The next-generation Bentley Flying Spur has again
been spotted by spies prior to its reveal. The longer dash-to-axle ratio –
which on the Conti GT was accomplished by moving the engine behind the front
axle – really helps in giving the car lankier, more relaxed proportions,
emphasised by the sleeker roofline.
Aside from that, it’s still hard to judge the
styling of the new car, aside from the continued presence of a large
rectangular front grille, the “power line” along the side, prominent rear
haunches and twin oval exhausts. The head- and tail lights have been covered
from view (expect the latter to go to a single oval shape like the Conti GT),
but the wide front air intake with moustache-like inserts appears to have been
retained.
Underneath, the Flying Spur will move to
Volkswagen’s modular MSB platform for rear-biased front-engined cars, which is
also shared with the Porsche Panamera. Engines will likely include a 4.0 litre
twin-turbo V8 from the Panamera Turbo, along with Bentley’s renown 6.0 litre
twin-turbo W12, which in the Conti GT has been outfitted with direct injection
and now produces 626 hp and a heady 900 Nm of torque.
A plug-in hybrid version is also expected, it has
already been seen undergoing testing since last year. The hardware will likely
be shared with the Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid, which pairs the 550 hp 4.0 litre
V8 with a 136 hp electric motor to produce a whopping total system output of
680 hp and 850 Nm. All models should get an eight-speed dual-clutch
transmission from the Conti GT.
