Bentley Flying Spur with W12 in the glance test: Big skid for a big wallet

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The Flying Spur Mulliner W12 is the only remaining luxury sedan in British automaker Bentley’s lineup. Blick was able to subject the mega sled to extensive testing with the best Mulliner equipment and the powerful W12 engine under the seemingly endless bonnet.

before trip

As a Mulliner, the Flying Spur is a four-seater. The rear consists of two separate seats separated by a center console with plenty of storage space and cup holders. And here the passengers are particularly comfortable: comfortable cushions are installed in the headrest, and there is plenty of legroom thanks to the wheelbase of almost 3.20 meters. Additionally, seat heating and ventilation, including seat massage, ensure a high level of comfort. Using the touchscreen remote control on the center console, guests can adjust the seats or control the audio system. Streaming services from the mobile phone can be projected onto the two 10-inch screens in front of them. There is also an electrically expandable storage area so you can work while driving. It is no less comfortable for the driver and front passenger: they also benefit from the massage, heating and cooling functions in the seats. Even the armrests are heated.

on the street

Even though we want to sit in the right rear seat of the chauffeured limousine, we first sit in the driver’s seat and start the six-liter twin-turbo engine with a single button. Where previously there was a smooth wooden panel on the dashboard, an infotainment screen suddenly appears, which also houses Apple CarPlay. Four driving modes are available for driving: Sport, Bentley, Comfort and Custom. In Sport mode, the suspension, engine and transmission are designed to respond more quickly, while in “Comfort” mode they are designed to provide a special feeling. Bentley mode represents a mixture of both modes. The 5.32-metre-long Flying Spur is powered by twelve cylinders arranged in a W-shape (hence W12) and an output of 635 hp (467 kW) and a massive maximum torque of 900 Newton meters transmitted to all wheels. . This means the 2.5-ton luxury sled accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.8 seconds.

that was good

Comfort is incredible in the Flying Spur. But this isn’t just due to the pleasant seat massages or the adaptive cruise control with steering assist. Smooth engine operation and roll stabilization provide passengers with an appropriate level of comfort even at high speeds. In addition, thanks to the adaptive air suspension, cracks or other irregularities in the tram are almost never transmitted to the interior. Rear axle steering ensures high stability and the necessary maneuverability in city traffic, even when changing lanes at higher speeds.

he was bad

The leather inside the Flying Spur looks extremely elegant and is well made. What bothers us is the lack of storage space in the cockpit; We would like to have at least one compartment in the center console. Outdated navigation also bothers us: Bentley could definitely use something newer from the VW Group shelf. The high curb weight of 2.5 tonnes is easily moved by the engine, but the brakes could be more effective. In addition, the base price of the twelve-cylinder Flying Spur reached a very high figure of 297,566 Swiss francs, and the average consumption in our test was 16.8 liters per 100 kilometers. The noble Englishman is also in the upper class in terms of cost and consumption.

what remains

Comfortable seats, high travel comfort and the brutal power and silence of the twelve-cylinder engine are at the absolute highest level. But we won’t miss expensive fuel stops either. Although this Bentley is essentially a chauffeured limousine and is best ridden from the right side, it’s just as much fun behind the wheel. If you want to buy a twelve-cylinder engine from Bentley, you should hurry: the Flying Spur W12 will only be available for order until the end of the year, after which production will end.

Source: Blick