For the 2009 model year, Bentley gave its Continental Flying Spur a modest exterior refresh, with changes to the front and rear of the sedan. The automaker also extended the 600-horsepower 'Speed' treatment to the four-door car, after first debuting the high-performance edition for the GT coupe.

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The standard Flying Spur features a more upright grille and bolder lower air intake, while the new rear bumper delivers a more aggressive and sleek appearance.

The new Flying Spur can now be specified with a sophisticated follow-to-stop, radar-based Adaptive Cruise Control system, which monitors traffic ahead and manages the throttle and brakes to maintain a pre-set time gap, up to a driver selected set speed.

As a further option, the new Naim for Bentley audio system features an 1100-watt amplifier, the most powerful unit offered in a production car, and 15 custom-built Naim speakers, including dual Naim sub-woofers.

The aluminium-intensive suspension of the Flying Spur features revised spring and dampers and a new bespoke 19-inch Pirelli UHP tyre for outstanding levels of ride quality, comfort and refinement.

The double-glazed windows, a standard feature since launch, now feature a sophisticated acoustic laminate inner layer for all side and rear windows. In addition, new tri-laminate acoustic underbody trays and wheel arch liners absorb road noise.

High-performance 'Speed' edition

Like its GT coupe counterpart, the Flying Spur can now be ordered in Speed guise. Inspired by Bentley's legendary Speed models that first appeared in 1923, the Flying Spur Speed offers a range of headline performance figures including a 0-60 mph sprint time of 4.5 seconds and a top speed of 200 mph.

The powerplant responsible for that world-beating top speed is VW's complex twin-turbo W12 engine. It delivers 600 horsepower at 6000 rpm and 553 pound-feet of torque at 1750 rpm.

A lowered ride height, uprated and redesigned suspension, as well as retuned steering deliver better agility and body control. Added grip comes from the 9.5Jx20 multi-spoke alloy wheels with bespoke Pirelli P-Zero UHP performance tires.

The Flying Spur Speed is distinguished by subtle design cues which emphasise its performance credentials, including dark-tinted radiator and air intake grilles, wider rifled exhaust tail pipes and unique 20-inch multi-spoke alloy wheels.

Background

The Flying Spur was introduced for the 2006 model year. A direct result of Bentley's new owners, the Volkswagen Auto Group, the sedan shares its basic underpinnings and some mechanical bits with VW's late Phaeton.

For 2008, Bentley decided to update the Flying Spur's electronic stability program and offer optional carbon ceramic brakes should owners try and test that 195 mph top speed. An optional three-spoke steering wheel along with improved Bluetooth capability round out the changes.

The standard Spur's engine offers 552 horsepower at 6,100 rpm and 479 lb-ft of torque at 1,600 rpm. It transfers power to all four wheels via a six-speed automatic transmission. The EPA rates the Spur's fuel economy at 10 mpg in the city and 17 mpg on the highway.

Standard equipment on the Spur includes twin HID headlights with washer jets, 19-inch alloy wheels, a tire pressure monitoring system, cruise control, keyless entry and ignition, rain-sensing windshield wipers and a choice of 16 colors. On the inside, one has a choice of 17 colors for the leather-appointed interior and matching carpets and seatbelts, there are steering-column mounted shift paddles, a sunroof with electronic sunshade, a DVD navigation system, Sirius satellite radio, a six-CD changer in the glove compartment and voice dialing through the integrated Bluetooth system. The front seats feature lumbar massage, memory and heat settings. The rear seat's outer occupants enjoy lumbar massage and heating settings as well. The trunk is power opening and closing.

Options include a choice of three 19-inch wheel styles and a 20-inch wheel and tire package, and the sunroof can be had with a solar panel to power ventilation fans to maintain interior temperature when parked. Inside, three veneers are available in addition to the standard one, a choice of leather trims for the two steering wheels, and a full-length center console turns the car into a four-seater but adds electrically adjustable rear seats.

Convenience options include a cordless privacy handset with keypad in center console, a rear telephone system, and a rear-view camera to aid in parking.

Additions to the 2009 Flying Spur palette include two new hide colours (Linen and Imperial Blue) as well as three new standard exterior paint colours (Havana, White Sand and Onyx). Four unique duo-tone paint combinations (Havana, Dark Sapphire, Onyx and Midnight Emerald) are available for the first time on the Continental family.