The Bentley Flying Spur is the four-door saloon variant of the Continental GT, a modern interpretation of Bentley sedan with German VW group underpinnings and British heritage luxury. First launched in 2005, the Flying Spur had a W12 engine only, and at the time was the world’s fastest four-door saloon car, nudging 200mph. 2013 saw the release of the second-generation Flying Spur, which was based on the facelifted Continental GT, and the ‘Continental’ prefix was dropped at this time to differentiate the saloon as a separate model in the Bentley line-up (though it shares most of its platform with the GT coupe). The second generation also offered a V8 option, and tuned ‘Speed’ variants came along later.

Bentley’s third-generation Flying Spur was launched in 2019 and is based on the Porsche Panamera platform with all-wheel drive, bringing it up-to-date with the new Continental GT, with a considerable reduction in the car’s weight and new driving technology giving the car more sporty capabilities. In a nod to the lasting nature of these amazing vehicles, the new Flying Spur’s dashboard features an innovative rotating head unit first seen on the Continental GT – with a wood fascia that rotates to reveal analogue clocks on one side, and a beautiful TFT sat nav/media display on another – the idea being that in 20 years’ time when the car itself has outlasted the technological innovation since, its dashboard is saved from humiliation!

The latest Bentley Flying Spur is arguably a step up above the Rolls-Royce Ghost and in many ways it beats the technology seen on high-end German saloons. With a longer wheelbase and more imposing styling including vertical grilles and a flying B hood ornament, the new Flying Spur is encroaching on the territory of the outgoing Mulsanne. A V8 variant and ‘Speed’ upgrades of each are expected to follow, as too are hybrid versions for improved efficiency.