New Bentley Flying Spur Speed debut as W12-powered flagship saloon

Bentley has just unwrapped the new ‘Speed’ flagship for its revised Flying Spur luxury four-door saloon line up. Like how the Bentayga SUV model was revised, the Flying Spur Speed will be one of only two ways to have Crewe’s full-fat W12 powerplant in said four-door offering.

Apart from this new ‘Speed’ flagship, Bentley will offer its signature W12 in the Flying Spur Mulliner variant. However, whilst the Mulliner treatment centres more on comfort, the ‘Speed’ aptly takes on a greater focus towards performance, which ought to explain its slightly higher output and somewhat sportier stance too.

Packing twin-turbos and a 6.0-litre displacement, Crewe’s signature W12 in the Flying Spur Speed delivers the same 626 hp and 900 Nm outputs as the ‘standard’ Flying Spur W12 it offered before, all channelled to the road via a ZF-sourced 8-speed DCT auto box and trick all-wheel-drive.

Compared to the aforementioned Flying Mulliner though, the Speed offers 84 hp and 134 Nm more. This, in turn, allows it to despatch 0-100 kmh in just 3.7 secs whilsrt on its way towards a claimed V-max of 333 kmh.

With the new Flying Spur Speed, Bentley keenly noted that the all-wheel-drive system emphasises on sending power to the rear wheels. The balanced torque distribution grants lightning quick turn-in responses and minimises understeer, whereas torque vectoring and all-wheel steering systems further ensures this luxo-sedan’s agility through corners.

Apart from the powertrain, the new Flying Spur Speed is easily set apart from the new ‘base’ V8-powered Flying Spur S variant through a few differing exterior bits and trims. Specifically, the Speed adopts more black-finished trims, a darker front grille treatment and lights, black-finished exhaust tips, and a host of carbon fibre aero bits (front splitter, spoiler, side skirt).

There are also several ‘Speed’ badges present on top of what Bentley describes as “jewelled fuel and oil filler caps”, not forgetting a more distinct set of 22-inch alloy wheels that it rolls on too. It also sports massive 420mm front brake rotors that are brimmed with red-painted Bentley-branded calipers, though there’s a black-finished option too (at a cost, of course).

If this isn’t dark or sport enough, fret not as the Flying Spur Speed can be specified with the  Blackline Specification. This option darkens all of the exterior trim pieces to give it an even more sinister appearance.

On board, it’s the usual affair from Crewe’s finest craftsmanship. However, instead of leather, the Speed’s cabin favours greater use of an eco-friendly Dinamica Plus microfiber upholstery, as well as a Piano Black trims as standard, though these can be swapped out for any of the marque’s signature woodworks instead at no extra cost.

The infotainment system also sees a slight update with the addition of a ‘Performance Mode’ display. This, according to Bentley, was inspired by chronographs as used in the world of motorsports.

Pricing and availability haven’t been announced yet, though these details will come at a later date. Of course, keen prospects wishing  to commission one can already register their interests with their respective authorised dealers – Bentley Kuala Lumpur for Malaysian prospects.

By the way, like the bulk of its flagship W12-powered models, Bentley reckon it will sell this new performance flagship the most in U.S. and European, and Middle East markets.