Hiding underneath this elongated Panamera skin is
Bentley's next generation Flying Spur, currently undergoing winter testing. The
new Flying Spur will also utilize the same platform found in the Panamera
(MSB-F), this test mule needed slightly wider fenders
and increased length to accommodate what will obviously be a larger car.
As for why somebody wrote "B. Wallbank" on
the wheels, the spy photographers think that it's got something to do with
Bradley Wallbank, a vehicle dynamics engineer charged with working on next-gen
Electronic Stability Control systems at Bentley.
In terms of aesthetics, since the current Flying
Spur is pretty much the sedan version of the Continental GT, it's safety to
assume that the new model will also share visual cues with its two-door sibling
- which we know will be influenced by the EXP10 Speed 6 Concept.
Powering the next-gen Flying Spur should be a
twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8, shared with the new Panamera, though a smaller twin-turbo
3.0-liter V6 could potentially find its way into the range, as could a plug-in
hybrid V6 powertrain. In terms of maximum power output, a twin-turbo 6.0-liter
W12 engine is expected to offer 2018 Continental models over 600 horses.
We should see the all-new Bentley Flying Spur
wearing the correct outfit later on this year, with an official debut planned
either for late 2018 or early 2019.
