2023 Bentley Flying Spur - Best Super Luxury Sedan!
CarTV
2023-02-15
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Highs Swank interior quarters, surprisingly spry for a big car, big-shot curb appeal.
Lows Priced for the gods, fuel efficiency on par with big pickup trucks, driver-assists cost extra.
Verdict As a nod to the brand’s racing past, Bentley has imbued its ultra-luxury flagship sedan with enough athleticism to keep the driver entertained while the passengers relax.
What's New for 2023?
Bentley has added a racier-looking S trim to the Flying Spur’s offerings for 2023, which wears gloss-black exterior trim, black 22-inch wheels, and bright red brake calipers. The cabin is augmented by sports seats wrapped in a combination of leather and faux-suede upholstery in a two-tone color scheme. Buyers of the S model can choose from either the hybrid V-6 powertrain or the twin-turbocharged V-8. A W-12–powered Speed model returns to the lineup this year as well, sporting performance-enhancing features such as a brake-based torque vectoring system and an adaptive anti-roll suspension system.
Upgrading from the base Flying Spur to the more powerful Speed model is an easy choice if you ask us as it unlocks the 626-hp W-12 engine. Customers can choose from one of several curated themes, such as Cool Harmony, Storm Noir, or Alter Ego when ordering their Flying Spur, but we'd suggest going with a fully bespoke build to make it uniquely yours. A seemingly endless array of exterior colors and styling choices await you in the Bentley Mulliner customization program. The same goes for interior appointments, which can include several different types of wood, various leathers, and polished metal accents.
Engine, Transmission, and Performance
All Flying Spurs come with an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, all-wheel drive, and a powerful twin-turbocharged engine. A 542-hp V-8 is standard, but we'd suggest upgrading to the Speed model which comes exclusively with the 626-hp W-12 engine. With 12 cylinders under the hood, the Flying Spur never wants for power. In fact, it can show its taillights to many top-tier sports cars in a drag race. At our test track, it leapt to 60 mph in just 3.5 seconds. The V-8-powered model delivered an identical 3.5-second zero-to-60-mph run, but the W-12 is slightly quicker to 100 mph and through the quarter-mile. A plug-in-hybrid powertrain is also available and combines a twin-turbo 2.9-liter V-6 with an electric motor for a combined 536 horses and 553 pound-feet of torque. At our test track, the PHEV snapped off a quick 3.9-second run to 60 mph, just a few tenths off the quicker V-8 and W-12 cars. When we took the Flying Spur for a brief drive near Monaco, we found it to be a far more athletic driver than we anticipated. The sedan's adaptive suspension and rear-wheel-steering system help on this front. Back in our home state of Michigan, the Flying Spur repeated its performance from our earlier drive and provided a much-needed respite from cratered roads.
Lows Priced for the gods, fuel efficiency on par with big pickup trucks, driver-assists cost extra.
Verdict As a nod to the brand’s racing past, Bentley has imbued its ultra-luxury flagship sedan with enough athleticism to keep the driver entertained while the passengers relax.
What's New for 2023?
Bentley has added a racier-looking S trim to the Flying Spur’s offerings for 2023, which wears gloss-black exterior trim, black 22-inch wheels, and bright red brake calipers. The cabin is augmented by sports seats wrapped in a combination of leather and faux-suede upholstery in a two-tone color scheme. Buyers of the S model can choose from either the hybrid V-6 powertrain or the twin-turbocharged V-8. A W-12–powered Speed model returns to the lineup this year as well, sporting performance-enhancing features such as a brake-based torque vectoring system and an adaptive anti-roll suspension system.
Upgrading from the base Flying Spur to the more powerful Speed model is an easy choice if you ask us as it unlocks the 626-hp W-12 engine. Customers can choose from one of several curated themes, such as Cool Harmony, Storm Noir, or Alter Ego when ordering their Flying Spur, but we'd suggest going with a fully bespoke build to make it uniquely yours. A seemingly endless array of exterior colors and styling choices await you in the Bentley Mulliner customization program. The same goes for interior appointments, which can include several different types of wood, various leathers, and polished metal accents.
Engine, Transmission, and Performance
All Flying Spurs come with an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, all-wheel drive, and a powerful twin-turbocharged engine. A 542-hp V-8 is standard, but we'd suggest upgrading to the Speed model which comes exclusively with the 626-hp W-12 engine. With 12 cylinders under the hood, the Flying Spur never wants for power. In fact, it can show its taillights to many top-tier sports cars in a drag race. At our test track, it leapt to 60 mph in just 3.5 seconds. The V-8-powered model delivered an identical 3.5-second zero-to-60-mph run, but the W-12 is slightly quicker to 100 mph and through the quarter-mile. A plug-in-hybrid powertrain is also available and combines a twin-turbo 2.9-liter V-6 with an electric motor for a combined 536 horses and 553 pound-feet of torque. At our test track, the PHEV snapped off a quick 3.9-second run to 60 mph, just a few tenths off the quicker V-8 and W-12 cars. When we took the Flying Spur for a brief drive near Monaco, we found it to be a far more athletic driver than we anticipated. The sedan's adaptive suspension and rear-wheel-steering system help on this front. Back in our home state of Michigan, the Flying Spur repeated its performance from our earlier drive and provided a much-needed respite from cratered roads.
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