Boardroom perfection provided by new Bentley Flying Spur
One of Iain Robertson’s favourite 1/43rd Corgi models in the 1960s was the Bentley Continental Flying Spur, complete with diamante headlamps, coil-springs and Ackerman steering and the latest full-size version continues to spur his imagination.
A model collecting fetish that I have had since childhood has resulted in a collection that is over 3,000 models strong, mostly of the highly collectible 1/43rd scale, and has fed my fevered intellect for almost sixty years. For some reason, certain models stand out and, while some have succumbed to being driven across the living-room carpet mercilessly by the non-licence-holding ‘me’, the aforementioned Bentley was one that I kept in its original box, only removing it occasionally to marvel at its miniaturised features.
While I am unable to explain why that car deserved such fervent attention, when others did not, I did extend my favour to the Ecurie Ecosse racing car transporter, a Rover 3500S (with removable wheels) and a Lotus Elan with a removable backbone chassis. Were I anything other than mildly intrigued by their auction values (I shall never sell them), I am glad that I have kept them in mint-and-boxed condition, which makes them even more valuable.
If you were unaware, Bentley, despite its Germanic ownership, is a tremendous British success story. As a brand, it was traditionally a cad’s machine, never quite the Rolls-Royce upon which it was based and it resided in its shadow. However, when BMW clashed with VW over the ownership of both brands, the Rolls went in a Bavarian direction (with final assembly taking place in Sussex), while Bentley found a new home with VW Group, although it retained its traditional production base at Pyms Lane, Crewe.
The Rolls-Royce of today is what BMW always wished it to be; it is as square-rigged as an American serviceman’s haircut, with about as much appeal as a Teutonic steamroller. Although it purports to possess a British lineage, it is built largely in eastern Germany, with final trim details added at its Goodwood (West Sussex) factory. It continues to fly its flag as an imperialistic mode of transport to industrial and commercial leaders. Interestingly, the most recent addition to the Buckingham Palace mews, where Her Majesty’s fleet of motorcars is kept and maintained, is not a Roller but a bespoke, glazed roof Bentley stretch, finished in a very regal maroon.
The firm’s latest Flying Spur embodies all that was both luscious and desirable about the 1965 Park Ward original (of which I own a model). However, you could be excused for thinking that Bentley had been collaborating with BMW recently and ironically…its new, hand-formed radiator grille is simply enormous.
No less than 5.3m in length and almost 2m wide, the new ‘FS’ is a genuine monster but it wears its dimensions well, thanks to considerate and elegant styling. It might be German cash that funds it but it is British craftsmanship of the highest order that maintains it. Selling more Bentleys than ever, the brand is riding the crest of a wave and is now able to place the ‘Flying B’ proudly atop its prominent snout.
However, this latest work of automotive art is also a technological tour de force, featuring electronically managed four-wheel steering and an active 4×4 system, with drive prioritised to the rear axle. Its 6.0-litre W12 twin-turbo engine develops a heady 626bhp and a massive 664lbs ft of torque, which is enough to propel it from 0-60mph in a blistering 3.7s, before topping out at an impressive 207mph, which is fairly convincing for a 2.5-tonne bespoke motorcar. It drives through a ZF 8-speed, twin-clutch automated transmission for race-quick gearshifts.
Naturally, as stable as its steering and driven four wheels make it, stopping a hard charging ‘FS’ has been prioritised with an all-round disc brakes system that owes as much to Bentley’s Le Mans racing record, as it does the intensive chassis engineering carried out at Crewe. Included in an enormous specification sheet is air suspension that is controlled by electronic damping, the constant regulation of which maintains both balance and a level of agility almost unheard of in a car of such great proportions.
Naturally, no driver, or safety aid box has remained unticked and its connectivity levels set new standards. However, its beautiful interior, complete with detail matched hide stitching and stainless-steel brilliant finishes on switchgear and air-vents is a sight to behold. The tasteful blending of wood finishes and the quality of all materials, from sheepskin carpets to the sweep of the headlining, are expressions of excellence that could only ever originate in the UK and that is what ensures VW’s on-going patronage of a brand that has earned it huge profits since acquisition. While no confirmation has been given on price, rest assured that, with options, it will be around £220,000 and deliveries should commence in a few months’ time.
While a sharp intake of breath might be needed for the price tag, as far as bespoke limousines go, the new Bentley Flying Spur is a real beauty and perfect for civic duties, if you could prise the Company Chairman from the driver’s seat.
