2023 Bentley Flying Spur
Overview
Whether you’re behind the wheel of the 2023 Bentley Flying Spur or snuggled into one of its comfortable, leather-wrapped passenger seats, you’re treated to an ultra-luxurious experience. For the driver, a chassis with a surprising amount of athleticism can turn a boring commute into an enjoyable escapade and none of the Flying Spur’s three available powertrains—a hybrid V-6, a twin-turbo V-8, or a twin-turbo W-12—want for power. The Flying Spur’s cabin is decked out in Bentley’s best wardrobe of leathers, woods, and metal trimmings. Chauffeured passengers in the rear are in for the most relaxing environment, with available rear bucket seats that recline and massage. All this opulence comes at a cost, though, and to properly spec out a Flying Spur to your liking will significantly move the needle from an already astounding six-figure starting price. If you’re among the moneyed few who can afford it, the Flying Spur is worth the price of admission.
What’s New for 2023?
Bentley has added a racier-looking S trim to the Flying Spur’s offerings for 2023, which wears gloss-black exterior trim, black 22-inch wheels, and bright red brake calipers. The cabin is augmented by sports seats wrapped in a combination of leather and faux-suede upholstery in a two-tone color scheme. Buyers of the S model can choose from either the hybrid V-6 powertrain or the twin-turbocharged V-8.
Pricing and Which One to Buy
Hybrid
$190,000 (est)
V-8
$200,000 (est)
$230,000 (est)
S Hybrid
$243,000 (est)
S V-8
$245,000 (est)
Upgrading from the base V-8 engine to the more powerful W-12 is an easy choice if you ask us. Customers can choose from one of several curated themes, such as Cool Harmony, Storm Noir, or Alter Ego when ordering their Flying Spur, but we’d suggest going with a fully bespoke build to make it uniquely yours. A seemingly endless array of exterior colors and styling choices await you in the Bentley Mulliner customization program. The same goes for interior appointments, which can include several different types of wood, various leathers, and polished metal accents. Upgrading from the standard City Specification to Touring Specification adds several driver-assistance features, and there’s even an optional refrigerated compartment to keep your champagne cool.
Engine, Transmission, and Performance
All Flying Spurs come with an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, all-wheel drive, and a powerful twin-turbocharged engine. A 542-hp V-8 is standard, but we’d suggest upgrading to the 626-hp W-12 engine. With 12 cylinders under the hood, the Flying Spur never wants for power. In fact, it can show its taillights to many top-tier sports cars in a drag race. At our test track, it leapt to 60 mph in just 3.5 seconds. The V-8-powered model delivered an identical 3.5-second zero-to-60-mph run, but the W-12 is slightly quicker to 100 mph and through the quarter-mile. A plug-in-hybrid powertrain is also available and combines a twin-turbo 2.9-liter V-6 with an electric motor for a combined 536 horses and 553 pound-feet of torque. When we took the Flying Spur for a brief drive near Monaco, we found it to be a far more athletic driver than we anticipated. The sedan’s adaptive suspension and rear-wheel-steering system help on this front. Back in our home state of Michigan, the Flying Spur repeated its performance from our earlier drive and provided a much needed respite from cratered roads.
More on the Flying Spur Sedan
Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG
The Flying Spur’s fuel-economy estimates from the EPA look as though they’re for a pickup truck rather than a sedan, earning 12 mpg city and 19 highway with the W-12 engine under the hood. Fuel-economy ratings for the V-8-powered variant come in at 15 mpg city and 20 highway. The Flying Spur’s chief rival—the Rolls-Royce Ghost—doesn’t fare any better at the pump. The Flying Spur hybrid is rated at 19 mpg combined, with an estimated electric driving range of 21 miles on a single charge. For more information about the Flying Spur’s fuel economy, visit the EPA’s website.
Interior, Comfort, and Cargo
Sumptuous leather, genuine wood trim, and real metal accents line the Flying Spur’s interior. In the front or back, there’s plenty of space for adults to stretch out and enjoy the luxurious environs. Bentley’s interior designers managed to preserve the brand’s prim and proper styling while incorporating modern tech features. A remote touchscreen controller mounted to the rear of the center console allows rear-seat riders to adjust certain things without asking the driver for assistance. For instance, you can use it to open and close the window shades, adjust the cabin climate, and activate the rear-seat massagers. A generously sized trunk offers plenty of space for luggage, cases of champagne, or a day’s worth of impulse shopping on Rodeo Drive.
The Car and Driver Difference
Infotainment and Connectivity
A large 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen is situated between large swaths of wood trim on the Flying Spur’s dashboard. For a price, Bentley will swap the static infotainment screen with a moving piece that rotates the screen into the dashboard and brings up a wood panel featuring three analog dials (an outside-temperature gauge, a clock, and a compass). Passengers can connect to the Wi-Fi hotspot, and those with compatible smartphones will enjoy the Spur’s Apple CarPlay integration. Bentley provides a 10-speaker stereo system standard but will install one of two premium audio systems for more coin. Buyers may upgrade to either the 16-speaker Bang & Olufsen setup or the 19-speaker Naim system with illuminated speaker grilles.
How to Buy and Maintain a Car
Safety and Driver-Assistance Features
Bentley offers several driver-assistance features; unfortunately, many of them cost extra. For more information about the Flying Spur’s crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites. Key safety features include:
Standard forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection Available automated emergency braking Available adaptive cruise control and night vision
Warranty and Maintenance Coverage
Bentley offers a three-year warranty with the purchase of a new model, but unlike plans from more mainstream luxury brands, there’s no mileage limit. Rolls-Royce offers a similar service but extends to its customers four years of coverage. Furthermore, Rolls-Royce offers four years of complimentary scheduled maintenance while Bentley covers only one.
Limited warranty covers three years and unlimited miles Powertrain warranty covers three years and unlimited miles Complimentary maintenance is covered for one year or 10,000 miles
Specifications
Specifications
2020 Bentley Flying Spur W-12
VEHICLE TYPE
front-engine, all-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door sedan
PRICE AS TESTED
$284,270 (base price $223,925)
ENGINE TYPE
twin-turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 48-valve W-12, aluminum block and heads, port and direct fuel injection
Displacement
363 in3, 5952 cm3
Power
626 hp @ 6000 rpm
Torque
664 lb-ft @ 1350 rpm
TRANSMISSION
8-speed dual-clutch automatic
CHASSIS
Suspension (F/R): control arms/multilink
Brakes (F/R): 16.5-in vented disc/15.0-in vented disc
Tires: Pirelli P Zero PZ4, F:275/35R-22 (104Y) B, R: 315/30R-22 (107Y) B
DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 125.7 in
Length: 209.3 in
Width: 77.9 in
Height: 58.4 in
Passenger volume: 104 ft3
Trunk volume: 15 ft3
Curb weight: 5560 lb
C/D TEST RESULTS
60 mph: 3.5 sec
100 mph: 8.2 sec
130 mph: 13.8 sec
Rolling start, 5–60 mph: 4.5 sec
Top gear, 30–50 mph: 2.2 sec
Top gear, 50–70 mph: 2.9 sec
1/4 mile: 11.7 sec @ 121 mph
Braking, 70–0 mph: 159 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft-dia skidpad: 0.98 g
Standing-start accel times omit 1-ft rollout of 0.2 sec.
C/D FUEL ECONOMY
Observed: 11 mpg
75-mph highway driving: 24 mpg
Highway range: 570 miles
EPA FUEL ECONOMY
Combined/city/highway: 15/12/19 mpg
2021 Bentley Flying Spur V-8
VEHICLE TYPE
front-engine, all-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 5-door sedan
PRICE AS TESTED
$265,565 (base price: $199,725)
ENGINE TYPE
twin-turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 32-valve V-8, aluminum block and heads, direct fuel injection
Displacement: 244 in3, 3996 cm3
Power: 542 hp @ 6000 rpm
Torque: 568 lb-ft @ 2000 rpm
TRANSMISSION
8-speed dual-clutch automatic
CHASSIS
Suspension (F/R): multilink/multilink
Brakes (F/R): 16.5-in vented disc/15.0-in vented disc
Tires: Pirelli P Zero All Season, Size F: 275/35R-22 104W M+S B R: 315/30R-22 107W M+S B
DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 125.7 in
Length: 209.3 in
Width: 77.9 in
Height: 58.4 in
Passenger volume: 104 ft3
Cargo volume: 15 ft3
Curb weight: 5474 lb
C/D TEST RESULTS
60 mph: 3.5 sec
100 mph: 9.0 sec
1/4 mile: 12.0 sec @ 115 mph
130 mph: 15.7 sec
Results above omit 1-ft rollout of 0.2 sec.
Rolling start, 5–60 mph: 4.6 sec
Top gear, 30–50 mph: 2.4 sec
Top gear, 50–70 mph: 3.2 sec
Braking, 70–0 mph: 168 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft-dia skidpad: 0.94 g
C/D FUEL ECONOMY
Observed: 17 mpg
EPA FUEL ECONOMY
Combined/city/highway: 17/15/20 mpg
C/D TESTING EXPLAINED
More Features and Specs
