EXCLUSIVE !! TEST DRIVEN: Bentley Continental Flying Spur

Dippy · 17th July 2005, 02:23

Day : 16th July 2005
Time : 6 PM
Location : Marine Drive Mumbai
Car : Bentley Continental Flying Spur
Passengers : Mr Pratik Desai and his collegue, Kartik (My brother)
Driver : Me

This was too good true to be true. But yes there I was behind the wheel of the so called fastest saloon in the world, the Continental Flying Spur. I was actually finding it difficult to believe that I was getting to drive it just over a week after its launch but soon it sunk in. So my fellow BHPians, here is a review on the most powerful car I have ever driven till date. An exclusive first on Team BHP.

The Flying Spur is basically the Continental GT in saloon form. But that doesn’t take away the fact that it is equally beautiful. The car is huge and has ever so striking looks. Everything about this car is a thing of beauty and the quality touch just shows. The paint job on the car is fantastic too. The interior greets you with a combination of the finest leather and wood to the dash in walnut finish. Everything in this car from the steering wheel to the stalk switches is made using the highest quality material and it shows. 17 interior trim options are offered on the Spur. The attention to detail to the smallest of things is amazing. Seats are fully in leather and you have the options to have your seat belts and carpets to match your upholstery.

Now for the drive. Got into the driver’s seat and strapped up. Adjusted the seat for maximum comfort and convenience and I was ready to roll. The Spur comes with a 6 speed auto transmission with paddle shifters. I slot the gear lever into D and I was off. I pushed the throttle lightly at first just to get into the rhythm of things. After driving over distance with a light foot, I decided to push it more. No sooner did I push the pedal this monster shot off like a rocket. This beast has a 6 litre 12 cylinder power house with 552 bhp and a mind boggling 650 Nm waiting to be unleashed. The sound from the engine is mesmerizing and begs you to push it further. I remember hearing the sound of the GT a year ago on Worli Seaface but here I was getting to revv her myself. The kicking in of the super charger is so addictive. However I really couldn’t do much in the evening traffic of Marine Drive and managed to take her upto 160 kmph. The suspension is self leveling with options for ride height and damper settings. The Spur rides on massive 19" wheels with an option for 20". I took a short drive from NCPA to Bachelors and back after which I did my photo shoot but that was enough to put me in a daze.

I exchanged business cards with Mr Pratik after the drive and he handed me the official catalogue of the Spur . He told me that this is a demo car for both Mumbai and Delhi and its moving to Delhi tomorrow. The price of the Flying Spur is approx 1.65 crore rupees (ex showroom) and I got to know that they already have 12 orders placed for it.

Well that was a small report on the newest member of the crorepati car club in our country. I thoroughly enjoyed my drive and can easily say that it was one of my best driving experiences ever till date. Hope you enjoy the pictures.

Car courtesy : Mr. Pratik Desai, Upaj Motors Mumbai.

For further information on the Flying Spur contact :

Mr. Pratik Desai.
Email : upajauto@vsnl.com

iceman91 · 17th July 2005, 02:30

total loss of words.....!
you test drove the bentley!!!!!

v1p3r · 17th July 2005, 02:52

Who? What? Where? How? Why?

Total loss of words here too. You're the first to drive it inside India, I think. Congratulations!

gr8guzzler · 17th July 2005, 03:03

Congrats Dippy.............great pics/report........man we can only dream about something like this.....now I know dreams can get real.....

BTW...how does this car reach Delhi...by Air/Road? Does Upaj Motors have any vacancies for drivers

moralfibre · 17th July 2005, 10:49

Now please share the secret words that you use to lure people let you drive these exotics... Or do you have a badge which says that you work for Top Gear---- What is it???? ...I am speechless..Great Car!!

karthik247 · 17th July 2005, 11:58

Whoa!! man ur one damn lucky guy. Now whats next, a Ferrari, a porsche!!???

sridhar24 · 17th July 2005, 12:09

Hey Dippy, congrats on your Bently drive.
That was a great report and very nice pics

drool...

satish_appasani · 17th July 2005, 12:18

I cannot believe this, something that I can only dream out.

speedsatya · 17th July 2005, 12:23

dipppeeeeeeeeeee,

how do u manage to do thisssssssss.

nice pics.

adya33 · 17th July 2005, 13:47

Nice report Dippy
congratulations

just a few questions though

in the gear box picture on drivers side there is a silver button with (P) written on it. can u please explain further (is handbrake activated by button?)

how did you found the menu setup compared to that of A8?

turbo_lover · 17th July 2005, 17:52

congratulations dippy ! great review dude ..

adya -the P seems to me is the E-Brake /Parking brake .. since i couldnt find the E brake anywhere including the foot well ...

..did you know the Clock on the console is a Breitling ?

aah78 · 17th July 2005, 19:21

now thats an experience to have buddy.
must have been an undescribeably amazing feeling.
congratulations on your trip to heaven!

ad

balenopower · 17th July 2005, 19:32

hey dippy just give us a buzz sometimes man when u come across such machines...we;ll just drop right over to drroool

.anyway ur 1 lucky bhpian

Mpower · 17th July 2005, 19:34

Hey, this is too cool man.

Did you approach them as a potential customer or a auto jurno
representing TBHP?

vandan · 17th July 2005, 19:40

hey congratulations man,i saw the car on sea face at around 2 on the 14th,a guy was taking rounds in it alone

17th July 2005, 02:23	#1
Dippy Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Mumbai, India Posts: 7,558 Thanked: 2,462 Times	EXCLUSIVE !! TEST DRIVEN: Bentley Continental Flying Spur Day : 16th July 2005 Time : 6 PM Location : Marine Drive Mumbai Car : Bentley Continental Flying Spur Passengers : Mr Pratik Desai and his collegue, Kartik (My brother) Driver : Me This was too good true to be true. But yes there I was behind the wheel of the so called fastest saloon in the world, the Continental Flying Spur. I was actually finding it difficult to believe that I was getting to drive it just over a week after its launch but soon it sunk in. So my fellow BHPians, here is a review on the most powerful car I have ever driven till date. An exclusive first on Team BHP. The Flying Spur is basically the Continental GT in saloon form. But that doesn’t take away the fact that it is equally beautiful. The car is huge and has ever so striking looks. Everything about this car is a thing of beauty and the quality touch just shows. The paint job on the car is fantastic too. The interior greets you with a combination of the finest leather and wood to the dash in walnut finish. Everything in this car from the steering wheel to the stalk switches is made using the highest quality material and it shows. 17 interior trim options are offered on the Spur. The attention to detail to the smallest of things is amazing. Seats are fully in leather and you have the options to have your seat belts and carpets to match your upholstery. Now for the drive. Got into the driver’s seat and strapped up. Adjusted the seat for maximum comfort and convenience and I was ready to roll. The Spur comes with a 6 speed auto transmission with paddle shifters. I slot the gear lever into D and I was off. I pushed the throttle lightly at first just to get into the rhythm of things. After driving over distance with a light foot, I decided to push it more. No sooner did I push the pedal this monster shot off like a rocket. This beast has a 6 litre 12 cylinder power house with 552 bhp and a mind boggling 650 Nm waiting to be unleashed. The sound from the engine is mesmerizing and begs you to push it further. I remember hearing the sound of the GT a year ago on Worli Seaface but here I was getting to revv her myself. The kicking in of the super charger is so addictive. However I really couldn’t do much in the evening traffic of Marine Drive and managed to take her upto 160 kmph. The suspension is self leveling with options for ride height and damper settings. The Spur rides on massive 19" wheels with an option for 20". I took a short drive from NCPA to Bachelors and back after which I did my photo shoot but that was enough to put me in a daze. I exchanged business cards with Mr Pratik after the drive and he handed me the official catalogue of the Spur . He told me that this is a demo car for both Mumbai and Delhi and its moving to Delhi tomorrow. The price of the Flying Spur is approx 1.65 crore rupees (ex showroom) and I got to know that they already have 12 orders placed for it. Well that was a small report on the newest member of the crorepati car club in our country. I thoroughly enjoyed my drive and can easily say that it was one of my best driving experiences ever till date. Hope you enjoy the pictures. Car courtesy : Mr. Pratik Desai, Upaj Motors Mumbai. For further information on the Flying Spur contact : Mr. Pratik Desai. Email : upajauto@vsnl.com Last edited by Dippy : 19th July 2005 at 12:47.
	() Thanks

17th July 2005, 02:30	#2
iceman91 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: melbourne/banga Posts: 1,961 Thanked: 34 Times View My Garage	total loss of words.....! you test drove the bentley!!!!!
	() Thanks

17th July 2005, 02:52	#3
v1p3r Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: BLR / DXB / LON Posts: 5,334 Thanked: 6,896 Times View My Garage	Who? What? Where? How? Why? Total loss of words here too. You're the first to drive it inside India, I think. Congratulations!
	() Thanks

17th July 2005, 03:03	#4
gr8guzzler BHPian Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Navi Mumbai Posts: 653 Thanked: 87 Times View My Garage	Congrats Dippy.............great pics/report........man we can only dream about something like this.....now I know dreams can get real..... BTW...how does this car reach Delhi...by Air/Road? Does Upaj Motors have any vacancies for drivers
	() Thanks

17th July 2005, 10:49	#5
moralfibre Team-BHP Support Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: MH-12 Posts: 8,451 Thanked: 13,971 Times	Now please share the secret words that you use to lure people let you drive these exotics... Or do you have a badge which says that you work for Top Gear---- What is it???? ...I am speechless..Great Car!!
	() Thanks

17th July 2005, 11:58	#6
karthik247 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: BLR, HYD Posts: 2,710 Thanked: 30 Times	Whoa!! man ur one damn lucky guy. Now whats next, a Ferrari, a porsche!!???
	() Thanks

17th July 2005, 12:09	#7
sridhar24 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Bengaluru Posts: 1,046 Thanked: 88 Times	Hey Dippy, congrats on your Bently drive. That was a great report and very nice pics drool...
	() Thanks

17th July 2005, 12:18	#8
satish_appasani Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 1,112 Thanked: 104 Times View My Garage	I cannot believe this, something that I can only dream out.
	() Thanks

17th July 2005, 12:23	#9
speedsatya Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2004 Location: bangalore/manga Posts: 3,169 Thanked: 738 Times View My Garage	dipppeeeeeeeeeee, how do u manage to do thisssssssss. nice pics. Last edited by v12 : 17th July 2005 at 13:47.
	() Thanks

17th July 2005, 13:47	#10
adya33 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Pune Posts: 1,839 Thanked: 183 Times	Nice report Dippy congratulations just a few questions though in the gear box picture on drivers side there is a silver button with (P) written on it. can u please explain further (is handbrake activated by button?) how did you found the menu setup compared to that of A8?
	() Thanks

17th July 2005, 17:52	#11
turbo_lover Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Toronto Posts: 1,377 Thanked: 9 Times	congratulations dippy ! great review dude .. adya -the P seems to me is the E-Brake /Parking brake .. since i couldnt find the E brake anywhere including the foot well ... ..did you know the Clock on the console is a Breitling ?
	() Thanks

17th July 2005, 19:21	#12
aah78 Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: NYC / BOM Posts: 4,662 Thanked: 3,257 Times View My Garage	congrats!!! now thats an experience to have buddy. must have been an undescribeably amazing feeling. congratulations on your trip to heaven! ad
	() Thanks

17th July 2005, 19:32	#13
balenopower BHPian Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Bombay Posts: 957 Thanked: 465 Times View My Garage	hey dippy just give us a buzz sometimes man when u come across such machines...we;ll just drop right over to drroool.anyway ur 1 lucky bhpian
	() Thanks

17th July 2005, 19:34	#14
Mpower Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Bangalore Posts: 10,409 Thanked: 1,730 Times View My Garage	Hey, this is too cool man. Did you approach them as a potential customer or a auto jurno representing TBHP?
	() Thanks

17th July 2005, 19:40	#15
vandan BHPian Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Mumbai Posts: 179 Thanked: Once	hey congratulations man,i saw the car on sea face at around 2 on the 14th,a guy was taking rounds in it alone
	() Thanks