Those not looking for additional quickness from the Speed version of the Continental Flying Spur, can rest comfortably behind the wheel (or, more appropriately, in the back seat) of Bentley’s standard four-door. Four years after debuting to acclaim, the Flying Spur’s luster has not waned. And while Bentley reserved the 2010 model year to launch its Supersports model and announce its all-new Mulsanne luxo-liner, Speed was the key term for Bentley’s 2009 Continental Flying Spur sedan. The Flying Spur is a large, leather- and wood-lined, all-wheel-drive, four-door sedan—weighing nearly three tons—that can propel four occupants in sybaritic serenity all the way to 200 mph with little drama. The Speed power plant develops significantly more power and torque than the base Flying Spur’s already brawny W-12 engine, which also helps it cut a few tenths of a second from the benchmark 60 mph acceleration time. Inside, diamond-quilted leather dresses up the ambience, and the doorsill plates are decorated with Speed script. The Flying Spur is too big and heavy ever to be mistaken for a true sports sedan, but its combination of handcrafted luxury, passenger-carrying capability, and high-speed prowess remains uniquely compelling.
Pros: The fastest four-door Bentley is a nice reprieve from the ubiquitous sedans from Mercedes-Benz or BMW. Or Audi.
Cons: The Porsche Panamera is scary competition.
