When the Bentley Continental Flying Spur first came out it caused quite a stir in the automotive world. The main reason for that was the fact that the new Bentley sedan now used a VW engine for the first time ever, and also that it was noticeably cheaper than the Arnage. That led many people to believe that VW was about to ruin the brand’s reputation by making ever cheaper cars in the future. However, that wasn’t the case. Even though the 2007 Continental Flying Spur was cheaper, it still had an ace or two up its sleeve. One of those was the fact that it was the fastest production sedan in the world for quite some time and to achieve that, a certain level of luxury couldn’t be maintained. At the same time, the new VW engine was significantly cheaper to produce than the Bentley V8 all while being a substantially better engine in every way. But make no mistake, the Flying Spur was definitely not cheap by normal standards, although today, it’s quite a different story. But before we go into more detail, check out the Continental Flying Spurs currently for sale here at Exotic Car Trader in case you are looking to buy one.
Up until 2005 when the first generation Continental Flying Spur debuted, Bentley’s only sedan on sale was the top of the range Arnage. Naturally, customers were expecting to see a bigger, more expensive and more luxurious sedan to take Bentley into the 21st century. And instead, they got a cheaper and smaller sedan that significantly strayed away from the decades old Bentley and Rolls Royce philosophy. The Flying Spur got a brand new W12 engine which is very different from the old V8 torque monster. At the same time, weight reduction was for the first time very near to the top of the priority list. And despite VW parts sharing and the fact it hurt the brand’s image to some extent, the Flying Spur was so successful that today, it’s the only Bentley sedan on sale. Moreover, Bentley had sold 40,000 Flying Spurs by 2020 while the Arnage barely broke five digits in all of its years in production. As for the 2007 Flying Spur, it didn’t receive any major changes compared to the 2006 model with the 2008 model year getting the most changes until the 2010 facelift.
Interiors in the Bentley Arnage and the Bentley Mulsanne which came out in 2010 looked like nothing else on the market. As soon as you sat in one, everything your eyes landed on reminded you that you are sitting in one of the most special cars ever made. The 2007 Continental Flying Spur on the other hand looks a lot more like an ordinary luxury sedan, at least when it comes to the general design. However, the Flying Spur isn’t lacking any high-end materials and there won’t be any doubt in anyone who sits in one that this is a six figure vehicle. As in all other Bentleys, everything is covered in the best quality leather and the most precious wood available. And on top of everything, the speedometer goes to 210 mph. This being a luxury sedan, the passengers in the back won’t be lacking any toys either. There is enough space for even the tallest of specimens to feel comfortable, plus they get massaging, heated and cooled seats. Screens, wine coolers and tables were also available as optional equipment which many examples still have today. Dual zone AC also came as standard for the rear passengers which could be controlled without interfering with the driver. All in all, despite being the cheapest Bentley back then, the 2007 Continental Flying Spur is still more luxurious than most modern cars, even those that cost well over six figures.
The 2007 Bentley Flying Spur draws all exterior design inspiration from the Continental GT which came out a year earlier. After all, the two cars do share the drivetrain and are essentially built on the same platform. The 2007 Flying Spur looks like a stretched GT and there is nothing wrong with that as the proportions are kept pretty much perfect, plus the Continental GT was one of the best looking cars when it came out. Both the front and rear end is almost identical to the GT with the front being dominated by a streamlined grille and double round headlights. The front bumper isn’t as aggressive as it is on the GT but it’s not benign either. The rear still has the same dual oval exhausts but now with a mesh grille between them which makes it look even sportier than the GT. As for the side profile, the Flying Spur employs elegant instead lines which are still fairly pronounced and give this elegant sedan some visible muscle.
The VW W12 engine made its way into other models before it got to Bentley, but then, for the first time, it got two turbochargers. What resulted was a six liter monster that made 560 horsepower plus 479 lb-ft of torque. That was considerably more than what the Bentley V8 made even in its final years of production. At the same time, the Flying Spur weighed less than 2.5 tons which is again much less than other Bentley models including the two door Brooklands coupe. With everything put together, the Continental could sprint to sixty in just 4.8 seconds which is exactly the same time as the Continental GT. The top speed also remained the same at 190 mph despite the extra two doors. The Flying Spur then got customers much more than the GT with almost no drawbacks. Furthermore, all that power went to all four wheels as standard which made the Continental Flying Spur one of the safest ways to near 200 mph.
The 2007 Continental Flying Spur had a starting price of $170,000 in the US which is about the same as the Continental GT but about $100,000 less than any other Bentley models at the time. But that doesn’t mean the 2007 Flying Spur depreciated any less. Today, some examples for much less than $20,000 which is worryingly cheap because it makes it extremely tempting. Granted, such examples usually have over 100,000 miles on the clock, but you can still find decent examples with around 50,000 miles for less than $35,000. And even those with a fully documented history and neglectable mileage still barely fetch $45,000. That makes it one of the cheapest Bentley's on the market today all while being one of the best ones ever made.
The 2007 Continental Flying Spur is still very much a relevant car even today despite being criminally overlooked. One of the most luxurious sedans and the fastest factory sedan money could buy not too long ago can now be yours for the price of an average SUV, often with even less miles. And if you are in the market for one, Exotic Car Trader can help you with every step of the buying process. Exotic Car Trader provides escrow services, first inspection, delivery and it handles all the important paperwork. At the same time, if you are looking to sell your current car through Exotic Car Trader, it can help you in much the same way and more.
Exotic Car Trader is the fastest growing marketplace built specifically for automotive enthusiasts. Click below to learn how you can sell your car with us.
LEARN MORE
