Top luxury Car: Bentley Flying Spur
Wednesday, 2 December 2020
With increasingly more cost-effective technology across the wide gamut of vehicle brands, as well as more focus on noise, vibration and harshness and interior appointment, defining a “Luxury Car” has become trickier in recent times. Prestige and luxury marques are more than ever needing to extend that gap between mainstream offerings.
And Bentley has done just that with the latest Flying Spur. It transcends any blurred lines and re-establishes the benchmark for luxury in automotive. Cleverly too, it’s merged luxury with outstanding performance. The twin-turbo W12 powerplant and quick shifting DSG transmission enables a 0-100 time of just 3.8 seconds and top speed of 333kmh.
Only about four percent of Bentley owners globally employ the use of a permanent chauffeur, so driver engagement remains a priority for the Flying Spur, as such it is the first Bentley to employ a four-wheel steering system, which joins the already capable all-wheel drive and dynamic ride air suspension. In slow, tight turns it offers up to four degrees of assistance, at high-speed the adjustment is much finer to deliver surprising stability and agility.
Putting the big guy through its paces on a series of winding switchbacks and I’d go so far as to say that despite the extra size, it’s as competent – if not more so – than the Continental GT it’s based on.
**READ MORE:
* Top luxury SUV: Mercedes-Benz GLS 400d
* Top Medium/Large Car: Volvo S60/V60
* Top Sports/Performance Car: Ford Fiesta ST
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It’s a convincing example of technology overcoming physics. The adaptive suspension, torque vectoring all-wheel drive and four-wheel steering counter the natural deficit a long wheelbase and the substantial mass a car of this size would ordinarily be impeded by. And they do so with remarkable aptitude; the Flying Spur is an extremely good car to drive.
It is also the brand’s most technology-filled model by far and the tech story is best told from the back seat.
Two large media touchscreens are available to occupants and a beautifully knurled alloy and glass handheld controller ejects from a central cradle, with this you can control everything from the media selection and acoustics of the audio system, the multi-function massage, heating or cooling seats, the secrecy window blinds, panoramic glass roof and even the retractable (and optionally illuminated) Flying B hood mascot; the first of its kind for Bentley.
Oh, it also has a mini fridge. Of course.
Everything is lavishly draped in the finest leather and stunning wood veneer. Every inch of leather is inspected for imperfections before they make the grade, the woodworkers must complete a four-year apprenticeship at the Bentley factory before they are allowed to develop the veneered parts for the car. Make no mistake, this is a car crafted by the hand’s of artisans, not assembled by machines.
And that is where the difference truly lies. It’s not just about quantity, the immense amount of technology is impressive, naturally, but it’s the quality and the breadth of capability that lifts the Flying Spur to another level.
What else was in the running?
It’s been a year of SUVs and while new offerings from BMW, Mercedes or Audi are all pretty fantastic in their own rights, nothing new in 2020 matches the Flying Spur’s combined drivability, refinement and ultimate nailing of the “luxury’ brief.
Essential details: 6.0-litre turbo petrol W12 with 466kW/900Nm. Pricing starts at $395,000.
Safety: Not tested by Euro NCAP yet. Stability control, adaptive cruise control and emergency braking, optional lane keeping assist, night vision and a head-up display.
At a glance: Should appear next to opulent in the dictionary. But surprisingly satisfying to drive on all roads and very comfortable at high speed. It is the world’s fastest luxury saloon after all.
Who should consider it: It’s at the very top end of town pricewise so the audience is limited, but often supreme luxury comes at a compromise of everyday practicality. Not so in the Flying Spur, it’s less imposing to drive than you may think.
Things to consider: It is still quite imposing to drive though. It’s 5.3 metres long and 2.2 m wide, so not a supermini.
What else could you buy?: How you define luxury at this end of the market is very personalised but the Mercedes S-Class, Bentley Continental GT, Rolls-Royce Ghost, Range Rover Long Wheelbase all impress in different ways.