Bentley Motors has launched the production of the eight-cylinder Flying Spur model in Crewe, England. Each luxury saloon takes around 100 hours to assemble in 84 distinct stages. A separate production line concerns itself with the engines.
The four-liter gasoline V8 has its dual turbos built straight into its V-space. The power amounts to 550 PS (542 hp / 404 kW) and the peak torque to 770 Nm (568 lb-ft). Getting from standstill to 100 km/h (0-62 mph) is a matter of 4.1 seconds, and the top speed lies as high as 318 km/h (197.6 mph).
WLTP-rated fuel consumption averages 12.7 liters per 100 km (22 miles per gallon in the UK, or 18.5 MPG in the United States). This means up to 709 km (440 miles) of range from a full tank. You can deactivate half of the cylinders when the extra power is not needed.
The feature list also mentions air-ride suspension, Drive Dynamics Control, and torque vectoring. Sales should begin soon.