Bentley Flying Spur

Bentley Flying Spur 15/20

This big saloon exists to waft. It’s an S-Class rival, not a 599-bashing track-day car

Our verdict

It’s a more-door Continental and actually the better for it. The ‘Speed’ variant is currently the fastest saloon in the world at over 200mph top end.

Comfort

A very comfy car given the potential speed, the Spurt can deliver on the cross-continental blast. Can be a little bit choppy on the larger wheel sizes, but this is a very, very fast car, so you have to make some compromises. And there's masses of space for four.

15 out of 20

Performance

That 6.0-litre W12 packs a 552bhp punch (600bhp in the ‘Speed) and can get the Flying Spur to 62mph in 4.9 seconds (4.5) via the four-wheel drive transmission. The stock car only reaches 195mph officially, with the Speed hitting the=2 0magic double ton. Just about enough, then.

17 out of 20

Cool

There's something about a Flying Spur that means that it remains cool even when the Conti GT is exclusively populated by nouveau riche retards. The four-door just seems more regal... 

14 out of 20

Quality

Of the finest fit'n'finish in the world. Hand-sorted, smells right, good equipment levels. It's not quite the gorgeous profligacy of the Arnage, but it looks great and doesn't seem to fall to bits.  

15 out of 20

Handling

The four-wheel drive makes the Flying Spur surprisingly chuckable despite its bulk. There's plenty of grip and the steering always puts the car exactly where you want it - and it feels like it sheds a tonne or so on a backroad.

14 out of 20

Practicality

The boot's huge, the back's huge, it's a great saloon. You'll just have to get your butler to fill it up a lot, is all.

15 out of 20

Running costs

Mid-teens mpg, group 20 insurance, max tax (obviously), utter brain crippling depreciation in this market - you have to want one.

2 out of 20

TG Tips

Go for the ‘Speed’ and laugh at the poor from a high speed perspective

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