Even though the popularity of SUVs increases every day, I believe that there is still a market for sedans. Not only sedans but luxurious ones, built like the luxurious cars of the past when opulence and comfort were the gold standards. Thankfully, many constructors have the same mindset as I do, one of them being Bentley.
Seen for the first time in 2005, the Continental Flying Spur was nothing more than a four-door variant of the Continental GT. In fact, they were so similar that it was pretty much impossible to differentiate them by just looking at them from the front. Despite that, it sold very well and Bentley unveiled the second generation of the car in 2013. For that new generation, Bentley changed things up a bit and removed the “Continental” prefix in order to differentiate it from the sportier Continental GT. The design, despite still similar, was more unique than the past generation, yet it was beginning to age.
Fortunately, the 2020 Flying Spur has just been unveiled and this time, Bentley got it right! Now, the car looks beautiful and can easily be picked apart from the more driver-oriented Continental GT. The new Flying Spur is powered by a 662 hp 6.0L twin-turbo W12 that can take this sedan from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.8 seconds. A V8 variant is to be expected as well as a hybrid.
Inside, you will find some of the finest materials available in the auto industry as well as impressive craftsmanship and the lastest and greatest in Bentley technology. The highlight of the cabin is undoubtedly the optional Bentley Rotating Display. Placed in the center of the dashboard, it looks like nothing is there when the car is off, but as soon as you start the car, it rotates to reveal a digital display. A further rotation reveals three classic analogue dials. There’s also a button so you can switch to one of the three sides depending on your mood.
Bentley recently retired the Mulsanne, making the Flying Spur the only sedan currently offered by the British manufacturer. Hopefully, its days aren’t numbered and it will keep on living for generations to come!
Learn more online via Bentley Motors and Decarie Motors
Photography by Olivier Lessard