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Claudia Hommel
Cabaret Singer
Extraordinaire
Cordell Koland
Car Writer
Weekly Reviews
 2006 Bentley Continental Flying Spur by Cordell Koland The Bentley Continental Flying Spur drives the venerable British company in a new, more contemporary direction. It features a lower price and a more modern chassis than the classic Arnage, while retaining the ambiance that has made Bentley a pinnacle of motoring. The new era for Bentley began a few years ago when Volkswagen took over the company with the object of returning the brand to its original luster at the pinnacle of the luxury performance market. The first all-new product of this transition was the Continental GT coupe, now followed by the Continental Flying Spur four-door sedan. While I am still dazzled by the exterior design of Continental GT with its sleek, yet authoritative styling, I am less impressed with the Flying Spur, which visually seems like a big conservative luxury sedan. On the other hand, the interior is luscious. The seats and other soft-surface elements are bathed in creamy, soft leather. The dash and doors wear broad expanses of real wood veneer. But there’s a lot more to the story than just the existence of wood and leather, which are attainable at more modest prices. Eleven special cattle make the ultimate sacrifice to provide the leather for the car’s interior. Any blemished hide is rejected, including one with just a scratch. To eliminate variation between the different hides, they are selected and cut simultaneously. Even more time is spent fabricating and finishing the wood veneer. It takes two weeks to prepare the unbleached, natural veneers, which are given five coats of lacquer and three days of curing time. Modern conveniences include a satellite navigation system, four-zone air conditioning and high-end audio. The seats even offer a feature that massages the lumbar region of the back to combat fatigue on long drives. But if you’re looking for the latest expression of electronic wizardry, the Flying Spur will disappoint in comparison to the latest from Mercedes- Benz and Lexus. No, the Flying Spur dances to a slightly older melody characterized by performance and unbridled luxury. The first stop in examining the Spur’s essence is a glance under the hood. There you will find a monstrous 12-cylinder engine driven by twin turbochargers. The engine design was originated by Volkswagen and has been rolled out in various brands the company owns. The conventional V-12 engine comprises two banks of six cylinders joined at the crankshaft. Bentley staggers the cylinders in each bank creating two extraordinarily thin, narrow-angle V-6 engines sharing a common crankshaft and giving rise to what the company calls its compact 'W' design. The engine’s power delivery is awesome thanks to its unusual torque characteristics. Maximum torque is developed at a mere 1,600 rpm and continues unabated to its redline of 6,100 rpm. Maximum torque is available at any speed and there is always a power burst awaiting the driver with a nudge of the accelerator pedal. The Spur will blast from zero to 60 miles per hour in 4.9 seconds and has a top speed of 195 miles per hour. The transmission has several modes, including fully automatic, shift it yourself, as well as racing-style paddles behind the steering wheel for fingertip control. Self-adjusting air springs operate independently for each wheel, while all-wheel drive enhances traction control. Stopping power is maximized with the largest front brakes to be found on any passenger car. The suspension has several optional settings—from soft to firm. This allows the driver to choose a compliant ride on the expressway or a taut quality for fast trips through the mountains. The combination of power and a highly tuned suspension offer an amazing experience on narrow, twisting mountain roads. Given the substantial heft of the Spur, it seems to defy the laws of physics as it disposes of mile after mile of mountain road with amazing agility and composure. Now that we’ve established the car’s performance credentials, let’s look at the other Bentley raison d'être, the buyer’s ability to customize the vehicle. Bentley’s Mulliner division can individualize your Flying Spur. This includes standard options like wheels, but can be extended to the choice of exterior paint color to match customer specs or even optional wood veneers such as ash and chestnut. If you’re really into the British thing and want to relive those snooty ads for Grey Poupon mustard, the rear fold-down picnic trays may be just your style. Or how about a refrigerated bottle cooler between the rear seats. Just the thing for a chilled bottle of 1999 Roederer Brut Cristal. Vehicle:
Bentley Continental Flying Spur
Price as tested: $181.885 Engine: Type: Twin-turbocharged 6-liter W-12 Horsepower: 552 horsepower @ 6,100 rpm Torque: 479 ft.-lbs @ 1,600 rpm Fuel economy, automatic transmission City – 11 mpg Highway - 18 mpg Curb Weight: 5,456 lbs. Cordell Koland is an automotive journalist based in California's central coast. He can be reached at cordellkoland@oakparkjournal.com |
