2014 Bentley Flying Spur: Spurred on by W12 Power
Achieving (almost) the same top speed as the 2013 Ford Mustang Shelby GT 500 requires same turbocharged W12 engine that motivates the high-performance variants of the Bentley Continental GT lineup. The powerplant develops 616 hp and 590 lb.-ft. of torque in the 2014 Bentley Flying Spur and, mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission from ZF, can shove the 5,451-lb. car from 0-60 in just 4.3 seconds—and from 0-100 in 9.5. And note that’s with a Bentley's full-time all-wheel-drive system on board.
Now, it’s unlikely that the 2014 Bentley Flying Spur will win too many autocross events, but engineers do complement that straight-line performance with a sophisticated suspension to help manage its more than 2.5 tons of mass. The focus, of course, is to “maximise impact absorption and isolation,” which is accomplished by features like electronic dampers, a driver-selectable four-mode suspension-control system, and an air suspension that can adjust ride height for improved stability at triple-digit speeds.
The result is the best of both worlds, according to Dr. Wolfgang Schrieber, the company’s chairman and chief executive: “Bentley’s new Flying Spur is the ultimate luxury performance sedan. Our engineers have worked tirelessly to ensure that the Flying Spur is the perfect combination of power, comfort, refinement and handcrafted quality. Fitted with the very latest technology, the new Flying Spur is equipped both for business and relaxation whilst remaining a car to enjoy from behind the wheel.”