2006 Bentley Continental Flying Spur 4 Door Sedan Review
Road test: 2006 Bentley Continental Flying Spur
Bentley has always been synonymous with speed and racing, a heritage that tin be traced all the way back to W. O. Bentley and the famed Bentley Boys. The marque's latest vehicle, which was inspired by the 1952 Bentley R-Type Continental and the 1957 Continental Flight Spur, continues the trend. It'southward also a very unlike automobile from the Bentleys of just a decade or so agone -- it's not but modern, it is being touted as the fastest four-door production car in the world. Try a top speed of 312 kilometres an 60 minutes!
Bentley has always been synonymous with speed and racing, a heritage that can be traced all the fashion back to Westward. O. Bentley and the famed Bentley Boys. The marque's latest vehicle, which was inspired by the 1952 Bentley R-Type Continental and the 1957 Continental Flying Spur, continues the tendency. It'due south besides a very dissimilar car from the Bentleys of just a decade or so ago — it's not only modern, information technology is existence touted equally the fastest four-door production motorcar in the world. Try a top speed of 312 kilometres an 60 minutes!
Accelerating something that tips the scales at marginally less then a three- bedchamber semi to this sort of speed obviously takes a whack of power. Thankfully, the Flying Spur lives up to its name as there is a twin-turbo, six.0-litre, 12- cylinder engine nether its hood. The reason this massive sedan moves so swiftly comes down to grunt — 552 horsepower and no less than 479 pound-feet of torque at an amazingly low one,600 rpm.
The instant y'all tromp the gas, the Bentley pulls, taking only 5.two seconds to reach 100 km/h. Think about it for a moment: The Flying Spur is capable of out-dragging some of the world'southward fastest cars, despite its ii,465-kilogram mass.
However, where this monster truly excels is in the mid-range. Forget the largesse and leather-lined luxury information technology totes around, because information technology zips betwixt eighty and 120 km/h in simply 3.iii seconds — 1.2 seconds faster than the Contrivance Charger SRT8 and just 0.two seconds behind the Chevrolet Corvette Z06.
And so, what's the grab? Well, when you coffin the gas pedal, the fuel economy gauge displays 99 litres per 100 km. Yes, a litre of fuel for every kilometre driven at full throttle. Even when it dropped dorsum to the test average of 29.4 50/100 km, it nevertheless murdered my wallet.
To ensure all those galloping stallions go to the pavement with minimum fuss, the Flying Spur uses a peak-notch all-wheel-bulldoze system and a half-dozen-speed automated transmission that includes a manual mode. The result is a automobile that moves off the line with alarming speed only without and so much as a chirp from its massive P275/35R20 tires.
Information technology likewise handles amend than one expects. With a proficient driver-adjustable damping system supporting the motorcar, it rocks through a corner without the usual roll. The steering is also nicely weighted and the turn-in commendably fast for such a heavy car. It all comes together with an unexpected precision. If things go awry, at that place's e'er the electronic stability arrangement waiting in the wings.
The brakes are too up to the job of slowing the hefty automobile. The xv.9-inch front end and thirteen.2-inch rear vented rotors are the largest fitted to a production car. Hammer the pedal and the Spur'due south stopping distances come in at just 41 metres from 100 km/h, which, again, is nothing brusque of astonishing. They are also remarkably fade-free given the workload, and the organization has a decent pedal feel, which is a marked departure from Bentleys of yore.
The other side of the Flying Spur — unbridled opulence — as well comes through loud and clear. Consider the leather: It's not but found on the seats, dash, door panels, caput lining and sun visors, information technology is also wrapped lovingly effectually the door posts and kicking panels. Patently, all this real estate requires a ton of leather — 11 full hides to be exact. This is then balanced with some of the nicest burl walnut offered in all of autodom and a tasteful splash of chrome. The upshot is as warm, welcoming and comfy as information technology is bespoke.
The 16-manner ability forepart seats are heated and cooled, the audio package is up to snuff and the climate command system is effective. Indeed, it is all about equally far removed from recent Bentleys as is possible. I'chiliad convinced the Redline and its ilk were designed and built alongside Noah'south ark. The only throwbacks are the chromed organ stops that open and close the air vents.
In the back seat, the opulence and pampering continues. The seats are wonderfully comfortable, in that location are separate climate controls for the outboard passengers and that lovely leather is also heated and cooled. My girl was so impressed she tried to climb into the car every time nosotros walked by information technology — a first. She too adopted a my-poopy-diaper- does-non-stink attitude once strapped into her safety seat, which seems only plumbing equipment for a ride worth almost as much as a modest firm.
And so far then skillful. There are, withal, some glaring omissions. For example, while there is a powered rear sunshade, in that location are none for the side windows. Come up on, how is i supposed to remain aloof when the peasants can peer in? Seriously, though, the navigation arrangement takes an age when y'all want to zoom in (most systems are instantaneous), and in that location is no back-upwardly camera or pictogram to show where a potential torso-wrinkling obstacle lies. Instead, in that location'due south a actually annoying beep that tells you something is nearly a part of the car yous tin't see. Thanks.
The other foible has to exercise with the paddle shifters for the manual portion of the automatic transmission. They are mounted to the steering column, non the steering bike. Consequently, you are forced to take your hand off the steering wheel to initiate a shift when whatsoever steering is dialled in. Because the engineering science excellence found throughout the rest of the Flight Spur, this really is not very clever.
Whining aside, the new Bentley Continental Flight Spur is a wonderful machine. On one mitt, it is beyond luxurious. On the other, it features state-of-the-art engineering science, incredible speed and remarkable agility for such a big, heavy car.
Simply stated, information technology deserves the Bentley badge that adorns its sexy course.
automotive@sympatico.ca
THE SPECS
TYPE OF VEHICLE All-wheel-drive luxury sedan
ENGINE Twin-turbo half dozen.0L W12
POWER 552 hp @ 6,100 rpm, 479 lb-ft of torque @ ane,600 rpm
TRANSMISSION Half-dozen-speed manumatic
BRAKES Iv-bike disc with ABS
TIRES P275/35R20
Toll: base/as tested $222,990/same
FUEL ECONOMY L/100 km 29.4 combined
Equipment as tested Leather, leather and more leather, four-zone electronic climate control, heated and cooled rear seats with adjustable lumbar support, ability pull-ins for all doors, navigation system, 12-channel audio output with six-disc CD changer, keyless entry, anti-theft protection, traction/electronic stability control systems, eight air numberless (two forepart, four side and total-length drop-downwards side curtains)
Choose Trim
Make
You can only pick 5 vehicles to compare
Edit your picks to remove vehicles if you want to add different ones.
You lot accept reached the limit of vehicles
Yous tin can just add upward to 5 vehicles to your picks.
Source: https://driving.ca/reviews/road-test/road-test-2006-bentley-continental-flying-spur-2
0 Response to "2006 Bentley Continental Flying Spur 4 Door Sedan Review"
Post a Comment