2009 Bentley Continental Flying Spur details

Now Bentley has released details of its 2009 model, and an addition to the Continental range.

Continuing the Bentley tradition of powerful, stately grand tourers, the Flying Spur essentially is a four door Continental GT, but with improvements to the practicality, suspension and steering.

Most improvements to the Flying Spur are subtle, mainly on the interior, with options such as the five seat version also having fully adjustable outboard seats - this was previously reserved only for the four seat model. The driveline is carried over as well.

But the real news is that the Flying Spur also comes in a Flying Spur Speed edition which utilises the same engine as the GT Speed, meaning 449kW and 750Nm. This punches the 2.5 tonne Bentley to 100km/h in 4.8 seconds, and onwards to a top speed of 322km/h - maintaining the Flying Spur's status as the fastest four door production car in the world.

All the while the occupants are cossetted in what has to be one of the finest cabins ever to be stitched together.

The Flying Spur Speed features an exhaust with twin rifled oval stainless steel tail pipes, lowered sports suspension (10mm front & rear), painted black finish to engine cover and 20-inch wheels with bespoke performance tyres.

Inside you'll find diamond quilted hide to seat facings and doors, embroidered Bentley emblem to head rests, Indented hide headlining, and special pedals, gearknob and other niceties. The Speed can also be indentified by its three spoke steering wheel, as pictured below.

The Flying Spur gets acoustic glass to side and rear windows, new acoustic tri-laminate undertray and wheelarch liners, a retuned exhaust system, refinements to the exterior, and new suspension damping.

Carbon ceramic brakes are also available as an option, as is the new Naim 1100W sound system.

Pricing will be announced shortly, and CarAdvice hopes to bring you a review on the updated Bentley range, later on in the year.