The more opulent saloon version of the Mulsanne, currently known as the Bentley Flying Spur, was introduced back in 2005. This 4-door variant of the Bentley Continental GT was meant to fill the gap left by the Continental GT, as a large following of luxurious cars preferred a 4-door option with luxury amenities and comfort at the rear seats as well. Bentley’s 2018 Flying Spur W12 was amongst the most successful models produced by the company, and this success with the second generation of the Flying Spur has allowed the company to continue with the third one as well.
Since its separation from Vickers, Bentley has not been reliant on BMW for engine production as in the early 2000s the company started manufacturing their own engines and bodies. A new identity for the company required a stalemate which was crafted in the form of the Continental GT. This car was inspired by the Continental released back in the 1950s in an attempt to bring back the original flavor of the company. While Bentley’s luxurious styling has become very popular during recent times, the engine performance of the company remains underrated. The British motor group was known for supplying engines to aircraft as well as to the Great Northern Railway to support the train system. The company has had some notable achievements in the automotive industry as well, where the company was able to win and retain its title at Le Mans, proving their engines had the ceramic capability to withstand tough conditions. A combination of power and luxury has become the new norm for Bentley, with the 2018 Bentley Flying W12 being a primary example.
There hasn’t been a question about the luxury offered by Bentleys; the winged emblem on the hilt of the car is enough evidence that the amenities in the car would match that of the finest British Luxury. Similarly, the performance in Continental GT has been nothing short of phenomenal; there isn’t a shadow of doubt why the car has been the most selling variant of the company. When these two attributes of British Luxury and Continental GT are combined, we get the magnificent 2018 Bentley Flying Spur W12. Housing a 6.0-liter twin-turbocharged W12 engine with a massive 48-valve valvetrain, with the capability of generating a whopping 616 HP. This is even more impressive when you consider the fact that luxury cars are expected to weigh substantially more than a normal sedan. This means that the W12 engine in this car needs to generate enough torque to seamlessly maneuver a car weighing more than 5,400 lbs. Therefore, a maximum torque of 590 lb-ft seems reasonable for a car that is able to regularly break the 200-mph barrier since the top-speed of the car is recorded at 207 mph. Despite being a luxury sedan, the W12 is an All-Wheel-Drive (AWD) with the ability to maneuver rough terrains efficiently using adaptive air suspension systems to adjust damping levels. The support from AWD also means that the car can accelerate rapidly from 0-100 kmph in just 3.7 seconds. Under such circumstances, precise power transmission for all wheels is increasingly important to ensure optimized power delivery, better fuel efficiency, and smoother shifting. This is supplied by the 8-speed automatic transmission with the option of manual shifting for when the terrain gets incredibly steep.
Since the departure from Vickers, the company has adopted a luxury-based approach while also simultaneously ensuring as much performance as they possibly can to maintain a market standard. Therefore, the comfort acceptance has become the crux of Bentley design and development. Much like any other Bentley car, the 2018 Bentley Flying Spur W12 is immersed in real wood and leather, creating the feeling of a warm-cozy cabin at the back of a frozen lake. The veneers of the console and the dashboard are all covered in shiny wood elements. While the heated and ventilated seats of the car have inbuilt infotainment system for the passengers at the back where the front is provided with a super-responsive touch screen for panel control. The epitome of luxury is realized when the nearly silent powertrain seamlessly propels the car forward, creating a motion of utter silence while the car manages shifts between its 8-gear automatic transmission system. To be fair to the market standards, the technology in a 2018 Bentley Flying Spur W12 was lacking in comparison to the then market leaders but the upgrades on the newer versions were able to fix any shortcoming. However, the climate control tablet which treated the rear-seat as a different environment was a nice touch. Furthermore, the driver’s assistance features including the lane assist, cruise control and ceramic braking were performance-related upgrades which made a huge difference within the car’s handling. When talking about the visual appearance of the car, the company emblem pretty much all over the exterior shines bright on any color the company has presented the car with, as well as the detailing on the Alcantara headliner stands the car out on its own.
There is a reason why The Bentley Flying Spur variant is considered one of the top selling versions of any Bentley car here at Exotic Car Trader. Saloons are some of the most popular sizes in a car and when a giant like Bentley decides to step in it, it ensures that all the possible needs are covered even if the price is a bit higher than the market. This majestic beast was unveiled in the market back in 2018 for $244,600 whereas the current price after around 6 years has been reduced to around $129,000. These luxury cars are built to last a lifetime however, it is imperative to have an expert from Exotic Car Trader analyze it, to ensure the authentic craftsmanship of the Bentley is maintained.
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