2010 Bentley Continental Supersports. on 2040-cars

Auto blog

Here's our first look at the new Bentley Flying Spur sedan

We've seen a few different versions of the new Bentley Continental GT coupe rolling around Europe, but now we have our first view at the Continental Flying Spur, the car's four-door variant. Just like the coupe, it looks a helluva lot like the outgoing model. Bentley has done just enough to keep the car looking fresh while retaining what are now characteristic traits of the Continental twins. The Flying Spur is really just a stretched version of the Continental GT, though the former no longer carries the Continental prefix. While we don't know exactly how much longer the wheelbase is, expect generous legroom for those in the backseat. Don't expect many changes from the B-pillar forward, including under the hood. Look for both a twin-turbo V8 and a meaty twin-turbo W12, both making copious amounts of horsepower and torque. These spy shots don't give us the best view of the front, but we can see that Bentley has stuck on fake headlights, just like the GT prototypes. The grille appears to be a little more upright than the current model. There looks to be significant differences between the front of the GT and the Flying Spur, but we'll have to wait for another look. The rear has the now requisite oval taillights and exhaust tips. The entire rear looks like a GT with wide hips. There's been no word on when the car will debut, but look for news as soon as this fall or early next spring. Related Video: Featured Gallery Bentley Flying Spur spy shots Image Credit: CarPix Spy Photos Bentley Luxury Sedan bentley flying spur bentley continental flying spur

The Bentley Flying Spur V8 shows even a basic Bentley is a nice place to be

While it is hard to call any Bentley entry-level, the Flying Spur V8 that's debuting at the Geneva Motor Show is technically the lowest rung among Bentley's four-doors. However, if our experience with the Continental GT V8 is anything to go by - the Spur and the Conti still share a platform, despite the former dropping "Continental" from its branding - the loss of a few cylinders won't harm the overall experience.
The latest model uses the 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 with cylinder deactivation that produces 500 horsepower and 487 pound-feet of torque. It is capable of accelerating to 60 miles per hour in 4.9 seconds to a top speed of 183 mph. Power is sent to all four wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission, and it rides on an air suspension.
Buyers wanting a little more luxury (and who doesn't?) can opt for the Mulliner Driving Specification that adds diamond-quilted leather, a leather headliner, power rear seats and 20-inch wheels. The Flying Spur V8 will join the Flying B's lineup this spring.

Bentley plotting Mulsanne performance model for Paris debut

Between three distinct body styles and numerous engine specifications, Bentley has made more versions of the Continental over the years than we would care to count. But one thing it has, by and (very) large left alone is the Mulsanne. Sure, it's done some special editions and some extra equipment packages - it's even toyed with the idea of a two-door convertible version - but at the end of the day, the Mulsanne soldiers on as a four-door sedan with one engine and one engine alone. That may be about to change, however.
Fueled by ambiguous pronouncements from Bentley's returning chief Wolfgang Dürheimer, rumors from the UK suggest that the Flying B marque is preparing a more performance-focused version of the Mulsanne to debut at the Paris Motor Show this October.
Details are few and far between, but we'd expect the Mulsanne's long-serving 6.75-liter V8 engine to be further tuned beyond its current specification of 505 horsepower and 752 pound-feet of torque, accompanied by a stiffer suspension, bigger brakes and other upgrades. Historically Bentley would turbocharge the Mulsanne's predecessors (to turn the 90s-era Brooklands, for instance, into the Turbo R), but the Mulsanne's engine is already spooled up, so the British automaker will likely have to massage the extra muscle out another way.