The comfort of habitability and luxury in every detail have been his exclusive hallmark. 2005 will see the rebirth of an unforgettable classic that was born in 1957 and marked a milestone in the history of the prestigious Bentley: the Continental Flying Spur.
Throughout its history, Bentley has been the best example of an optimal compromise between luxury and high performance in performance. In 1952 he set a precedent for his goals as a comfort provider.
The Continental type R was a coupe sport with excellent performance. In fact, it was the fastest 4-seat coupe of the time. Its descendant, the first Continental Flying Spur was a 4-door sedan with an outstanding level of comfort that ensured comfort for up to 5 passengers during long journeys, without sacrificing the sporty performance of the Continental type R.
This has been Bentley's distinctive and exclusive feature, bringing sporting performance and splendor. The first Continental Flying Spur is still considered one of the most luxurious, powerful and iconic sedans in history.
In a market where customers are increasingly engaged less with companies because of the fierce competition between them, in a market segment overcrowded by products of excellence from manufacturers such as Mercedes with their Maybach model, the high-end sedan of Mercedes, BMW and Audi, and even intimidating concept cars such as the Cadillac Sixteen, in this fight for supremacy Bentley tries to position himself a couple of steps above the rest.
The company launches an alert message to its rivals. But in reality his expectations are far above this: he is trying to have no rivals. The real message to customers is: not having this model is not belonging to this exclusive private club. Another company has nothing to compete with. And since the only giant that can present contenders to the product offered by Bentley is Rolls Royce, Bentley's ambitions are confirmed.
It's simple, Rolls and Bentley don't compete in the way other companies do. Its customers have slight differences in criteria when buying, yet each brand has its clientele well defined and secured.
The level of neatness in the finish is so high, the materials used are so elegant, so harmonious among them that it is not worth listing them. It is enough to see a good photo, or better yet, approach it at some exhibition or dealership.
Continental Flying Spur combines delicate design with flawless craftsmanship that Bentley has earned its reputation. The Flying Spur features both aerodynamic care and Continental GT performance to achieve a level of excellence.
The engine presented at the Continental Flying Spur is a W12 of 6000 cm3 displacement, equipped with two twin KKK turbos that increase efficiency. It has 4 valves per cylinder for a total of 48 valves (DOHC) and is powered by multi-point electronic fuel injection. The W12 is located in front and the sound insulation is excellent.
Its 552 HP @ 6100 RPM is transmitted through a 6-speed ZF automatic box with Paddle shifts, located behind the wheel like in Formula 1 cars. The maximum torque of 479 pounds foot reaches as low as 1600 RPM. Thanks to its all-wheel drive, it is friendly for cornering at high speeds. Its top speed is 305 km/h, impressive for a sedan that goes well over 2 tons of weight.
© Adrián Blanco 2005 — Prohibited the total or partial reproduction of text and/or images without explicit written consent of the author. —