From £177,9009

Fast luxury saloon sheds four cylinders and 107kg, but are these losses really a gain?

What is it?

We know how this goes, don’t we? A big Bentley arrives and we like it a great deal. Then a big Bentley with a smaller engine arrives and we like it even more.

And thus we welcome the latest Bentley Flying Spur V8, the third generation of Bentley’s saloon that, with the demise of the Mulsanne, effectively becomes the flagship limo.

Fortunately, we already know it is a much, much better car than either of its previous iterations, which, charged with being both a luxury saloon and a car capable of 200mph or thereabouts, couldn’t do isolation well enough in the face of the physical demands placed upon them. In being fast, they were insufficiently luxurious.

This time, our experience of the early 6.0-litre car means we know it can do both, on account of it being based on the MSB platform developed for the Volkswagen Group (of which Bentley is a part) by Porsche, with heavy and early input from the brands that will use it.

We’ve already found that with vast arrays of active dynamic technology, including rear steer and 48V active anti-roll bars, the 6.0 W12-engined car is deftly sprung and quiet, despite a double-ton top speed and 626bhp.

But, as ever, the 4.0-litre V8 fitted here gives very little away. Power is ‘only’ 542bhp and torque a mere 568lb ft (rather than the 664lb ft of the W12) but it has 107kg lighter kerb weight to move around. The official weight here is 2330kg but we put a W12 on the scales at 2500kg exactly so let’s call it 2400kg, which means 226bhp per tonne rather than 240bhp per tonne.

2 Bentley fyling spur v8 2021 uk review hero rear

What's it like?

Peak torque arrives at the same 2000rpm as in the W12. There’s very little in it, then, in terms of performance (it’s a not-quite 200mph car rather than an only-just 200mph car) but also, rather more pleasingly, it’s a slightly nicer car to drive.

The noise is muted at low revs, a little V8-ish at high revs, but most of the time you’ll be unaware how many tiny bangs are taking place in front of you. You just have enough power any time you want it. The dual-clutch auto is good, too; perhaps marginally less refined than a full auto in town, but unnoticeably so most of the time.

Speak to vehicle dynamics engineers about their favourite cars in any given range and it’s no surprise to learn that it’s usually the lightest one that they like the most. That’s how, once again, we feel here. The Flying Spur V8 feels just as well isolated and quiet as the bigger-engined alternative, with genuine luxury to its ride quality, albeit not quite as much silence or waft as you’d find in a Rolls-Royce Ghost.

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But despite a 2.2m width across the mirrors and a length of 5.3m, plus that kerb weight, what’s impressive about the Flying Spur is the way it can be coaxed along relatively modestly sized back roads while feeling like a smaller car than it is.

It steers smoothly and confidently, corners well and goes over crests with well-contained body movements. You can feel its four-wheel steering getting involved to virtually shorten its wheelbase and aid agility but, it’s not an entirely unnatural feel.

Fit and finish, meanwhile, are as strong as ever, so all the metals look like metal and it’s an occasional surprise when they don’t feel like it.

9 Bentley fyling spur v8 2021 uk review cabin

Should I buy one?

Current work practice means I couldn’t be driven while sitting in the rear seats, but there’s a whole bunch of leg room back there, and adequate head room, although the window line is quite high, so if you’re a backseat operator, the Flying Spur is for those who want a private limo rather than for show-offs.

I think this is less ostentatious than a Rolls-Royce. But you probably knew that.

16 Bentley fyling spur v8 2021 uk review on road front

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PRICES & SPECS

Matt Prior

Matt Prior
Title: Editor-at-large

Matt is Autocar’s lead features writer and presenter, is the main face of Autocar’s YouTube channel, presents the My Week In Cars podcast and has written his weekly column, Tester’s Notes, since 2013.

Matt is an automotive engineer who has been writing and talking about cars since 1997. He joined Autocar in 2005 as deputy road test editor, prior to which he was road test editor and world rally editor for Channel 4’s automotive website, 4Car. 

Into all things engineering and automotive from any era, Matt is as comfortable regularly contributing to sibling titles Move Electric and Classic & Sports Car as he is writing for Autocar. He has a racing licence, and some malfunctioning classic cars and motorbikes. 

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Comments
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LarsF 27 January 2021

Wonderful car to delight. Flying Spur V8 is easily the best in the entire current Bentley range

567 27 January 2021

Jeremy Clarkson bought the Bentley Flying Spur V8 brand new using his own money. He said that he now feels he has now made it with a Bentley. If he bought this car with his own money then it must be good.

289 27 January 2021

Unless you are so rich that good taste has bypassed your psyche, this is a far better suit of clothes to wear than a Rolls Royce (of any flavour). 

liquidgold 28 January 2021
289 wrote:

Unless you are so rich that good taste has bypassed your psyche, this is a far better suit of clothes to wear than a Rolls Royce (of any flavour). 

Ah, 289, as ever the self proclaimed arbiter of good taste.  Owing to your wisdom I shall swap my Wraith BB for one of these.

 

As it happens, I probably will.  But not for your approval you understand.  More because I'm fed up getting my fat arse out of the car when the kids get in behind me.

289 4 February 2021

You dont need my approval Liquidgold, But if Rolls-Royce styling floats your boat why not just turn in the Wraith against a Phantom to gain two extra doors.

You will have the extra joy of 'suicide' doors to amuse you and your children!