The original 1957 Bentley Continental Flying Spur was hailed as one of the most elegant and yet powerful saloons of the time and the new Continental Flying Spur continues that Bentley bloodline of sporting Grand Tourers. Similarly inspired by the most desirable coupe of its day, it aims to deliver awesome performance combined with sublime comfort and elegance.
After VW Group acquired Bentley Motors in 1998, they had an immediate need to start work on a new generation of models to move away from the previous Rolls-Royce heritage and expand the existing line-up. Although the Arnage model had only been launched a year before, it had been a long time in gestation and was deemed too expensive for the new Bentley strategy of higher volumes and a new 'exclusive luxury' price point of around 170,000 euros.
A new design brief was set to design a pair of sister models, a luxury Continental GT and a four-door sedan, with work proceeding simultaneously. Work on the Continental Flying Spur sedan began in August 1999. The design team was headed by Dirk van Braeckel, Director of Design, who had moved from Skoda to set up the new Bentley studio in April 1999. Although there was initial surprise at his rise from VW's most functional brand to the most expensive, the Skoda experience was a major factor in that decision. Both brands had a need to re-establish a lost corporate identity and to develop a holistic design philosophy for that company, not just to style another car. Both companies had a fine reputation for engineering, quality and technology that had reached a peak in the 1920s or 30s and since languished. And both had a single factory and small studios, needing a fast injection of new design talent.
To aid him, he took Raul Pires, 35, as Head of Exterior Design for the new projects. Pires, who originates from Sao Paulo, Brazil, had been involved on the Octavia, Fabia and Superb projects and went on to produce many of the initial sketches for the new Bentley project. "From the very beginning, Bentleys have been quite reserved when it comes to design," says van Braeckel. "It has always been recognised that Bentleys are much less ostentatious than rival cars of a similar price. The new Continental Flying Spur embodies that Bentley ethos of understated elegance."
That key theme of 'understated but bold' is evidenced in the relatively simple body section and a horizontal beltline with very little 'wedge'. The body is drawn tightly around the 19" wheels and the cabin clearly relates to the rear wheel, with the C-Pillar anchored directly above it.
"We were very conscious that the car had to make a sporting statement when people first saw it - after all it is a Bentley," says van Braeckel.
"That's actually more challenging with a four-door than a coupe, which will always look 'fast', so we spent a long time working on an appearance of potency while still retaining the presence and stature that customers expect from our cars."
Key differences from the Continental GT include the fender crease line that runs straight back through the doors rather than fading out and the reversal of the DLO theme. Whereas on the GT, the rear side window kicks up from the beltine and terminates at a sharp corner in the roof, on the Flying Spur, that theme is reversed, with the softer corner in the roof and a sharp lower corner. Finally, the A-pillars on the Flying Spur are more upright to provide better cabin space and a sweeter balance to the cabin profile.
At the rear, the basic design theme is carried over from the Continental GT. This comprises a strong taper to the rear deck, a broad flanking shoulder and a forward-leaning trunklid with a clean, uninterrupted surface. All the elements are in the same positions as the GT, but the trunklid and LED taillamps are taller than the sister car, the taper a little less pronounced, more formal.