Introducing the Series II Rolls Royce Ghost, the ultimate in luxury.

“Rolls-Royce Ghost has proven to be no ordinary power. It has been the cornerstone of our success around the world since its launch in 2009. It has propelled Rolls-Royce Motor Cars to new heights. In presenting a less formal, more contemporary and dynamic expression of Rolls-Royce luxury we have attracted a new generation of clients to Rolls-Royce – the Captains of Industry, entrepreneurs and successful business men and women who are the wealth and job creators in our economies.

 

These people are a unique, exclusive group of exceptional achievers who drive success in today’s world.  They know what they want and go out to achieve it.  And then, having accomplished their objectives, they reward themselves with the ultimate symbol of success, a Rolls-Royce Ghost.

Today, in answer to our clients’ demands for the best in effortless dynamism, modern luxury and industry-leading technology, clothed in a discreetly updated design that protects the iconic character of a Rolls-Royce, we proudly introduce Ghost Series II – an oasis of calm in a frenetic business world.”   

Torsten Müller-Ötvös, Chief Executive Officer, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars

Today, at the 2014 New York International Auto Show, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars unveils Ghost Series II to North American customers. Offered in a discreet and considered update of this iconic car’s exterior appearance, Ghost Series II offers the latest technological advances to our growing base of highly-successful customers – the Captains of Industry, entrepreneurs and successful business men and women who are the wealth and job creators in our economies – consolidating Ghost’s position as the most popular car in the $250,000+ class and a cornerstone of Rolls-Royce’s success.

Ghost – Contemporary Rolls-Royce luxury

Since its launch in 2009, Ghost has become the ultimate symbol of success for leading entrepreneurs across the globe. Winning critical media and customer acclaim and driving the company to four consecutive historic sales records, Ghost has led a new, younger generation of highly successful men and women to Rolls-Royce ownership; a key pillar in the marque’s highly successful sustainable growth strategy.

Ghost is a thoroughly contemporary representation of Rolls-Royce luxury – perfectly balancing effortless dynamism and modern luxury in a car that is composed under all circumstances.  Owners enjoy a quietly assured, exquisitely refined modern motor car with an interior ambiance that offers a sense of calm and serenity in an often frenetic and chaotic business world.  

In essence, Ghost is a Rolls-Royce that meets its owner’s every need; an exquisitely appointed business tool for the business week and an engaging and effortless driving experience for leisure at the weekend.

The Power of Simplicity

A single defining principle came to characterise the Ghost design process – to harness the power of simplicity. The notion that no complication should ever distract from driver or passenger pleasure, informed every facet of the design and engineering process.

This bold new generation of Rolls-Royce customer seeks a motor car with a silent assurance – a cosseting, super-premium environment in which to conduct business and augment their leisure time. In Ghost Series II, tradition blends perfectly with this bold, contemporary direction.

An uncompromising approach to materials and craftsmanship remained and traditional visual tenets were re-imagined to express the car’s modernity and dynamism. For example the stately presence of Phantom’s grille made way for a softer, less formal design – its subtle curvature more akin to a jet air-intake than traditional pantheon facia.

Flowing ‘yacht lines’ and powerful flanks hint at the car’s inherent dynamism, whilst traditional Rolls-Royce DNA is expressed in the elevated prow, large uninterrupted surfaces, long bonnet and short overhang.

Ghost Series II – design evolved

Ensuring Ghost remains at the very cutting edge of an ever-changing world is essential to satisfying Rolls-Royce’s demanding customers and Ghost Series II proves a showcase for the most recent technological advances from the marque. Clad in a subtle re-design, Ghost Series II ensures the timeless yet modern quality that the marque’s customers cherish.

The eye is immediately drawn towards the re-sculpted headlights, with unbroken daytime running lights framing a new, more dynamic shape, giving Ghost Series II a distinct visual signature from the front. This blends perfectly with revised surface treatments to the front of the car. A tapered ‘wake channel’ on the bonnet, emanating from the Spirit of Ecstasy’s wings, evokes the sight of a jet’s vapour trail, hinting at the car’s dynamism. Subtle re-sculpting of Ghost’s bumpers creates a stronger stance and a sense of extra width and height, whilst the contemporary aesthetic is further enhanced with the addition of chrome inserts to the front air intakes, which now feed more air cooling to the front brakes.

One of Rolls-Royce’s defining visual signatures is given an enhanced dynamic edge. The famous waft line has be re-designed on Ghost Series II to lean further forwards – with a view to emphasising the car’s effortless dynamism.

These features, married with new optional 21” forged wheels and standard 19” wheels, ensure Ghost remains a perfectly executed, contemporary expression of Rolls-Royce luxury.

New surprise and delight features such as the optional monogrammed stainless-steel fuel-filler cap enhance the car’s tactile and visual appeal.

Interior comfort and style are enhanced with re-designed seats. Electronically adjustable thigh supports for front seat passengers complement a new seat structure, enhancing Ghost’s unchallenged interior comfort levels. A revised rear seat design ensures absolute comfort for those wishing to conduct business or simply relax. In ‘Lounge seat’ configuration, the seats are gently angled towards each other to create a more intimate setting, allowing passengers to communicate more easily.  

The seats are available with three-level heating as standard with optional massage function and can be reclined for comfort. Chrome surrounds to the sun visor lights and a new soft-feel dashboard treatment enhance the car’s premium tactility, whilst sumptuous natural grain leather can now be optionally extended to the A and C pillars.

The instrument dials and clock have also undergone subtle enhancements with individually applied polished metal chaplets around the dials evoking the precision design of hand-made, luxury wrist watches, whilst the matt chrome centres ‘float’ in the middle of each instrument.

Finally, the scope for Bespoke customisation is widened with the introduction of two new, exquisitely crafted veneers; Paldao and Walnut Burr Crossband.

Discreet technology for a calm atmosphere

Throughout the marque’s storied history, engineers have sought to refine the experience for drivers and occupants by applying the very latest technologies. Ghost Series II is no different, presenting a full suite of the latest technological updates.

On opening the car’s coach doors, one is met with a calming, light and uncluttered space. Occupants can work, relax or simply enjoy the pleasure of driving in a cosseting, peaceful atmosphere, assure that they are fully connected to the outside world of business affairs through the car’s peerless connectivity suite.

Calmly connected

Ghost Series II is the ultimate contemporary combination of luxury, technology and connectivity available to the successful entrepreneur on the move today. It is an oasis of calm in a busy connected world where he or she can do business in peace. It presents the driver and occupants with a comprehensive example of effortless Rolls-Royce connectivity, a network where communication between car, environment and driver helps lower the pulse, ease the journey and delight the occupants.

Key to this is the discreet placement of the car’s technological functions. Accessed through a one-touch call button or the Spirit of Ecstasy Rotary Controller, on-board Wi-Fi facilitates email, file sharing, telephony and video-conferencing. The user is also able to watch televised business news in order to remain ahead of the game. Navigation assistance is summoned by the same one-touch call button. Then by simply saying “Navigate to Piccadilly in London” or wherever else the owner wishes to go, directions that anticipate and avoid unnecessary delays are offered.

Should a delay occur or our owner needs to talk to his business associates, Ghost Series II makes this as effortless as possible with the same one-touch system. The command “Call Giles” automatically connects the call. At the end of the conversation, a command such as “Play Radio” will return the driver directly to the in-car entertainment options.

Information from the significantly updated Multimedia Interface and Navigation system is displayed beautifully on a new 10.25” high definition screen.

Spirit of Ecstasy Rotary Controller

In 2014, the famous Spirit of Ecstasy figurine celebrates her 103^rd birthday. More than any other symbol of luxury, the flying lady stands as a genuine icon, one whose beautiful image continues to adorn the grille, but is now also reproduced within Ghost Series II’s cabin depicted below the crystal glass surface of the new rotary controller.

This Spirit of Ecstasy Rotary Controller presents a touch pad (rather than a touch screen which might leave unsightly fingerprints at driver and passenger eye level), with the ability to write characters by finger, as well as the ability to scroll through function menus by turning the chrome dial and pressing down to select its functions.

The system recognises English, Latin and Arabic characters as well as Mandarin, to assist drivers in China, where character selection can otherwise be a time-consuming process.

The Rotary Controller’s touch pad also allows ‘pull and pinch’ features, replicating intuitive smart phone functionality. These help the user pinpoint chosen areas on the screen or help to make them larger. For example, different areas of a map can be found by moving a finger across the touch pad, whilst street resolution can be made larger or smaller by pinching or pulling.

Bespoke Audio

Rolls-Royce employs experts for all aspects of high-end craftsmanship, from hand-painted coach lines to finely-tuned audio systems. Finely tuned by expert Rolls-Royce audio engineers and naturally incorporating the finest hardware and latest advances in connectivity,Bespoke Audio is the most exhaustively designed automotive hi-fi system ever developed.

Ensuring perfect acoustic balance and performance was central to the design process of the car. Rolls-Royce’s in-house audio engineers were consulted throughout the design process of the car on the effect proposed changes in the wider design of the car may have on the performance of the system – a practice unparalleled in the automotive world.

Eighteen individually-tuned speakers, with both theatre and studio settings, deliver a pure ‘larger than live’ sensation. Two bass speakers located in the boot complement seven speakers meticulously placed throughout the cabin. Two ‘exciter’ speakers in the roof-lining bring the sound to occupants’ ear level creating a completely unique listening sensation.

The system utilises a highly sensitive microphone to constantly monitor ambient exterior noise, subtly adjusting the volume and tone settings accordingly to ensure the system delivers consistent perfection. The technology complements this, with frequency and phase correction for individual speakers eliminating potential loud and dead spots caused by outside influences.

Supplementing this industry-leading audio engineering in the true spirit of Sir Henry Royce, Ghost Series II’s on-board hard drive holds 20.5 GB of storage, meaning it can host approximately 5,700 items of music downloaded via the USB port located within the centre console or glove compartment.

iPod and iPad connections allow the importation of music, but also podcast and audio book downloads. Bluetooth audio streaming is an option too, from one of two phones that can be paired with equal functionality.

A number of music searches can be made via the Spirit of Ecstasy Rotary Controller, including a “play more like this” function while online Gracenote® access for CDs with hit selection make navigating music collections an effortless experience. But it is the sound quality itself that places Ghost Series II at the pinnacle of in-car audio.

Illuminating technology shows the way 

The most recent developments in LED lighting technology have also been applied to Ghost Series II. The way this light is managed is significantly enhanced by adaptive technology. Electronically controlled reflectors move in the direction of travel in response to steering-wheel turns to give a greater depth of vision when cornering and a whiter, brighter light ensures effortless and safe driving on dark roads whilst helping reduce driver tiredness.

In addition, automatic dipping of full-beam headlights has been replaced with revolutionary new glare-free technology. When a car approaches, light is deflected to ensure the oncoming driver is not dazzled. Ghost Series II drivers therefore enjoy the safety benefits of constant full-beam visibility. A day-time running bar frames Ghost Series II’s contemporary light design, giving the car a distinctive signature whilst augmenting safety at the same time.

Satellite Aided Transmission

Ghost Series II’s effortless dynamism is augmented with the addition of Satellite Aided Transmission, a technology that made its debut on Wraith in 2013.

Satellite Aided Transmission utilises GPS data to allow the car to see beyond what the driver sees, anticipating their next move based on location and driving style. It uses this information to select the most appropriate gear from the Ghost Series II’s 8-speed ZF gearbox to ensure the driver is able to appropriately exploit the power from the Rolls-Royce 6.6 litre twin-turbo V12, ensuring an effortless and seamless drive experience.

For example when approaching a sweeping bend, the car will predict how you wish to drive through it. When the driver lifts the accelerator it will hold the lower gear to ensure maximum power is available on accelerating through the exit of a corner. 

Satellite Aided Transmission comes as standard on all Ghost Series II cars.

Dynamic driving package and suspension enhancements

Ghost presents the perfect blend of driving dynamics and hallmark Rolls-Royce comfort. Ghost Series II customers can specify a Dynamic Driving Package that offers a more involving driving experience with no compromise to ride quality.

Re-designed front and rear struts married to new steering gear and adjusted dampers significantly increase Ghost Series II’s cornering ability, whilst enhanced feedback levels can be felt through a thicker steering wheel.

In all specifications, ride quality and rear stability is further enhanced thanks to new rear hydraulic axle bearings.

Ghost Series II – changes at a glance

Evolutionary design

Ghost Series II presents significant recent technological updates in an exterior package that represents evolutionary changes to Ghost’s timeless aesthetic.

• A contemporary re-imagining of Ghost’s front face; re-engineered and re-designed LED headlights are framed by day-time running lights.
• Revised surface treatments including re-sculptured bumpers that present a wider, more dynamic stance.
• A new bonnet design featuring tapered ‘wake channel’ emanating from the Spirit of Ecstasy that hints at Ghost Series II’s dynamism. 
• The waft line leans further forwards, giving further expression to Ghost’s dynamic driving experience.
• New paint and wheel options giving customers greater scope for Bespoke personalisation.
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Interior design

• Re-designed front seats include electronically adjustable thigh supports and depth adjustment. Rear seats have been subtly re-angled to augment effortless communication with fellow passengers.
• The clock fascia and instrument dials are enhanced with the addition of polished metal chaplets that evoke premium watch design.
• Option of extending natural grain leather to the A and C pillars.
• The scope for Bespoke customisation is extended with the introduction of two new, exquisitely crafted veneers: Paldao and Walnut Burr Crossband.  

Technological and engineering enhancements

• Re-designed LED headlights incorporating the latest technologies. A whiter, brighter light augments driver safety whilst electronic reflectors move in the direction of travel in response to steering-wheel turns. New anti-glare technology deflects light when a car approaches in the other direction, giving Ghost Series II drivers the benefit of full-beam headlights at all times.
• Suspension enhancements include re-engineered front and rear struts, new steering gear and adjusted dampers that increase the car’s cornering ability when the Dynamic Driving Package is specified.
• New hydraulic rear axle bearings enhance ride quality and rear stability whilst reducing vibrations and cabin intrusions.
• Alll Ghost Series II motor cars feature Satellite Aided Transmission as standard – a technology that utilises GPS and mapping data to ensure the car is always in the correct gear when negotiating turns, motorway exists and roundabouts.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS – North America

Ghost Series II SWB

Dimensions

Vehicle length	5399 mm / 17 ft.9in
Vehicle width	1948 mm / 6 ft 5in
Vehicle height (unladen)	1550 mm / 5 ft 1in
Wheelbase	3295 mm / 10 ft 10in
Turning circle	13.4 m / 44 ft
Boot Volume (DIN)	490 ltr / 17.3 ft3

Weight

Kerb weight

2470 kg / 5445 lb

Engine

Engine / cylinders / valves	V / 12 / 48
Fuel management	Direct injection
Max power @ engine speed 5	63 bhp @ 5,250 rpm
Max torque @ engine speed	575 lb ft @ 1,500 rpm
Fuel type	Premium unleaded1

Performance

Top speed	250 km/h / 155 mph (governed)
Acceleration	0 - 60 mph 4.8 sec
Acceleration	0 - 100 km/h 5.0 sec

Fuel Consumption

City	13 mpg
Highway	20 mpg
CO2 emissions	327 g/km

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS – North America

Ghost Series II EWB

Dimensions

Vehicle length	5569 mm / 17 ft 3in
Vehicle width	1948 mm / 6 ft 5in
Vehicle height (unladen)	1550 mm / 4 ft 11in
Wheelbase	3465 mm / 10 ft 2in
Turning circle	14 m / 45.9 ft
Boot Volume (DIN)	490 ltr / 17.3 ft3

Weight

Kerb Weight

2520 kg / 5556 lb

Engine

Engine / cylinders / valves	V / 12 / 48
Fuel management	Direct injection
Power output @ engine speed	563 bhp @ 5,250 rpm
Max torque @ engine speed	575 lb ft @ 1,500 rpm
Fuel type	Premium unleaded1

Performance

Top speed	250 km/h / 155 mph (governed)
Acceleration	0 - 60 mph 4.9 sec
Acceleration	0 - 100 km/h 5.1 sec

Fuel Consumption

City	13 mpg
Highway	20 mpg
CO2 emissions	329 g/km

Throw Back Thursday 007 - All new Flying Spur, The Bentley we all would love to own

• Ultimate high luxury sedan with unrivalled performance
• New Flying Spur brings more comfort and refinement
• Fastest, most powerful four-door Bentley model ever
• Sleek and elegant new styling
• Contemporary cabin design with traditional hand-crafted luxury
• Lighter overall despite enhanced specification
• Connectivity and infotainment with own Wi-Fi hotspot
• Global debut at Geneva Motor Show 2013

Bentley establishes a new luxury performance sedan benchmark with the launch of the new Flying Spur. With its unrivalled blend of effortless driveability, exquisite luxury and craftsmanship, sculpted design and state-of-the-art technology, the new Flying Spur takes the worldwide success of its iconic predecessor further. Bentley’s most powerful four-door model ever makes its global debut at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show on 5^th March.

Bentley’s styling team has developed an athletic design for the new Flying Spur that combines traditional Bentley styling cues with a sporting stance and contemporary details. Sharp feature lines complement muscular rear haunches, while LED day-time running lights, dipped headlights and taillights characterise the front and rear profiles. The interior designers have created a luxurious, spacious cabin that dresses advanced acoustic and electronic technologies in exquisite hand-crafted leather hides and wood veneers.

Driver and passengers alike interface with the car and the outside world through touch-screen infotainment, mobile connectivity including Wi-Fi, a Rear Seat Entertainment suite and a new hand-held Touch Screen Remote which allows rear-cabin occupants to control an extensive range of features from the comfort of their seat. An eight-channel, eight-speaker audio system with Balanced Mode Radiators provides high quality sound clarity, with the 1100W Naim^® for Bentley premium system available as an option.

Powering the new Flying Spur is Bentley’s renowned 6.0-litre, twin turbo W12 engine, coupled to a ZF eight-speed transmission. Developing 625 PS (616 bhp) and 800 Nm of torque, the new Flying Spur features more power than any other Bentley four-door in history. A 14 per cent improvement in the power-to-weight ratio over the outgoing model delivers a breath-taking 0-60 mph time of 4.3 seconds and a top-speed of 200 mph (322 km/h). In the modern Bentley tradition, power is delivered to the road via all-wheel drive with a 40:60 rear-biased torque split for a sure-footed, engaging drive in all road and weather conditions.

Bentley Chairman and Chief Executive, Dr Wolfgang Schreiber, comments: “Bentley’s new Flying Spur is the ultimate luxury performance sedan. Our engineers have worked tirelessly to ensure that the Flying Spur is the perfect combination of power, comfort, refinement and hand-crafted quality. Fitted with the very latest technology, the new Flying Spur is equipped both for business and relaxation whilst remaining a car to enjoy from behind the wheel.”

A SLEEK AND STRIKING EXTERIOR

The styling of the new Flying Spur establishes a new design character for Bentley’s performance sedan. An elegant direction is reflected by a lower, wider appearance with sharp lines and gently curvaceous surfaces. A lower roof line, deeply sculpted panels, precise feature lines and a muscular rear haunch give the Flying Spur a more aggressive stance and a powerfully dynamic profile.

The front fenders feature a striking new wing vent complete with an elegant Bentley “B” motif. From here, an additional feature line forms a sharply defined edge running from the front wheel all the way to the rear bumper, underlining the shape’s dynamic character.

At the front of the car, a more upright chrome grille sits between the pairs of jewel-like LED headlamps. Emphasising the lower, wider stance, the outer lamps are the larger of the two. Beneath the front grille, the lower intake is now full width with no vertical divisions, but instead with a chromed horizontal accent that completes the dramatic face of the new Flying Spur.

At the rear, a longer and lower boot lid lends a more swept appearance to the side profile. Horizontal single ellipse LED tail lamps combine with a new interpretation of the Bentley “Horse Shoe” feature line, now running the full width of the car and encapsulating a graceful concave section.

Beneath the elegant skin of the new Flying Spur, a wide range of materials is applied in an intelligent and efficient manner. Designed to improve overall body stiffness and refinement whilst meeting stringent crash performance targets and pedestrian protection legislation, the new body structure includes reinforcement to the B-posts, sills and front crossmembers together with deformable components in the floorpan for optimal load transfer. A deployable bonnet that includes both new reinforcement panels and deformation elements helps to improve pedestrian impact performance.

The bonnet and front fenders are constructed in aluminium, with the fenders shaped using the aerospace-industry superforming technique, employing compressed air to shape heated sheets of alloy into the required form at over 500°C. Exceptionally clean lines with sharp radii and lighter-weight components are the result, giving the new Flying Spur an unmistakeably Bentley front end with extremely taut shut lines.

The new door structures are completely redesigned with fewer individual parts for improved quality and refinement. An optimisation of the doors realised through efficient use of materials contributes to much improved door kinematics and feel. Meanwhile, further weight savings are achieved through the crafting of the bootlid in a polymer composite material that also integrates the main antennae for the car’s electronic systems.

The exterior design, manufacturing processes and carefully optimised materials selections combine to provide a bodyshell that is not only muscular and clean, with minimal shutlines, but also one that performs exceptionally well on the road. With a torsional stiffness of 36,500 Nm/degree, a 4% increase over the previous generation Flying Spur, the new bodyshell provides an extremely rigid platform for the chassis components and a stable foundation for NVH reduction. The sleek shape also has outstanding aerodynamic properties for a large sedan, with an overall drag coefficient of just 0.29 and ensuing benefits to emissions performance.

Weight savings in the body structure and throughout the car mean that the new Flying Spur is 50 kg lighter than the first generation car, despite the additional refinement measures, enhanced technology specification and stronger structure.

A CONTEMPORARY CABIN OF HAND-CRAFTED MATERIALS

The sumptuous interior of the new Flying Spur includes 600 new parts, with only the sun visors, grab handles, armrests and some of the front console and controls carried over from the previous generation. Class-leading entertainment and information technologies are married with traditional hand-crafted materials and stunning contemporary design to create the ultimate high-luxury sedan cabin.

Available in both four- and five-seat configurations, the new Flying Spur features redesigned front and rear seats trimmed in natural premium-quality leather. The new seats use a softer yet more durable hide unique to Bentley and available in twelve different colours.

Careful use of different foam specifications and densities creates seats that are both supremely comfortable and supportive, with 14-way adjustment including memory and lumbar functions. Every occupant is offered seat heating as well as seat ventilation, while additional stowage sections are incorporated to the rear of the front seats.

For the four-seat variant, the centre console sweeps from the front to the rear cabin and introduces an additional storage area together with a beautifully crafted stowage case, trimmed in veneer to match the car.

The interior designers, together with the craftsmen and women of Bentley’s renowned woodshop, have applied the finest wood veneers to finish the cabin of the new Flying Spur. Utilising almost ten square metres of sustainably sourced natural wood per car, the Flying Spur features book-matched and mirror-polished veneer to the fascia panels, consoles, waistrails and picnic tables. To enhance the “wrap-around” feel of the forward cabin, the veneer of the dashboard meets that of the doors in a perfectly aligned curve, giving the impression of an unbroken arc of wood around the interior. Crafted entirely by hand, cured for 72 hours and clear-lacquered to enhance the natural beauty of the wood, a range of seven sophisticated veneers is available (two as standard - burr walnut or dark fiddleback eucalyptus).

To complete the luxurious and opulent nature of the cabin, the roof lining and pillars are also trimmed in natural leather. Layers of supple foam are applied to all tactile surfaces beneath the hide, harmonising the touch and feel of all areas of the cabin. Electrically-operated rear side blinds, fitted as standard, permit privacy for rear-seat passengers if desired. Customers may also specify an optional glass sunroof at no additional cost. Behind the central rear armrest, a nine-litre bottle cooler can be specified to keep drinks perfectly chilled. The interior designers also focused on improving interior stowage around the cabin, whilst including new electronic technologies discretely throughout the interior.

CONNECTION TO THE OUTSIDE WORLD

Complementing the hand-crafted interior, the Flying Spur is equipped with carefully selected state-of-the-art technology, for both the driver and passengers. Central infotainment is controlled through a high resolution 8” touch-screen interface, complete with Bentley’s advanced satellite navigation system and Bluetooth connectivity, while infotainment features can be controlled by voice activation.

An eight-channel, eight-speaker audio system featuring Balanced Mode Radiator technology for optimum sound clarity and frequency range can play music from an on-board hard drive, CDs, DVDs, SD cards and via an iPod. The Naim^® for Bentley Premium Audio System, featuring redesigned separate subwoofers for improved bass extension and 1100 Watts of power, is available as an option for those wishing for the ultimate in-car audio experience.

Rear seat passengers have access to an extensive array of infotainment technology. A new Touch Screen Remote (TSR), deployed from a housing in the rear console at the touch of a button, allows passengers to control a variety of different systems. From climate controls and seat heating and ventilation through to the satellite navigation and multimedia systems, the TSR means passengers can interface with the car from the comfort of their seat.

Customers wishing to work on the move may order the new Flying Spur with the new Multi-Media Specification. Central to this is the Bentley Connectivity Unit (BCU) which allows portable devices, laptops and tablet computers to connect to the internet through the car’s own Wi-Fi hotspot with an active SIM and includes 64 GB of internal storage capacity. Two 10” LCD screens are installed to the backs of the front seats, while top-loading multimedia players sit in pockets fitted beneath, allowing the user to load and enjoy video, photo and music content from DVDs, SD cards, USB devices including iPods and iPads, and HDMI devices.

Each rear passenger can view separate content, or stream media from the BCU. A USB charging port keeps batteries fresh, and wired headphone ports complete the connections, allowing music and internet radio to be played directly through the BCU. Bentley wireless headphones complete the specification for the ultimate in rear-seat infotainment.

DESIGNED FOR EXCEPTIONAL COMFORT

Achieving class-leading comfort and refinement was a priority during the development of the new Flying Spur and the acoustic isolation of the cabin from external noise inputs was a particular focus. Bentley’s development and use of lightweight acoustic underfloor panels to minimise road noise continues, with aerodynamically optimised insulating sections applied to almost the entire underfloor of the car. Side glazing and both front and rear screens are made in acoustic glass, featuring a specially developed interlayer that reduces noise transmission. An improved sealing system around the side glazing now features two individual sealing points to reduce wind noise to a minimum regardless of road speed. The redesigned doors are also fitted with additional insulation to the outer skin, reducing noise diffusion in to the cabin. Enlarged rear mufflers reduce exhaust noise by 12 dB at 3000 rev/min for enhanced passenger comfort.

The heating and ventilation system is improved with the addition of a new Thermostatic Expansion Valve which drastically decreases the time taken to cool the cabin. An optional Climate Boost function features an enhanced blower system for improved cooling of the rear cabin.

With comfort paramount for the new Flying Spur, a new 19” tyre has been specifically developed, utilising a 12% relative increase in sidewall height combined with greater vertical compliance to improve impact isolation. During development, 12 different tyre constructions were tested and refined to find the optimum balance between refinement and handling performance.

EIGHT GEARS, SIX LITRES AND FOUR DRIVEN WHEELS

As Bentley’s most powerful engine, the 6.0-litre, twin turbocharged, 48-valve W12 is the natural choice to power the fastest ever Bentley four-door. Now delivering 625 PS (616 bhp) at 6,000 rev/min and a staggering 800 Nm (580 lb ft) of torque from only 2000 rev/min, the W12 has recently undergone a complete engine management system upgrade to the latest Bosch ME17 interface. Improved torque management, turbocharger control, driveability and emissions performance all result from the adoption and optimisation of the new system, with a resulting improvement in low speed responsiveness.

Coupled to the W12 is the very latest eight-speed, quick-shift automatic transmission from ZF. All Bentley models now feature this state-of-the-art gearbox. Delivering seamless and imperceptible shifts in under 200 milliseconds, the gearbox is not only designed to handle the mighty torque output of the W12 but also to ensure smooth and refined delivery of power to the wheels. An optimised set of gear ratios keeps the engine in its most efficient operating range under light loads and when cruising, contributing in an overall improvement in fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions of more than 13 per cent over the outgoing model. The new Flying Spur delivers a combined cycle fuel economy of 19.2 mpg (14.7 litres/100 km), and CO₂emissions of 343 g/km – impressive figures for a 12-cylinder ultra-luxury, high performance sedan.

The transmission feeds power to all four wheels via Bentley’s renowned all-wheel drive system. With a standard torque split of 60 per cent to the rear wheels and 40 per cent to the front, but the ability to vary this division up to 85 per cent to the rear axle or 65 per cent to the front depending on available traction, the Flying Spur’s drivetrain ensures optimal grip regardless of prevailing road or weather conditions. The assurance provided by such a sure-footed set-up means that the spirited driver can deploy all of the car’s available power and torque in a controlled and dependable manner, in virtually any circumstances.

A REFINED RIDE WITH DYNAMIC DELIVERY

With outstanding ride comfort of vital importance, the independent computer-controlled air suspension of the new Flying Spur is redesigned to maximise impact absorption and isolation. Compared to the outgoing model, suspension spring rates are softened front and rear by 10 per cent and 13 per cent respectively, for improved ride comfort in the normal operating region. The rate of stiffness increase during harder cornering has been increased for improved control of heave, pitch and roll. Anti-roll bars are softened by 13 per cent and 15 per cent to improve single wheel impact absorption. Suspension lever bushes all-round are softened by at least 25 per cent for reduced road surface-induced noise and vibration.

Working with the new springs, a damper hydraulic specification has been developed to maximise ride comfort. Working with a revised damper electronic control (CDC) strategy, this enables exceptional low speed ride performance while damping force increases significantly with speed, providing the optimum balance between body control and stability at all speeds. A four-position suspension control, with a widened range of settings, allows drivers to choose the level of damping to suit their preference.

The power steering system provides a comfort-orientated balance whilst maintaining optimum steering feel and precision throughout the speed range. A new specification of steering gear, together with a new calibration of the speed-sensitive system that regulates hydraulic fluid flow, provides variable assistance depending on vehicle speed. The new system delivers both high levels of isolation from surface deformations whilst ensuring driver confidence through the combination of accurate steering precision and a measured increase in steering effort when cornering.

As the new Flying Spur approaches its 200 mph (322 km/h) top speed, the ride height is automatically lowered via the air suspension system in order to compensate for aerodynamic forces. This helps not only to improve vehicle stability by optimising aerodynamic balance along the car, but also reduces drag, with benefits both to top speed and CO₂ output. The new car has a two-stage lowering strategy, firstly lowering by 5 mm at the front and 10 mm at the rear at 121 mph (195 km/h) and then by a further 8 mm and 13 mm respectively at 149 mph (240 km/h).

The multiple-mode Electronic Stability Control (ESC) system is recalibrated to work in combination with the new chassis specification. The system is calibrated to ensure that the enthusiastic driver is not hindered by stability interventions and, where appropriate through the selection of the ESC Dynamic Mode, the driver can further explore the handling limits of the vehicle whilst still maintaining appropriate levels of stability control.

THE PERSONAL CHOICES

As with the entire Bentley range, the new Flying Spur is built to individual customers’ exacting specifications. A range of seventeen standard exterior paint colours includes Dark Cashmere, a sophisticated and contemporary addition to the Bentley palette. The extended paint range of over 100 colours is joined by Damson, a rich hue inspired by the extremely rare purple diamond, and one that is complemented by an optional matching hide colour.

A new 19-inch Classic wheel is fitted exclusively to the new Flying Spur, either bright-painted or with a diamond turned finish. The new design consolidates a wider range of 20-inch five-spoke, 21-inch six-spoke and 21-inch ten-spoke wheels available as cost options.

Customers wishing to extend the range of available options further can choose to include the Mulliner Driving Specification. This includes five additional hides, expanding the number of available shades to 17, and five further wood veneers. Bentley’s traditional diamond quilting is incorporated to the seats and door panels, together with an indented leather headlining and embroidered Bentley wings to the headrests. Drilled alloy foot pedals, a knurled sports gear lever, jewel filler cap and 21” two-piece five-spoke alloy wheels in painted or polished finish complete the Mulliner suite of options.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

	New Flying Spur
Engine
Type	6-litre twin-turbocharged W12
Max Power	616 bhp / 460 kW / 625 PS @6000 rev/min
Max Torque	800 Nm / 590 lb.ft @ 2000 rev/min
Transmission
Type	ZF 8-speed automatic with Quickshift, Block Shifting and wheel-mounted paddleshift
Driveline	Continuous all-wheel drive (40:60 rear bias)
Ratios	1st : 4.71; 2nd: 3.14; 3rd: 2.1; 4th: 1.67; 5th: 1.29; 6th: 1.00; 7th: 0.839; 8th: 0.667
Final Drive	2.85
Brakes
Front	405mm ventilated discs (optional 420mm Carbon Silicon Carbide, cross drilled)
Rear	335mm ventilated discs (optional 356mm, Carbon Silicon Carbide, cross drilled)
Wheels and Tyres
Wheels	New 19" (2 finishes), opt 9.5J x 20", opt 9.5J x 21" (3 designs)
Tyres	275/45 ZR19, 275/40 ZR20, 275/35 ZR21
Steering
Type	Rack & pinion, power assisted, speed-sensitive ZF servotronic
Turns lock-to-lock	2.8
Turning circle	11.7 m / 38.4 feet
Suspension
Front	Four link double wishbones, computer controlled self-levelling air suspension, with anti-roll bar
Rear	Trapezoidal multi-link, computer-controlled self-levelling air suspension, with anti-roll bar
Damping	Continuous Damping Control
Dimensions
Wheelbase	3065 mm / 120.7 in
Overall length	5295 mm / 208.5 in
Width (across body)	1976 mm / 77.8 in
Width (inc. mirrors)	2208 mm / 86.9 in
Overall height	1488 mm / 58.6 in
Fuel tank	90 litres / 20 UK gallons / 24 US gallons
Boot volume	475 litres / 16.8 cu ft
Kerb weight (EU)	2475 kg / 5451 lb
Gross vehicle weight	2972 kg / 6546 lb
Performance
Top speed	200 mph / 322 km/h
0-60 mph	4.3 secs
0-100 mph	9.5 secs
0-100 km/h	4.6 secs
0-160 km/h	9.5 secs
Fuel Consumption (EU cycle)*
Urban	12.6 mpg (22.4 litres/100 km)
Extra Urban	27.8 mpg (10.2 litres/100 km)
Combined	19.2 mpg (14.7 litres/100 km)
CO2 emissions	343 g /km
Fuel Consumption (EPA cycle)**
City (US mpg)	12
Highway (US mpg)	20
Combined (US mpg)	15
Emissions Controls	EU 5 and US LEV II