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WEEKEND ROADTEST: Bentley Continental Flying Spur Speed
publication date: Aug 21, 2009
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author/source: Robin Roberts
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The world is full of contradictions.
One of the shortest words in the English language is ‘big’ but it means precisely the opposite of its length.
In
the world of cars, everyone knows a Bentley is big, and the full name
of its latest model is almost as long as the car itself but any
preconceptions about it are short-lived.
When the foot is down, it
is a phenomenally fast and surprisingly agile car. Sophistication is
not sacrificed for speed, refinement for raw power nor comfort for
capability.
Introduced in July 2008
as the pinnacle of performance for the brand anxious to recover its
sporting pedigree earned in endurance events at racing circuits
throughout Europe and to distance it from the former stable mate
Rolls-Royce brand, the Bentley CFS Speed is probably the world’s
swiftest genuine four-seater.
While Bentley has suffered like
every other car maker in the current recession, the Speed offers hope
of sales being stimulated until the “baby Bentley” is introduced next
year.
The company is part of the Volkswagen Group and it uses
modified powertrain from the Phaeton to power this Crewe creation,
which is still largely hand built to account for much of the price.
|  | Under the immense bonnet of the big Bentley lurks a 6.0W12-cylinder
engine which blends power with exceptional smoothness and delivery
through a semi-automatic six-speed transmission.
You have a
conventional dual mode selector on the console for fully automatic or
manual use but there are also column mounted paddles for up and down
changes by fingertips.
| The instant start-up is immediately
followed by a deep burble and under gentle acceleration there is no
appreciable rise in engine note but it changes to a ready-for-anything
rumble if you depress the throttle and hang onto the wheel while the
Bentley gobbles up the yards with deceptive ease.
The 553lbft of torque is immense and shrugs off the Bentley’s 2,500kg of bulk as if it was just a lightweight sports car. It is an awesome experience.
What’s
more the gearchanges are achieved with a creamy smoothness whatever is
asked of the car and its down-changes are similarly silky. If you want
to make manual changes by hand or fingertips, the system retains that
softness of touch. It must be one of the best powertrains of any car.
Having
all that power underfoot has to be balanced with a braking system which
can contain it as desired and the Bentley Speed is well blessed in the
braking department with massive discs which need only light pedal
pressure to bring about rapid deceleration but which manage to retain
remarkable feel up to the last few inches of stopping distance.
| The room for driver and passengers is also very
generous.
Seats adjust over a good range and the column’s electric
settings combined with the seat movements should create any desired
control position for the driver.
Wide opening doors give good access
and those in the back have abundant legroom and headroom while the
shape of the seats holds occupants securely and comfortably on twisting
roads.
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Visibility is very good to front and sides, more restricted
over the shoulder or when reversing and in bad conditions the
far-ranging lights and big sweeping wipers ensure you miss very little.
Road
rumbles are probably the most consistent characteristic of the car as
the engine note is usually muted but agreeably rises and intensifies
under foot. Other mechanical noises are virtually absent, as is wind
noise.
You may consider the 5.3m
length of the Speed a daunting prospect but it turns very quickly and
easily with the progressive power steering although you will probably
fill two conventional parking bays with it. On open roads it gives the
driver good feedback about where the wheels are pointing at any time
yet it does not produce vibrations.
For such a big car the
Bentley Speed displays unusual agility thanks to the responsive
powertrain and major controls and its roadholding is very good although
you get a strong feeling it wants to run wide on tighter turns. Ease
off and it all comes back on line very safely and undramatically.
The
secondary controls are split between fascia switches and column stalks
for the most common features, they are sensibly placed and work well
and big instruments are directly infront of the driver. The faces are
clear, well marked and easy to read at night and include a
multi-function display for a variety of systems.
Backing up this
information display infront of the driver is a bigger panel on the
central console for heating and ventilation selection, on-board
computer, entertainment, tyre pressure and adjustable shock absorbers,
which adjust at the turn of a knob for soft or hard settings.
The
climate control works on two levels, either side and front and back so
every one has their own mini environment and my test car came with
headrest mounted monitor screens and entertainment system in the back.
Ideal for watching your favourite episodes of The Apprentice or
Dragons’ Den.
The Speed and its stablemate Spur can be specified
with Bentley Adaptive Cruise Control. The ACC uses a long-range radar
sensor, mounted in the lower front grille, to monitor the road ahead
for other vehicles. When a slower moving vehicle is detected, the
system automatically adjusts braking and acceleration to maintain a
‘time gap’, as selected by the driver.
The ‘time gap’ also controls
the vehicle dynamic response. The larger the time gap the more relaxed
the acceleration and braking, allowing the driver to tune the ACC
system to suit their preferred driving style or to the prevailing
traffic conditions.
Bentley
has also teamed up with renowned British hi-fi manufacturer, Naim.
Designed exclusively for Bentley and available as a further option for
both the Continental Flying Spur and Flying Spur Speed, the Naim system
features an 1100 Watt amplifier (the most powerful in a production car) and 15
custom-built speakers. A next-generation Digital Signal Processor
further enhances the listening experience. It is a truly awesome aural
experience.
Oddments room is plentiful throughout the Bentley Speed and the boot lid opens from bumper height to reveal 475 litres capacity.
| There are executive saloons and sports cars which can
match it in terms of performance, yet it turns heads with its sheer
“presence” on the road.
The Bentley Continental Flying Spur Speed
sits in a niche of the market which is almost its own.
That’s a little
niche with a big car in it.
Thank heavens for contradictions. |  | | Fact file | Bentley Continental Flying Spur Speed £137,000 | | Insurance group: 20 | Fuel consumption: 17mpg | | 600bhp 6.0W12, 6-sp | Emissions/ tax: 396gkm/ 35pc | | Maximum speed: 203mph | Retained value: N/A | | 0-60mph; 4.5sec | Warranty: 3yrs/ Unlimited miles, 3yrs paint, 3 yrs anti-rust | | ©ROBIN ROBERTS | |
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