Of course, that's not what will be discussed at the presentation of the new Bentley V8 Flying Spur. But as I drive through London in the back seat of the car while writing this article, the thought subconsciously runs through my mind. In fairness, it should be noted that this review article came about thanks to my colleague, who happened to be in a Mulsanne worth £230,000 during a mild illness.
She can tell from personal experience that the Bentley cabin is far from the worst place to be when you're feeling unwell. In fact, its interior is very comfortable; there is enough space between the front and rear seats to stretch your legs; dark grey leather, a stereo system from the renowned firm Naim, Wi-Fi, pleasing chrome accents on the door handles and window switches, plus an impressive touchscreen remote control for operating two screens. Moreover, the rear seat is power-adjustable and features ventilation, heating, and massage functions, so if I start to turn green with weakness, I can simply lie down, close my eyes, and relax.
And it won't be difficult; after resting like that for a while, you can feel reborn. After renting a car with a driver in London, I set off to the most beautiful places that southeastern England can boast. The North Downs, the South Downs, the New Forest… they are magnificent, especially when illuminated by the rays of the spring sun and viewed through the window of a car worth £136,000.
The Flying Spur is the four-door version of the popular Continental GT coupe. The V8 is offered at a lower price than the second of the two Flying Spur variants, which features a W12 engine and shares the same platform, body, transmission, and numerous exorbitant options (my favorite: £100 for a first-aid kit – I wonder what size the plasters must be for that price?).
Honestly, I don't think you'll miss the four cylinders or 116 hp that differentiate the V8 from the W12. Despite its 2.5-ton weight, the Flying Spur V8 with its 500 hp and 487 Nm of torque is more than adequate. In fact, the engine, supplied by Audi with these specifications, is lightning-quick, thanks to the instantaneous response of the two turbochargers and a power band that starts at idle and reaches 7,000 rpm. It's simply delightful; however, Bentley always knows how to surprise.
But if you hit a bump in the road, that's where the main drawback of the Flying Spur emerges, because its ride is not as soft as you'd like. Calling it bad would be unfair, but the truth is that there are too many extraneous sensations transmitted between the car and its well-heeled passenger. Inside a four-door Bentley, I don't want to know about every pothole or crack in the road. I want to glide over manhole covers as if they don't exist, and think that maybe our broken road network isn't as bad as we're used to thinking. When you buy a car like a Bentley, you should, so to speak, sail effortlessly down the road.
Actually, I wouldn't say the Flying Spur rides better than any other hatchback. And this despite the fact that to achieve greater softness, the Bentley V8 lost an inch from the W12's 20-inch wheels. And also despite the fact that the air suspension has four modes in the Comfort and Sport range, between which I don't see much difference.
Taking a critical look at the Flying Spur, one can add that some of the many different black plastic buttons feel a bit sticky to the touch, while Audi produces similar ones of much better quality, even on its A1 supermini worth £15,000.
But when considering some other substantial details, such as the soft leather door trim that flows seamlessly into the beautiful dashboard, you fall in love with the car again. Its luxury gives the feeling that the Bentley is custom-made.
Mechanically, it is also refined. There is no confusion between gear steps in the eight-speed automatic transmission; the V8 Flying Spur at 113 km/h will show 1,500 rpm on the tachometer. So, it is excellent on the road, smooth, and almost silent.
At low speeds, four of the eight cylinders shut down to save fuel, making it even quieter, not to mention more economical. Bentley claims fuel consumption will be 9.4 L/100 km in the combined cycle and that the 90-liter fuel tank will last for 800 kilometers.
Permanent all-wheel drive provides excellent traction; it's virtually impossible to lose control unless you enter a corner very aggressively. Yes, the brakes really have to work to stop such a behemoth, and yes, it is a bit clumsy in corners, but that's not the point, is it? Especially since slow driving doesn't allow you to fully appreciate this car.
Also noteworthy is the hydraulic steering, which is speed-sensitive and pleasant to use. But even when thinking about VW Group models that are lower in the automotive hierarchy, it should be noted that the car still lacks some features that a Golf or even a Skoda can boast.
The same can be said about the few safety options, such as lane-keeping assist and automatic braking.
In a car intended for long highway or city journeys, their absence is noticeably felt, although Bentley representatives assure that these options will soon appear.
Ultimately, the choice is yours: do you want the latest technological advancements or handcrafted exclusivity? If the former interests you, the Mercedes-Benz S-Class would suit you better. But if the wood texture and leather stitching matter, then few can surpass Bentley.
But, for example, satellite navigation: where others seek ways to avoid traffic jams, the Flying Spur focuses on them with firm determination. This system costs a lot of money, but I would say that Tom Tom navigation is still significantly better. After all, traffic jams cause nausea, and this fact again brings us back to the point where we started, and my lease period for the Bentley with driver is coming to an end. I still managed to finish this article during the trip, and now, with a clear conscience, I can go to the pub instead of the office. As soon as the nausea passes.
Specifications:
Bentley Flying Spur V8
3,997 cc petrol engine, 8-speed automatic transmission, all-wheel drive
Price/on sale from: from £136,000/on sale
Power/torque: 500 hp @ 6000 rpm / 660 Nm @ 1750 rpm
Top speed: 295 km/h
Acceleration: 4.9 sec
Fuel economy: 9.4 l/100km (combined cycle)
CO2 emissions: 254 g/km
Verdict: very good in many aspects, but does not perform well during slow driving. Powerful engine, road refinement, luxurious interior – all that impressed me.