New 2014 Bentley Flying Spur review, test drive

Try and forget the word ‘Continental’ when you’re thinking about Bentley’s latest super-luxury saloon. Yes, its predecessor may have been called the Continental Flying Spur, and this new car uses the same platform as the new Continental GT coupé. But Bentley has dropped the C-word because it wants you to know this is no longer merely a stretched version of its sporty two-door. 

There are a number of visual cues that point to this departure of the Flying Spur from the Continental brand. The headlights are still two pairs of circular, LED-encrusted intricacy, but this time the outer lamps are larger than the inner ones, for a look that’s more stately than sporty. The lower front air dam is a wide, continuous mesh of chrome bisected by a chrome band, and the grille appears to be more upright.

 

 

The roof flows more elegantly into the rear than the previous Spur, accentuated by a blockier, more regal-looking rump and thick, pronounced haunches. In fact, that simple but sinuous shoulder line is one of the car’s most attractive styling features. Continued..