| Exotic car; Built in England |
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| Good condition price range: $NA – $NA* |
2007 Bentley Continental Flying Spur Front
2008 Bentley Continental Flying Spur Rear
2008 Bentley Continental Flying Spur Interior
2007 Bentley Continental Flying Spur Profile
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At $200,000 well equipped when new, and comparably costly secondhand, is the Flying Spur best judged against Mercedes-Benz cars that cost half as much? Or against Rolls Royce (and other Bentleys) that run twice as much? At this price level, Bentley has carved a nice niche for itself, somewhere between mainstream luxury and overt opulence. As such, the Flying Spur acquits itself well, blending a beautiful cabin with an impressive ride and massive power. Pragmatists will likely see Mercedes’ excellent S-Class sedans as a better value. Buyers looking for something rare and special, but not insanely expensive, may find Bentley’s “entry” sedan a compelling alternative.
Overview
Two years after the debut of the Continental GT coupe, Bentley’s Continental Flying Spur sedan joined the British motorcar-maker’s lineup, as a 2006 model. Both shared the same basic platform and design, but the Flying Spur was nearly 20 inches longer. Fitted with all-wheel drive, the Flying Spur served as Bentley’s “entry-level” sedan, despite having a sticker price past $165,000. Beneath the Flying Spur’s bonnet sat a turbocharged 552-horsepower, 6.0-liter 12-cylinder engine, mating with a six-speed automatic transmission that incorporated steering-column-mounted shift paddles. Standard air suspension featured four driver-adjustable ride height settings. Available safety features included antilock braking, an antiskid system, front side airbags, rear side airbags, and curtain side airbags. Bi-xenon headlights were standard, as were a navigation system, wireless cell-phone link, heated front seats with memory, driver-seat lumbar massaging, heated rear seat, and four-zone climate controls. One-piece wheels held 19-inch tires. Front disc brakes were claimed to be the biggest on any production passenger car. The interior could be set up for either four or five occupants. Options included a heated steering wheel, front-passenger lumbar massage, power opening and closing trunk lid, and satellite radio. Also available was a Mulliner Driving Specification package that included 20-inch wheels, additional chrome interior trim, and quilted leather seating.
Inspired by the 1957 Continental Flying Spur, the modern-day model was promoted as the fastest four-door Bentley ever, promising “refinement of the highest order” along with “supercar” performance. Featuring rounded C-pillars, recessed round headlights, and a humped trunk lid, styling was called “evocative, timeless and unostentatious.” Bentley was owned by Volkswagen, and the Continental’s platform could be traced back to the Volkswagen Phaeton sold in the U.S. from 2003-06. Many parts were shared with the Phaeton and Audi’s V8, including the aluminum frame. The Flying Spur nameplate hailed from Bentley’s past. From 1957 to 1965, Bentley offered custom-bodied four-door sedans, often with slightly better performance, under the Flying Spur badge. Flying Spur competitors included the Maserati Quattroporte and Mercedes-Benz S-Class; and later, the Rolls-Royce Ghost.
Yearly Updates
| 2007 Continental Flying Spur Apart from a new navigation system and Bluetooth setup, little changed for the 2007 season. |
| 2008 Continental Flying Spur Changes were few for the 2008 model year. |
| 2009 Continental Flying Spur A high-performance Speed model joined the Flying Spur lineup for 2009. Instead of the usual 552 horsepower, the Speed sedan’s W12 engine made an even 600 horsepower. The Speed edition included high-performance suspension tuning that could lower overall ride height, 20-inch wheels (in place of the standard 19s), and unique trim elements. Standard Flying Spurs got minor exterior and interior styling revisions, as well as modified suspension tuning. Newly available were digital-media-player connectivity and an audiophile Naim for Bentley audio system. Bi-xenon headlights were standard on all models. |
| 2010 Continental Flying Spur No significant changes were evident for 2010. |
| 2011 Continental Flying Spur Bentley’s “entry-level” sedan continued with few changes. Both engines could run on E85 ethanol-blended fuel. |
| 2012 Continental Flying Spur Except for a revised navigation/infotainment system, with a new screen, changes were few for 2012. A Series 51 package offered unique interior and paint-color schemes. Options included rear picnic tables, a refrigerated bottle cooler, and ceramic composite disc brakes. A rearview camera also was optional. |
