avg. savings £2,721 off RRP*Used from £8,600
Volkswagen Golf

Volkswagen Golf

RRP £24,625Avg. savings £2,261 off RRP*Used from £13,211
Volkswagen Tiguan

Volkswagen Tiguan

RRP £35,385Avg. savings £2,911 off RRP*Used from £16,700
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

New Kia PV5 Passenger MPV undercuts the VW ID.Buzz by a huge £25k
Kia PV5 Passenger - show front

New Kia PV5 Passenger MPV undercuts the VW ID.Buzz by a huge £25k

New entry into the electric people carrier market undercuts the VW ID. Buzz by a significant margin
News
29 Apr 2025
Car Deal of the Day: BMW’s ultimate luxury SUV at an unusually low price
BMW X7 - front

Car Deal of the Day: BMW’s ultimate luxury SUV at an unusually low price

German firm’s flagship SUV could never be called cheap but it is exceptional value at £735 a month – making it our Deal of the Day for Sunday 27 April
News
27 Apr 2025
New 2025 Kia PV5 van starts from a tempting £22,645
Kia PV5 Cargo on display at Commercial Vehicle Show - front 3/4

New 2025 Kia PV5 van starts from a tempting £22,645

All-new entry into the van market promises competitive pricing and comes with a range of up to 247 miles
News
30 Apr 2025