Bentley to debut Flying Spur V8 at Geneva motor show

Bentley is expanding its Flying Spur range, and will now offer a V8 engine as an option in addition to the W12 in the 2015 model year sedan. This seems like a logical extension, given the fact that Bentley has recently offered a V8 engine in the second-generation Continental GT V8, and they'll bring the new version of the Flying Spur to the Geneva Motor Show next week.

Bentley being rather straightforward with their naming practices, the new sedan will be called the Flying Spur V8. The V8 in question will be the 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged engine that debuted in the GT V8, and will produce 500-hp and 487 lb-ft of torque, and will be coupled with an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive. And this being an age where numbers matter, even when it comes to cars whose power figures haven't been traditionally advertised all that much, Bentley is promising a 0 to 60 sprint of 4.9 seconds and a top speed of 183 mph. At the same time, the Flying Spur will boast a 520 cruising range, courtesy of new engine features such as cylinder deactivation, intelligent thermal management, and electrical recuperation.

The changes to this new model won't be confined to what's under the hood, as the company plans to set the Flying Spur V8 apart from its W12 sibling with figure eight chrome exhaust tips, a red center to the traditional winged Bentley badge on the hood, and front bumper grilles that will be finished in black, along with a black "wing" insert. Interior features will include Touch Screen Remote which is stored in the wood veneered center console and which will allow the rear-seat passenger to control the car's climate and infotainment system, as well as the optional Multimedia Specification which will add headrest-mounted screens as part of the entertainment system. Though if you've owned a the Mulsanne-based Bentley Eight in the late 1980s, you'll probably stick to a daily copy of The Financial Times for rear seat entertainment while on the way to the office.

Bentley
The V8 will also be available in Mulliner specification, which means diamond quilted seats and a number of other details like drilled pedals.

The Flying Spur V8 will be further set apart from its W12 sibling by the standard inclusion of Dark Fiddleback Eucalyptus wood veneer, 19-inch Classic painted alloy wheels, a single-piece three-person rear seat, and a choice of seven exterior colors along with four interior colors.

The Flying Spur V8 will also be available in Mulliner specification, and this popular option will add diamond quilted seats, a knurled gear lever, drilled alloy pedals, and 20-inch five spoke painted allow wheels, in addition to a 4+1 rear seat system.

The Flying Spur V8 will go on sale in the spring of 2014, and we expect prices to be announced shortly.

By Jay Ramey