Automotive News Europe - January 2020 - 17

AUTOMOTIVE NEWS EUROPE

LATEST LAUNCHES

The 12-cylinder Bentley Flying Spur launch model has a maximum output of 626 hp. It can accelerate from 0 to 100
kph in 3.8 seconds and has a top speed of 333 kph. Bentley claims it's the world's fastest sedan.

Speedy Bentley Flying Spur
takes aim at Mercedes duo
W

ith the new Flying Spur, Bentley is
fighting back against the popularity of Maybach and AMG versions of the
Mercedes-Benz S-class upper-premium
sedan. Bentley says the Flying Spur provides more luxury than the Maybach and
offers more sporting prowess than the
AMG in one car.

Bentley said the Flying Spur will start
at about 160,000 pounds (187,500
euros) in its home market, undercutting the UK prices of the V-12 powered Mercedes-Maybach S650, which
starts at 183,245 pounds, and the V-12
Mercedes-AMG S65, which has a base
price of 189,405 pounds.

The 12-cylinder Flying Spur launch model has a maximum output of 626 hp.
It can accelerate from 0 to 100 kph in
3.8 seconds and has a top speed of
333 kph. Bentley claims it's the world's
fastest sedan. The UK-based, Volkswagen Group subsidiary also plans to add
V-8 and plug-in hybrid variants of the car
but no timetable has been given.

The close relationship between the Flying
Spur and the better-selling Continental
GT has existed since the sedan's nameplate was revived in 2005. For the new
generation, however, Bentley has tried to
make the sedan stand out more from its
sportier sibling. "The predecessor was a
bigger brother of the GT with four doors.
With the new car, we wanted more differentiation," Bentley head of design Stefan

Fast Facts
❚ Technology: Touchscreens mount-

ed to the seat in front feed rear passengers information from the car and
the outside world via apps. A handheld
remote with a smartphone-like interface gives them control of the seats,
blinds, temperature and even whether
to lower the Flying B on the hood.
❚ Handling: The previous Flying Spur had
full-time four-wheel drive, but the new sedan operates in rear-wheel drive until it

JANUARY 2020

detects slip, at which point power is sent
to the front wheels, too. Active roll-control
uses a 48-volt system to decouple the car's
rollbar to provide maximum comfort when
driving in a straight line. The rollbar is reengaged in corners to reduce body roll.
❚ Weight loss: The switch to aluminum instead of steel for the new Flying
Spur reduces the weight of the bodyin-white by 150 kg compared with the
previous-generation model.

Sielaff told Automotive News Europe. For
example, the car has a much more prominent grille with upright vanes.
The Flying Spur is also the first Bentley to
get four-wheel steering, giving it a tighter
turning radius at low speeds and more poise
at high speeds. It comes with a retractable
version of the Flying B hood ornament,
which can be lowered via the touchscreen.
-- Nick Gibbs

The Basics
❚ Launch date: Q1 2020 (globally)
❚ Base price: 160,000 pounds

(estimated)

❚ Where built: Crewe, England
❚ Main rivals: Mercedes-AMG S65

Mercedes-Maybach, Rolls-Royce
Ghost

www.autonewseurope.com

http://www.autonewseurope.com

Automotive News Europe - January 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Automotive News Europe - January 2020