Test Drive: The V8-Powered Flying Spur in the UK | Bentley

Bentley Flying Spur V8 | Bentley Flying Spur V8

Experiencing its Value in the Brand's Homeland

Test Drive of the Flying Spur V8 in the UK

At this year's Geneva Motor Show in March, Bentley announced the "Flying Spur V8," a V8-powered version of its four-door sedan, the "Flying Spur." With the 4-liter V8 twin-turbo engine, shared with the "Continental GT V8," now powering the new Flying Spur, which was previously equipped with a 6-liter W12 twin-turbo, how does the overall balance fare? Tatsuya Otani took the wheel in Bentley's home country, the UK, from the bustling metropolis of London to highways and country roads to find out.

Text by OTANI Tatsuya

Independence from the "Continental Family"

The London sky was a deep, somber gray.

My purpose in visiting London was to test drive Bentley's new model, the "Flying Spur V8." The second-generation Flying Spur, debuted last year, is part of the "Continental GT family." While the "Continental GT" is available as a two-door coupe or convertible, the Flying Spur is given a more formal four-door saloon body.

Meanwhile, both the Continental GT and Flying Spur are equipped with a 6.0-liter W12 twin-turbo engine in their standard models. However, in 2012, the "Continental GT V8" was added, featuring a 4.0-liter V8 twin-turbo engine. The Flying Spur V8 I am test driving today can be considered the four-door saloon version of this Continental GT V8.

Bentley Flying Spur V8 | Bentley Flying Spur V8

However, Bentley likely does not intend for the close relationship between the Continental GT and Flying Spur to be emphasized so strongly. As evidence, the previous generation was named "Continental Flying Spur," but the new model has deliberately dropped the "Continental" prefix, giving it the simpler name "Flying Spur" to highlight its distinct identity.

Furthermore, the new Flying Spur has improved rear-seat spaciousness and comfort, refining its essence as a saloon. It is with this intention that Bentley has given this new model its own distinct name.

Nevertheless, the relationship between the W12 and V8 models is quite similar to that between the Continental GT and Flying Spur.

First, without altering the basic styling, the front grille area has been changed from W12's chrome to gloss black. Simultaneously, the center of the Bentley logo has been repainted from black to red, and the shape of the tailpipes has been switched from a simple oval to an "8" shape. All of these are very subtle, minor changes.

While the number of choices for body color, interior colors, and materials is slightly reduced, this only applies to the standard specifications. With the extensive use of options like Mulliner, almost any desire can be fulfilled. In other words, apart from the aforementioned grille, badges, and tailpipe shape, it is possible to create an exterior that is virtually indistinguishable from the W12. Therefore, choosing the V8 over the W12 solely based on appearance would be almost nonsensical.

Bentley Flying Spur V8 | Bentley Flying Spur V8

Experiencing its Value in the Brand's Homeland

Test Drive of the Flying Spur V8 in the UK (2)

No Complaints with the V8

So, what is the impression when driving it?

Honestly, it differs subtly. However, it is by no means true that "the V8 is sluggish and lacks power compared to the W12."

On this day, I drove approximately 250 km round trip from a hotel near Piccadilly Circus to the New Forest in southern England. Even with the V8, it boasts a maximum output of 507 ps and a peak torque of 660 Nm. As a result, its top speed is 295 km/h! Cruising on the British motorway, where the speed limit is set at 70 mph (about 112 km/h), it feels as though only about 10 percent of its available performance is being used, making it almost boring.

So, I reluctantly pressed the accelerator pedal "hard" after being held up by a slower car and losing speed, just to experience the acceleration. The Flying Spur V8 accelerated with such force that it felt as though the surrounding cars had slammed on their brakes, reaching the speed limit in no time. It's astonishingly fast.

The powerful feeling isn't limited to high speeds. On the day of the test drive, it was the opening day of the UK Parliament, and roads were being closed in various places in London for Queen Elizabeth's procession. We managed to escape to the outskirts of London by slipping through the gaps, but it seemed many Londoners had the same idea, resulting in severe traffic congestion everywhere. Our Flying Spur V8 was forced to stop and go repeatedly.

Observing the Flying Spur V8's behavior in such situations, while the sensation of being strongly pushed back from behind is less pronounced than in the W12, it possesses the speed to easily lead the surrounding traffic. I can confidently say that you will rarely be dissatisfied with its performance.

Bentley Flying Spur V8 | Bentley Flying Spur V8

Experiencing its Value in the Brand's Homeland

Test Drive of the Flying Spur V8 in the UK (3)

Agile Handling

However, the appeal of the Flying Spur V8 lies elsewhere. Thanks to the highly efficient engine co-developed with Audi, the EU combined fuel economy has improved by approximately 35 percent, from 6.8 km/l for the W12 to 9.2 km/l. Moreover, with the fuel tank capacity remaining unchanged at 90 liters, the driving range on a single full tank has significantly increased.

Incidentally, the manufacturer claims a cruising range of 840 km. This is more than enough for a round trip between Tokyo and Nagoya. In other words, by adopting the V8 engine, the Flying Spur has significantly enhanced its capabilities as a long-distance cruiser.

In terms of handling and ride comfort, it feels noticeably lighter compared to the W12 model, which conveyed a sense of substantial weight. However, the weight difference is only 50 kg, with the V8 weighing 2,425 kg against the W12's 2,475 kg. This suggests that the feeling of lightness is achieved through suspension tuning rather than a significant difference in actual weight.

Nevertheless, the steering precision remains as excellent as ever. Even on winding country roads with a single lane in each direction, I was able to maintain a considerable pace. Incidentally, the speed limit on such roads is often 60 mph (approximately 96 km/h). While this may seem terrifying to Japanese drivers accustomed to 40 km/h limits, with the air suspension, which can be adjusted to four settings, set to the firmest or second-firmest mode, one can effortlessly navigate the approaching corners with ease, without feeling any undue tension.

It is nothing short of astonishing to be able to maneuver a car nearly two meters wide with such precision. After all, Bentley is not merely a car to be chauffeured; it is a driver's car that its owner should enjoy driving themselves.

Viewed from this perspective, the Flying Spur V8, with its significantly improved long-distance cruising capability, is not simply a less expensive Bentley saloon, but rather a model that further enhances the brand's core essence as a grand tourer. Its price of 18.9 million yen is also remarkably attractive.