2012 Bentley Continental Flying Spur Speed

The Flying Spur is Bentley's four-door grand tourer, a sedan that pairs the Continental's sporting character with room for four adults and their luggage. It's a big car that shrinks around you on a winding road, with steering that feels direct and a chassis that stays composed at serious speeds. The ride is on the firm side for a luxury sedan, but the air suspension soaks up most bumps and keeps the cabin serene on long hauls. Inside, you get hand-stitched leather, real wood veneers, and a rear cabin with individual seats that make it a proper place to be chauffeured. The Speed trim turns up the wick with a more powerful engine and a sportier suspension tune, while keeping the full leather interior and all-wheel drive that define the Flying Spur. Its 6.0L I12 makes 610 horsepower and 553 lb-ft of torque, routed through a six-speed automatic and all-wheel drive that put the power down with surprising composure for a sedan this size. Expect fuel economy around 12 mpg combined, which is the trade for that kind of thrust, and the Speed's standard 20-inch wheels and stiffer springs sharpen the handling at the cost of a slightly firmer ride.