Bentley Continental Flying Spur

Angular Front Exterior View - 2010 Bentley Continental Flying Spur 4-door Sedan

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Shopping for a 2012 Bentley Continental Flying Spur? MSRP: $184,200 - $209,600

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The Bentley Continental Flying Spur is the "Orange County Jetta"--the ultra-wealthy-everyman's four-door for those needing something chic, swank, and not too ostentatious for shopping at Fashion Island and smoothly motoring over for daily spa treatments at Montage. Prices begin at just less than $200,000, and the primary competition for those dollars are machines like the Maserati Quattroporte, the Aston Martin Rapide , and the Porsche Panamera.

Introduced in the 2006 model year in the U.S., the Flying Spur is art imitating life, in that it's gained some mild cosmetic improvements over the years. The basics haven't changed much, though--the Flying Spur still evokes glances with its four-circle front end, its wedding-cake shoulders and roofline, and the sloping formality of its trunklid. It's shorn of the very formal look of the big Bentley Arnage, thankfully--and its styling has played some role in the invention of the new 2011 Bentley Mulsanne. Inside there's nothing but slack-jawed admiration for its luxuriant materials and workmanship--there's burled walnut, knurled aluminum, enough cow and sheep pieces to almost make the Scots happy, and layers of lacquer and chrome applied lovingly to, well, everything. There's not quite as much room in the back as you'd imagine for the hulking, hefty Flying Spur, but there's enough to impress.

The powertrain for the Flying Spur is derived more from Volkswagen groupings than British heritage--all to great effect. The twin-turbocharged 6.0-liter W-12 engine lays out 552 horsepower and 479 pound-feet of torque, and distributes it all to an all-wheel-drive system through a six-speed automatic. The claimed 0-60 mph time of less than five seconds and top speed of 194 mph are bested by the new Speed edition, which bumps power to 600 hp and 554 lb-ft of torque, which cuts acceleration times to 60 mph to 4.5 seconds and lifts top speed to 200 mph. Handling is unbelievably responsive for the 5,500-pound Flying Spur, and braking power is astonishing and abrupt.

There are no crash-test scores for the Flying Spur, but it's replete with airbags in all directions, as well as traction and stability control integrated with its anti-lock brakes.

As you'd expect, the fit and finish are exquisite. Buyers can choose from a range of matched veneers, leathers and trims--or can bring their own choices to the design table. A fully outfitted Flying Spur can also be optioned with massaging rear seats, satellite radio and voice-activated navigation, and a 1000-watt Naim audio system with the delicate bright response its power output implies.

Bentley is expected to replace the Flying Spur and the related Continental GT/GTC lineup in the 2012-2013 time frame.

Angular Rear Exterior View - 2010 Bentley Continental Flying Spur 4-door Sedan

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