The old W12 engine was the only engine that propelled the Continental GT and the Flying Spur for ten years. And that’s not surprising as Bentley isn’t a brand to which efficiency and downsizing come naturally. But with the new 4 liter V8 being such an overachiever, it found its way into Bentley’s models virtually as soon as it came out. And that turned out to be the right move as the 2019 Flying Spur V8 was a much better all rounder than the flagship W12. The performance was almost identical while in the real world, the V8 was much more responsive making it even faster when you need to do a quick overtake. Furthermore, with cylinder deactivation and direct fuel injection, the V8 was much more economical while also making the Flying Spur more fun to drive thanks to being lighter. And because the smaller engine is the only thing that made the Flying Spur V8 an entry level model, the price was less than 10% lower while on the used market, they are usually that much higher than those of the W12. Once we go into more detail it will become clear why that’s the case, but before that, check out the ones currently for sale at Exotic Car Trader.
The first generation Flying Spur quickly became the most successful sedan Bentley had ever built, selling thousands of them annually from the first year it entered production. Starting in 2014 when the second generation rolled out, all powertrains got a new 8 speed transmission and in 2015, the Flying Spur V8 was introduced for the first time. But despite all the innovations, the second generation was still built on the old D1 Phaeton platform dating back to 2004. And the 2019 Flying Spur V8 is the model that retired that old platform as the third generation came out. And while the platform might have been outdated, the 2019 Flying Spur V8 certainly wasn’t as it included all the updates the second generation got. With new technologies inside and an exterior refresh which came about in 2016, the second generation still looks fresh and it sold well until the end of its production. A total of around 10,000 second generation Flying Spurs sold between 2014 and 2019. The 2019 model year sold only 102 examples total including the V8 and W12 models making the 2019 Flying Spur V8 quite a rare find.
Given that Bentley puts just as much emphasis on driving as it does on comfort, the 2019 Flying Spur’s interior is interesting all around. The front part of the cabin gets a sports steering wheel with shifter pedals after the 2015 update, and it has a nice and sporty color split. A black bezel around the shifter adds to the sporty spirit and so do optional color splits for the seats as well as the tighter diamond stitching patterns. Of course, the entire dashboard is covered with wood and leather and so are the center console and doors. A beautiful analog clock sits on top of the dashboard for that high end look, while the big infotainment system is a tad outdated by today’s standards. However, there is nothing outdated about the rear seats which are fully adjustable, heated, cooled and feature an optional massaging function. The infotainment system can also be controlled from the back seats using a remote, and the rear AC is controlled using a touchscreen display. Some Flying Spurs also got refrigerators, tables, foot rests and many other exclusive options. Everything about the interior is as luxurious as it gets.
Although the 2015 update pretty much equaled out all the exterior differences between the Continental GT and the Continental GT V8, that didn’t happen with the Flying Spur. The 2019 Flying Spur is easily distinguishable from the W12 by a much more aggressive and sportier front bumper while the front grille is finished in black as standard. Wheel options are also much sportier since the V8 Flying Spur is a much more driver oriented model. The LED headlights still look modern, while the side profile is as muscular as it ever was with nice flying B wing vents. Quad exhaust tips are another bespoke detail on the 2019 Flying Spur V8 and so is the diffuser vent between them. The sloping roofline is a signature design element on four door Bentleys but it doesn’t make the Flying Spur look any smaller. But at 209 inches of length and 87 inches of width, hardly anything could.
While the W12 Flying Spur always broke records, the 2019 Flying Spur V8 will do no such thing. But that doesn’t mean it’s not worth your attention, far from it. Even with 100 horsepower less than the W12, the 2019 Flying Spur V8 sprints to 60 in just 4.6 seconds, no more than 0.1 seconds slower. That said, the Continental GT V8 outran its W12 counterpart during independent testing and there is no reason to believe the V8 Flying Spur doesn’t as well. Whatever it may be, with 500 horsepower and 487 lb-ft of torque, the 2019 Flying Spur V8 will glue you to the seat and keep you there all the way until 190 mph. That means even its top speed is very close to that of the W12. And keep in mind that the V8 Flying Spur still weighs just over 5,300 lbs. But again, its V8 engine always delivered more than it promised, plus the four wheel drive system and the 8 speed transmission help it out as well. On another note, the V8 features cylinder deactivation and direct injection which coupled with the lower weight gives it a 40% better fuel economy. Not to mention that the V8 is substantially cheaper to maintain making it a much smarter option than the W12 with all things considered.
The 2019 Flying Spur V8 cost around $200,000 when it was new, and that was before options, while the W12 had a starting price of $225,000. Today, that gap has closed off thanks to the much better value the V8 provides. A 2019 Flying Spur V8 in 2024 will set you back between $90,000 and $110,000 depending on the mileage and optional equipment. That’s more than a 50% discount and keep in mind that most of them have $20,000 plus worth of options and have done less than 20,0000 miles.
After taking all things into account, the 2019 Flying Spur V8 is one of the smartest Bentleys you can buy at the moment. That’s especially true if you are looking to drive it more often than a couple of times a month. On the other hand, the W12 still offers a more authentic Bentley experience and if that’s what you are after instead of a second daily car, it’s the better option between the two. Whichever you go for, using Exotic Car Trader to complete the purchase is one of your best options. With escrow protection, delivery and first inspection, Exotic Car Trader leaves nothing to chance. Selling a car through Exotic Car Trader works in much the same way in terms of security and it’s no more inconvenient than buying a car.
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