2018 Bentley Flying Spur Review

　　

zzdcar' Expert Review

byMark TakahashiCorrespondent

　　Mark Takahashi has worked in the automotive industry since 2001. He has written thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Mark has also contributed to Motor Trend, Auto Aficionado, Chevy High Performance and several motorcycle magazines in various roles. Mark is also a juror on the North American Car, Truck and Utility Vehicle of the Year Awards and can be seen regularly on the zzdcar YouTube channel and sometimes representing the company in media interviews.

　　

What's new

The Bentley Flying Spur returns unchanged for 2018Part of the second Flying Spur generation introduced for 2014

　　A Gulfstream G650 may be the most affluent way to travel, especially when you consider its top speed of 600 mph and a starting price of $65 million, but you're obviously limited as to where to park it. The 2018 Bentley Flying Spur can hit speeds just past 200 mph and costs a mere 3 percent of the Gulfstream and you can park it almost anywhere. What a bargain!

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2018 Bentley Flying Spur V8 4dr Sedan AWD (4.0L 8cyl Turbo 8A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.78 per gallon for premium unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$277/mo  for Flying Spur V8

　　Flying Spur V8

　　V8 4dr Sedan AWD (4.0L 8cyl Turbo 8A) (Most Popular) - $189,000 MSRPV8 S 4dr Sedan AWD (4.0L 8cyl Turbo 8A) - $205,000 MSRPW12 4dr Sedan AWD (6.0L 12cyl Turbo 8A) - $224,500 MSRPW12 S 4dr Sedan AWD (6.0L 12cyl Turbo 8A) - $244,600 MSRP

　　vs

　　$197/mo

　　Avg. Large Car

　　In all seriousness, the Flying Spur will likely be a prime candidate to shuttle you to and from your jet, whether you prefer to drive yourself or if you prefer to enjoy it from a passenger seat. It's luxuriously appointed with the finest materials and built by master craftspeople. It's an understated proclamation of wealth that can be tailored to fit your needs and aesthetics. It's elegant for sure, but it does lack some more modern conveniences and technologies.

　　

zzdcar' Expert Rating

　　The 2018 Bentley Flying Spur embodies classic luxury with exemplary materials and craftsmanship. Unfortunately, classic also means it's lacking in the technology department.

　　

Trim tested

　　zzdcar has not recently tested or driven this vehicle. The following is our first take on what's significant about it and what you can expect.

　　

Driving

　　With gobs of torque and an all-wheel-drive system that biases engine torque to the rear wheels to improve handling, the Flying Spur promises a relatively sporty driving experience by segment standards. The keyword there is "relatively"; this is an amply sized, heavy sedan after all.

　　

Comfort

　　This is the Flying Spur's raison d'être. Complete cocooning in real wood and leather, an adjustable suspension and a nearly silent powertrain enable passengers to feel almost completely isolated. But the rear seating isn't quite as posh as it is in other mega-buck luxury sedans.

　　

Interior

　　If you're into the latest whiz-bang technology, the Flying Spur is not for you. Instead, focus on its craftsmanship and the get-down-to-driving nature of the cockpit layout. The Flying Spur is one of the few cars left that invite you to just drive rather than fiddle with the in-car electronics.

　　

Utility

　　The only mission of the Flying Spur is to make its owner happy; utility is largely beside the point. Storage space for small items is limited, and the trunk can hold a respectable 16.7 cubic feet. It's lined in plush carpet, of course.

　　

Technology

　　Yes, it's lacking compared to, say, a current-spec Hyundai, but the rear-seat remote climate control tablet is a nice touch, and there are no fiddly knobs or gesture control systems to get in the way. A simple touchscreen and buttons are all that's available.

　　

Which Flying Spur does zzdcar recommend?

　　The anything-but-standard Bentley Flying Spur is our choice. The comfort-focused suspension does a better job of gliding down the highway than the sportier S model. We also recommend the W12 engine for the full effect, rather than the V8.

　　

2018 Bentley Flying Spur models

　　The 2018 Bentley Flying Spur is offered in two main variants: Flying Spur V8 and Flying Spur W12. There are also sport versions: V8 S and W12 S. The V8 utilizes a turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 good for 500 horsepower and 487 pound-feet of torque. On the V8 S, output is increased to 521 hp and 502 lb-ft of torque. For the W12, a 6.0-liter W12 engine cranks out 616 hp and 590 lb-ft of torque. The W12 S version has an incremental increase to 626 hp and 605 lb-ft of torque. All-wheel drive and an eight-speed automatic transmission are standard on all versions.

　　Take a seat inside and you'll find that real wood veneer and leather saturate the interior, and chrome and polished organ-stop vent dampers still feature prominently on the dash. Standard feature highlights include an adjustable air suspension, a power trunklid, keyless ignition and entry, a Breitling analog dashboard clock, four-zone automatic climate control, and heated and ventilated multiway power front and rear seats. Also standard are an 8-inch front touchscreen, a navigation system, a rearview camera, voice controls and an eight-speaker audio system.

　　The Mulliner specification adds 21-inch wheels (or any other kind of wheel you'd like, Bentley says), a chrome lower front bumper with a wing insert, a choice of 17 diamond-quilted perforated interior hides (including a presumably non-literal Porpoise decor option) and six wood veneers, an indented leather headliner, a knurled shift knob, drilled alloy pedals and a special gas tank cap.

　　Other notable options include carbon-ceramic brakes, adaptive cruise control, various wheel designs, flip-down wooden picnic tables for rear passengers, upgraded stitching, a two-passenger rear compartment with a full-length center console, a rear entertainment system with twin display screens, Wi-Fi connectivity and a 13-speaker Naim sound system. Bentley also offers a seemingly endless array of different color, trim and upholstery customization options.

　　

2018 Flying Spur Highlights

Type: V8 SW12 SSedanSedan

　　Trim: V8V8 SW12W12 SV8

　　

Base MSRP	$189,000
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	16 MPG
Cost to Drive	$277/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	16.7 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	all wheel drive
Warranty	3 years / unlimited miles