2022 Bentley Flying Spur
Starting at: $200,000 est
Highs Opulent cabin, athletic handling for a luxury sedan, few cars are as impressive as a Bentley.
Lows Eye-popping price tag, 12-cylinder engine guzzles gas, surprisingly few standard driver-assistance features.
Verdict Whether you’re being chauffeured or you’re doing the chauffeuring, the Flying Spur delivers an ultra-luxurious experience and a commanding road presence.
Overview
Even though it’s built from the ground up to pamper its passengers, the 2022 Bentley Flying Spur also has an athletic chassis to entertain the driver. A trio of engine choices—including a new plug-in hybrid—provide seemingly endless power, and its adept handling turns lazy weekend cruises into joyful driving experiences. The cabin delights the senses with high-end leathers, woods, and metal accents intermingled with modern-day technology and conveniences. The rear seat is particularly relaxing, especially when equipped with luxury features such as rear bucket seats, which offer power adjustments and heated armrests. However, the Flying Spur’s unbeatable blend of luxury and performance comes with an eye-watering six-figure price tag, and that’s before you start tacking on customization options from Bentley’s Mulliner line of personalization features.
What’s New for 2022?
A plug-in hybrid powertrain joins the lineup for 2022 and provides 536 horsepower from a combination of a twin-turbo V-6 and an electric motor. The hybrid powertrain is said to provide electric-only driving thanks to its 14.1-kWh battery pack, but EV-range should be fairly limited. Buyers of the Flying Spur hybrid may have to point out their environmental friendliness to their friends at the country club, though, as Bentley has done little to differentiate the car from its V-8- and W-12-powered family members.
Pricing and Which One to Buy
Hybrid: $200,000 (est)
V-8: $200,000 (est)
W-12: $225,000 (est)
Upgrading from the base V-8 engine and the more powerful W-12 is an easy choice from our perspective. Bentley customers can choose from one of several curated themes, such as Cool Harmony, Storm Noir, or Alter Ego when ordering their Flying Spur, but we’d suggest going with a fully bespoke build to make it uniquely yours. A seemingly endless array of exterior colors and styling choices await you in the Bentley Mulliner customization program. The same goes for interior appointments, which can include several different types of wood, different-colored leather, and polished metal accents. Upgrading from the standard City Specification to Touring Specification adds several driver-assistance features, and there’s even an optional refrigerated compartment to keep your champagne cool.
Engine, Transmission, and Performance
All Flying Spurs come with an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, all-wheel drive, and a powerful twin-turbocharged engine. A 542-hp V-8 is standard, but we’d suggest upgrading to the 626-hp W-12 engine. With 12 cylinders under the hood, the Flying Spur never wants for power. In fact, it can show its taillights to many top-tier sports cars in a drag race. At our test track, it leapt to 60 mph in just 3.5 seconds. The V-8-powered model delivered an identical 3.5-second zero-to-60-mph run, but the W-12 is slightly quicker to 100 mph and through the quarter-mile. A plug-in hybrid powertrain is also available and combines a twin-turbo 2.9-liter V-6 with an electric motor for a combined 536 horses and 553 pound-feet of torque. When we took the Flying Spur for a brief drive near Monaco, we found it to be a far more athletic driver than we anticipated. Credit for that agility must go to the sedan’s adaptive suspension and rear-wheel-steering system. Back in our home state of Michigan, the Flying Spur repeated its performance from our earlier drive and provided a much needed respite from the cratered roads that plague the area near our editorial office.
Interior, Comfort, and Cargo
Sumptuous leather, genuine wood trim, and real metal accents line the Flying Spur’s interior. In the front or back, there’s plenty of space for adults to stretch out and enjoy the luxurious environs. Bentley’s interior designers managed to preserve the brand’s prim and proper styling while incorporating modern tech features. A remote touchscreen controller mounted to the rear of the center console allows rear-seat riders to adjust certain things without asking the driver for assistance. For instance, you can use it to open and close the window shades, adjust the cabin climate, and activate the rear-seat massagers. A generously sized trunk offers plenty of space for luggage, cases of champagne, or a day’s worth of impulse shopping on Rodeo Drive.
Read More https://www.caranddriver.com/bentley/flying-spur
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