Geneva Motor Show 2013: Bentley premieres Flying Spur

Lately, Bentley has become better known for its two-door Continental GT models. Impressive though they are, the Crewe based manufacturer used to build more four-door saloons than two-door coupes, so fans of the old days will be pleased at the announcement of the latest all-new Flying Spur model.

It’s unmistakably a Bentley, with large, round twin-headlights and purposeful yet understated styling. It’s got the power it needs to be a true Bentley, too – the 6.0-litre W12 produces 625PS and 800Nm of torque. That’s sufficient for a 200mph top speed and a 0-60mph sprint of 4.3 seconds.

All models have all-wheel drive and are fitted with a ZF eight-speed automatic transmission. Improvements have been made to fuel economy over the outgoing model, but don’t expect frugality – combined cycle economy is 19.2mpg and emissions are 343g/km.

The cabin is as sumptuous as you’d expect – there’s soft leather, seat heating and ventilation for all occupants and there’s lots of seat adjustment to maximise comfort. All of the wood veneer – almost ten square metres per car -  is hand crafted and seven variations are offered.

The Flying Spur is offered in four- or five-seat form. The former features an extra storage area with a stowage case trimmed in veneer to match the interior of the car. There are electronically operated rear privacy blinds fitted as standard to both four- and five-seat models.

It’s not all traditional, though – there’s an eight-inch touch screen with sat nav, voice control and Bluetooth. Rear seat passengers can control the touch-screen with a remote, while hard workers can specify a Bentley Connectivity Unit, which adds 10-inch screens to the rear headrests and web-connectivity.

The Bentley Flying Spur i on display at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show ahead of sales starting in the middle of year. Prices will start at around £150,000. To read our road test of the two-door Continental GT Speed, click here.