The 2011 Bentley Continental Flying Spur impresses with its luxury, performance, and elegant design.
The finely crafted 2011 Bentley Continental Flying Spur combines style, luxury, and performance in a way few competing luxury barges can match. This full-size luxury sedan is inspired by the classic Continental Flying Spur models of the ‘50s and ‘60s, thus embodying the essence of a "grand tourer born of a coupe." It shares many features with the 2011 Bentley Continental GT coupe, including a powerful 552-horsepower, twin-turbocharged W-12 engine. The sedan boasts all-wheel drive and can accelerate from zero to 60 mph in 4.9 seconds. It is built upon the Volkswagen Group D1 Platform, which it shares with the Bentley Continental GT, Audi A8, Audi S8, and Volkswagen Phaeton. With its power, luxury, and style blend, the 2011 Bentley Continental Flying Spur is a compelling choice for those seeking a powerful large luxury sedan.
The History Of The 2011 Bentley Continental Flying Spur
This sleek sedan is a direct successor of the 1957 Continental Flying Spur and honors its historic predecessor while embracing current style and technology. Grace, delicacy, and exceptional performance characterized the original Continental Flying Spur, which raised the standard for luxury vehicles of its day. Bentley introduced this generation of the Continental Flying Spur four-door saloon in 2005 alongside the Continental GT two-door coupe, its sportier sibling. The Continental Flying Spur blends the performance attributes of the GT with the comfort, space, and practicality of a full-size sedan. The car was unveiled in March 2005 at the Geneva Motor Show, but aspiring Continental Flying Spur owners had to wait until late 2005 before the first deliveries were made. Its starting price back then was $181,200, which was at the higher end of the pricing scale in its market segment. Despite this, Bentley sold 4,271 Continental Flying Spur models in its first year of production.
Performance, Engine, And Transmission
Powering the 2011 Bentley Continental Flying Spur is a potent 6.0-liter twin-turbocharged W-12 engine that produces 552 horsepower and 479 lb-ft of torque. Also standard is a 6-speed automated transmission with manual shift mode. Thanks in part to a Torsen-based all-wheel drive system, this engine is capable of propelling this car from 0 to 100 km/h in just 4.9 seconds. The car can reach a top speed of 314 km/h, which is plenty fast even for the most daring speed junkies. As expected, with this kind of performance and its substantial 5,567-pound kerb weight, this car doesn’t so well in the fuel economy department. It returns a fuel economy of 11 mpg in the city and 18 mpg on the highway.
A Lavish Interior And Sublime Comfort
The 2011 Bentley Continental Flying Spur's interior exudes luxury and refinement with its fine-crafted wood veneers, plush leather surfaces, and metallic trim. In true Bentley fashion, it adorns a signature Breitling timepiece that makes quite a statement. Its classy real-metal knobs and controls also give an ‘old money’ vibe, emphasizing the car’s exclusivity. Seating comfort is of paramount importance in the Bentley Continental Flying Spur, which is shown by the abundance of leg-stretching space in both rows. The front passengers get 16-way power-adjustable bucket seats with power-adjustable lumbar support, memory and heating settings, and massaging functions for maximum seating comfort. The rear seats are also plush and supportive, with multi-level heating functions. At the back, the Bentley Continental Flying Spur offers a substantially large 16.7-cubic-foot trunk which can swallow up several average-size suitcases. Also worth noting is that the interior of this car is quite hushed thanks to its acoustic glass windshield and double-glazed side windows that shut out road and wind noise. The cabin of the 2011 Bentley Continental Flying Spur is available in four-seater or five-seater options. Every interior element, from fine materials to features, is meant to improve comfort and convenience.
Exterior Design
The exterior design of the 2011 Bentley Continental Flying Spur closely mirrors its counterpart, the Continental GT. Bentley sought to achieve a look of understated elegance with the Bentley Continental Flying Spur and Bentley Continental GT, so it enlisted the services of Dirk van Braeckel, a celebrated Belgian car designer. The Continental Flying Spur boasts several exterior features that contribute to its luxurious and elegant presence on the road. At the front, it is characterized by its grand-looking upright chrome grille that comes in varying designs and shades, depending on the trim level. The large lower air intakes enhance the car's aerodynamics and add sportiness to its overall look. The sedan rides on 19-inch wheels as standard, providing a balance of style and comfort. Optional 20-inch wheels are available, enhancing the car's presence on the road. The bi-xenon high-intensity-discharge headlamps illuminate the road ahead with exceptional clarity and contribute to the car's front fascia. The car’s body boasts a fluid shape with sweeping curves and flowing lines, and at the rear, it features Bentley’s signature combination tailights and dual chrome-tipped exhaust outlets. In terms of size, this car measures 5290 mm (208.3 in) in length, 1916 mm (75.4 in) in width without mirrors, and 1475 mm (58.1 in) in height.
Technological Marvel Of Its Time
The 2011 Bentley Continental Flying Spur offers an optional adaptive cruise control system that enhances driving by automatically adjusting braking and throttle to maintain a safe distance from the vehicle ahead. A standard DVD-based navigation system on the inside makes it easy for passengers to find their way to their destination. The Continental Flying Spur's four-zone electronic temperature control system ensures that every passenger is comfortable regardless of the weather. The side and rear windows' acoustic glass help to lower interior noise levels, giving passengers a calmer, more comfortable experience. The Continental Flying Spur can be had with an optional a 1,100-watt Naim amplifier that is perfect for audiophiles, providing crisp, clear sound throughout the cabin. Additionally, the vehicle has an iPod, MP3, and USB interface so that users can easily connect and listen to their preferred music. Fold-down tables and a backseat DVD system are just two options the Continental Flying Spur offers to improve the comfort and convenience of rear passengers.
Pricing: Collectible And Expensive
The 2011 Bentley Continental Flying Spur had a starting price of $181,200 excluding destination fees back in 2011. However, like any luxury car of its pedigree, this car was highly customizable, and the optional features could increase the car’s total price significantly. Some of the options you could get with this car back then include optional 20-inch wheels, an optional 1,100-watt Naim amplifier, an available iPod, MP3 and USB interface, an optional fold-down tables for rear passengers, an optional backseat DVD system, and much more. Today, high-mileage but well maintained models can go for less than $30,000, while low mileage models with comprehensive service histories can go for even up to $70,000. The 2011 Bentley Continental Flying Spur is a worthwhile purchase for people who prioritize performance, style, and luxury.
Final thoughts
The 2011 Bentley Continental Flying Spur is a superb luxury sedan that blends power, elegance, and workmanship, making it a good option for people pursuing automotive perfection. However, when buying a 2011 Bentley Continental Flying Spur, it is important to remember that this is a Bentley, so it is bound to cost more to maintain this car than it will to maintain an average full-size sedan. However, all that is worth it given all that the car offers. With its performance, you are unlikely to want for anything faster. It also handles its weight quite well for such a large car, and delivers ride quality and comfort levels that are superior to what most other similar vehicles offer.If you are thinking about buying a 2011 Bentley Continental Flying Spur, we at Exotic Car Trader can help. Our seamless and painstaking buying process ensures that you get a high-quality, well-maintained car that you won’t regret buying. On the other hand, if you want to sell this car or anything similar, we can facilitate the entire selling process for you, from taking photographs of the car to listing it online and negotiating with potential buyers. Many aspiring Bentley car owners have trusted Exotic Car Trader in the past and have not regetted it. Reach out to Exotic Car Trader today and our team will help you. It also can’t be denied that having a large, executive Bentley sedan like the 2011 Bentley Continental Flying Spur has its benefits, e.g., being the envy of all your colleagues, getting a lot of attention when driving in public places, and more. Also, for the embraces modern innovations to represent the height of luxury and performance. Therefore, you are unlikely to regret buying this car.
