The second-generation Flying Spur dropped the ‘Continental’ from its name to underscore the distinction between two door and four door families in the Bentley stable. Launched in 2013 at the Geneva Motor Show as the Flying Spur W12, subsequent models included the Flying Spur V8 (2014), the Flying Spur V8 S (2016) and the pinnacle of the range, the Flying Spur W12 S, also launched in 2016; this was the first four-door Bentley to boast an official top speed of over 200 mph. Wolfgang Dürheimer, chairman and chief executive of Bentley Motors at the time, described it as ‘a Flying Spur with extra attitude’. 

A four-door performance flagship

As a high performance four-door Bentley, the Flying Spur W12 S adroitly combined sporting exhilaration with relaxed comfort for four occupants. In W12 S guise the power output of its 6.0-litre W12 engine was raised from 616 bhp to 626 bhp, with peak torque also increased to 820 Nm at 2,000 rpm. Top speed was 202 mph, making it the first Bentley four-door to officially exceed the ‘double ton’; 0-62mph took just 4.5 seconds. Power was delivered to the road via an all-wheel-drive system with a 40:60 rear-biased torque split. Complementing the increased performance, the Flying Spur W12 S also featured a more responsive chassis set up, with damper and stability control settings specific to this model.

Design Cues

External cues to the higher performance potential included black trim radiator and window surrounds as well as lights, rear bumper, door handle inserts and headlight washer caps. The front bumper, rear diffuser, door mirrors and front radiator matrix were all finished in gloss black. Headlamps and rear lamps were dark tinted. Inside, Bentley offered a choice of 17 accent colours in a two-tone split unique to the model. Seats were diamond quilted with contrast stitching and W12 S headrest stitching. 

The Flying Spur W12 S in the Heritage Collection

Bentley’s own example of this model is a left-hand drive model built in 2018 for the US market. It is finished in Tungsten metallic grey with a two-colour interior of Beluga and Linen hide. The trim is Piano Black veneer, and it is equipped with the Naim for Bentley surround sound system.