2024 Bentley Flying Spur 1st Edition

Bentley quietly added a new trim to slot below the Azure in the lineup this year. The new A trim shares some of that model's styling elements, including the waterfall grille. The Flying Spur's S and Speed models receive an updated mesh grille design for 2024 and all models receive plusher floor mats made from wool and updated carpeting made from recycled nylon. The Speed model also now comes with a dark gray exterior trim to set it apart from the rest of the Flying Spur lineup.

All Flying Spurs come with an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, all-wheel drive, and a powerful twin-turbocharged engine. A 542-hp V-8 is standard, but we'd suggest upgrading to the Speed model which comes exclusively with the 626-hp W-12 engine. With 12 cylinders under the hood, the Flying Spur never wants for power.

In fact, it can show its taillights to many top-tier sports cars in a drag race. At our test track, it leaped to 60 mph in just 3.5 seconds. The V-8-powered model delivered an identical 3.5-second zero-to-60-mph run, but the W-12 is slightly quicker to 100 mph and through the quarter-mile. A plug-in-hybrid powertrain is also available and combines a twin-turbo 2.9-liter V-6 with an electric motor for a combined 536 horses and 553 pound-feet of torque.

At our test track, the PHEV snapped off a quick 3.9-second run to 60 mph, just a few tenths off the quicker V-8 and W-12 cars. When we took the Flying Spur for a brief drive near Monaco, we found it to be a far more athletic driver than we anticipated. The sedan's adaptive suspension and rear-wheel-steering system help on this front. Back in our home state of Michigan, the Flying Spur repeated its performance from our earlier drive and provided a much-needed respite from cratered roads.

The Flying Spur's fuel-economy estimates from the EPA look as though they're for a pickup truck rather than a sedan, earning 12 mpg city and 19 highway with the W-12 engine under the hood. Fuel-economy ratings for the V-8-powered variant come in at 15 mpg city and 20 highway. The Flying Spur's chief rival—the Rolls-Royce Ghost—doesn't fare any better at the pump. The Flying Spur plug-in hybrid is rated at 19 mpg combined, with an estimated electric driving range of 21 miles on a single charge.

In our testing, the plug-in hybrid model far exceeded its estimated electric driving range by motoring on for 35 miles of highway before needing to activate the gas engine. For more information about the Flying Spur's fuel economy, visit the EPA's website.

Sumptuous leather, genuine wood trim, and real metal accents line the Flying Spur's interior. In the front or back, there's plenty of space for adults to stretch out and enjoy the luxurious environs. Bentley's interior designers managed to preserve the brand's prim and proper styling while incorporating modern tech features. A remote touchscreen controller mounted to the rear of the center console allows rear-seat riders to adjust certain things without asking the driver for assistance. For instance, you can use it to open and close the window shades, adjust the cabin climate, and activate the rear-seat massagers. A generously sized trunk offers plenty of space for luggage, cases of champagne, or a day's worth of impulse shopping on Rodeo Drive.

A large 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen is situated between large swaths of wood trim on the Flying Spur's dashboard. For a price, Bentley will swap the static infotainment screen with a moving piece that rotates the screen into the dashboard and brings up a wood panel featuring three analog dials (an outside-temperature gauge, a clock, and a compass.

Passengers can connect to the Wi-Fi hotspot, and those with compatible smartphones will enjoy the Spur's Apple CarPlay integration. Bentley provides a 10-speaker stereo system standard but will install one of two premium audio systems for more coin. Buyers may upgrade to either the 16-speaker Bang & Olufsen setup or the 19-speaker Naim system with illuminated speaker grilles.