Bentley took off the covers to the 2021 Flying Spur V8 six months ago and while it may not have quite as much power as the flagship W12, this video confirms that it is still very, very fast.
The clip was filmed on the German autobahn and shows the luxury sedan being put through its paces in a straight line. The driver was brave enough to push the car through to 280 km/h (174 mph) as indicated on the speedometer and while that’s fast, it is someway shy of the car’s actual top speed of 198 mph (318 km/h), although the vehicle tested was equipped with winter tires, so maybe it wasn’t as safe to push it anymore.
Read More: Bentley Flying Spur Becomes More Driver-Focused With New 542 HP Twin-Turbo V8
Powering the Flying Spur V8 is the same twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 as the Continental GT, which delivers 542 hp and 516 lb-ft (700 Nm) of torque. Drive is sent to all four wheels courtesy of an eight-speed automatic transmission. The engine also features cylinder-deactivation technology to improve fuel economy.
Bentley claims that the Flying Spur V8 is more driver-focused than the W12 model, partly because it is 100 kg (220 lbs) lighter, weight which has large been shed from the nose of the car due to the more compact engine.
Other key features of the luxury sedan include adaptive three-chamber suspension, torque vectoring by brake, and Drive Dynamics Control. Also offered is all-wheel steering and Bentley’s 48-volt active anti-roll control system. Customers can order their Bentley Flying Spur V8 in four- or five-seat guise.