Bentley Continental Flying Spur 2005–2013 car dimensions: 5307 mm long, 1916 mm wide and 1479 mm high. Boot space with the seats up is 475 litres.
Four-zone electronic climate control is standard along with heated massaging front seats that adjust electrically with memory. Cruise control and front/rear parking sensors come standard. The infotainment system has a colour display for DVD navigation and Bluetooth but uses surrounding buttons rather than touch. Reversing camera was a factory option from 2008. No automatic emergency braking, blind spot warning or lane keep systems.
Boot volume is 475 litres with a flat floor. Rear seats do not fold.
Payload is 465 kg based on kerb weight of 2475 kg and gross vehicle weight of 2940 kg. No towing figures are published for this generation. Air suspension is standard with self-levelling but the car is not set up for heavy work use.
The cabin wraps you in premium leather hides and mirror-matched wood veneers with a deep wooden waistline for a cocooned feel. Front seats offer 16-way power adjustment with heating, cooling and lumbar massage. Rear outer seats heat and massage too, with four-zone climate control and a quiet ride from double-glazed acoustic glass. A tilt-slide glass sunroof is available. Space feels generous for five or four with the optional console.
Fuel economy around 11 city/18 highway mpg or 16-17 combined mpg.
Service every 10,000 miles or 12 months.
Standard kit includes dual front airbags, side thorax airbags, full-length curtains, ABS, ESP and tyre pressure monitoring.
All-wheel drive with traction and stability control aids safety.
The 6.0-litre twin-turbo W12 returns roughly 11 mpg city and 18 mpg highway in US tests, or about 16-17 mpg combined on the EU cycle. Expect higher consumption in town or when using the full performance.
Bentley schedules service every 10,000 miles or once a year, with oil and filter changes plus inspections. Major services come at higher intervals and include more checks on filters, plugs and fluids. Costs rise with specialist labour.
Safety equipment covers dual front airbags, four side thorax bags, full-length curtains, seat-belt pretensioners, ABS, electronic stability programme, traction control and tyre-pressure monitoring. The structure includes a revised crash design for the longer wheelbase. All-wheel drive adds grip in poor conditions.
Keeping the car means budgeting for expensive tyres, brakes and any cooling or electrical work common to the complex W12. Full specialist history helps. Regular care keeps the air suspension and electronics reliable for long-distance grand touring.
Length 5307 mm, Width 1916 mm, Height 1479 mm, Wheelbase 3065 mm (Continental Flying Spur 2005–2013)
Sources: manufacturer data, 2006 Bentley Continental Flying Spur brochure, netcarshow.com press info, autoevolution.