Flying Spur The Bentley Flying Spur. Love it or hate it, it's still a very good car.

[Yperion]

If I want a marginal looking car with an outstanding interior I'll get the better looking 57S.

No way the ugly faced Maybarque is better looking than this car. Who cares about overhangs this car is a beauty IMO and i really can't understand why you hate it so much.

Anyway to each his own.

 

[Merc1]

No way the ugly faced Maybarque is better looking than this car. Who cares about overhangs this car is a beauty IMO and i really can't understand why you hate it so much.

Anyway to each his own.

Exactly to each his own because to me the Flying Brick is just plain ugly. I said the Maybach was marginal, it isn't a beauty either, but yeah I think it looks better than this thing. We all know you aren't going to put a VW product down no matter what, they're all perfect with you. If you don't care about the overhangs then why care about design or looks at all? Its part of the design, something Bentley couldn't much about becauuse of the pedestrian chassis they're using to make a "Bentley". I don't see or understand how anyone can look at a real Bentley like the Arnage and look at the Flying Brick and call it a "beauty". We just have to agree to disagree on this one there is no middle ground with me on this "car".

M

 

[Michael]

Exactly to each his own because to me the Flying Brick is just plain ugly. I said the Maybach was marginal, it isn't a beauty either, but yeah I think it looks better than this thing. We all know you aren't going to put a VW product down no matter what, they're all perfect with you. If you don't care about the overhangs then why care about design or looks at all? Its part of the design, something Bentley couldn't much about becauuse of the pedestrian chassis they're using to make a "Bentley". I don't see or understand how anyone can look at a real Bentley like the Arnage and look at the Flying Brick and call it a "beauty". We just have to agree to disagree on this one there is no middle ground with me on this "car".

M

I think they both deserve a slap in the face (the cars I mean). I think the Maybach was nice when it came out but I think everyone needs to understand that most of us don't view the Maybach in the same manner anymore especially considering the Phantom and how unique the design is, but that is not my point concering the Maybach. The new S Class breaks all bench marks and can truly be called a limosine, like Roberto spoke about earlier. I think the new S Class puts to shame the Maybach and makes it look even more dated.

The Flying Spur is a very interesting design. It is not controversial like BMW, but rather very simple in my opinion. I think the car lacks character from certain angles. However, I think it is a very elegant car inside and out, and the other day I parked right next to one. It is very nice indeed.

 

[Merc1]

I think they both deserve a slap in the face (the cars I mean). I think the Maybach was nice when it came out but I think everyone needs to understand that most of us don't view the Maybach in the same manner anymore especially considering the Phantom and how unique the design is, but that is not my point concering the Maybach. The new S Class breaks all bench marks and can truly be called a limosine, like Roberto spoke about earlier. I think the new S Class puts to shame the Maybach and makes it look even more dated.

The Flying Spur is a very interesting design. It is not controversial like BMW, but rather very simple in my opinion. I think the car lacks character from certain angles. However, I think it is a very elegant car inside and out, and the other day I parked right next to one. It is very nice indeed.

I agree as far as the regular 57 and 62 mode.ls go, but I still like the 57S for its somewhat different interior and exterior look. The regular Maybachs are as dull as dishwater though. The car should have just been "600" or some other historic MB from the past brought back because that concept from the 1997 Tokyo autoshow was great looking, but the design to make it a stand alone brand killed the looks, IMO. I think a lot of people are just impressed by the Flying Brick because it is a "Bentley" because beyond the interior I can't find anything desireable about it, especially next to the Arnage.

M

 

[SDNR]

I do think the Arnage is looking quite old now though. We should start seeing some spy pics of it's successor soon.

A Driver’s Car
Next Bentley Arnage to be lighter, sportier, automaker says

By TONY LEWIN | AUTOMOTIVE NEWS

AutoWeek | Published 02/07/06

Bentley will explore lightweight construction techniques for the replacement of its flagship Arnage ultra-luxury sedan.

The future new model will compete with the Rolls-Royce Phantom and Mercedes-Benz Maybach at the very top of the luxury market, so it will be very sporting, despite its size and status.

“Bentley is the sporting alternative at that higher price too,” said Dirk van Braeckel, head of design at Bentley, told Automotive News Europe. Bentley is part of the Volkswagen group. “This is what will really differentiate us from the other cars. Ours will be a real driver’s car.”

The car would be more aerodynamic, more muscular and make a stronger statement, van Braeckel said. “Being a driver-focused car, it doesn’t necessarily have to be a long limousine or be focused on the rear.”

Asked whether the new car would be capable of more than 300 kph, like the Continental GT and Flying Spur, van Braeckel said: “Being a worthy Bentley, it would have to.”

He added: “But it would also have to be a very personal, hand-built, commission-oriented type of car, like the Arnage is today. For the Arnage customer, his car is more of a castle than a house.”

Bentley’s brand values are still the same as in the past, but they had been strengthened by the success of the Continental GT and Flying Spur, he said. “We gauge what we do in terms of our bloodline cars, but we don’t do retro.”

autoweek.com

 

[Merc1]

Sounds good, I hope VW/Bentley knows what they're messing with here. This car is just classic to me, really special.

M

 

[SDNR]

The proportions are terrible and the whole looks says freight train to me. The car isn't nearly as elegant as the Arnage. The problem is those front fenders and that long overhang, it screams fwd-based chassis. The

M

Those rounded fenders do take their cue from the original Flying Spur of the 1950s and 60s.

I also will point out the CLS's fenders and front wheel-arches.

 

[SDNR]

Mansory Flying Spur





Continental GT interior

 

[bmer]

Sounds good, I hope VW/Bentley knows what they're messing with here. This car is just classic to me, really special.

M

Very true, Merc1. The Arnage is definately a classic and therefor its successor will have a hard work convincing the current Arnage owners that it's superior.

 

[Merc1]

Those rounded fenders do take their cue from the original Flying Spur of the 1950's and 60's.

I also will point out the CLS's fenders and front wheel-arches.

I don't know what you're trying to say here Roberto, but the CLS and Flying Brick are on opposite sides of the style scale. The CLS' fenders and wheel arches are simply elegant and nothing like the Flyer Brick.

M

 

[Merc1]

Mansory Flying Spur





Continental GT interior

That first pick of the Flying Brick is awful, it looks way overdone. Now the second pic of the car sitting inside a hall or something (and with that camera angle) looks a lot better, but its all photographic trickery. Now the Coupe I can almost stand with the Mansory changes, but looking at these pics remind me of something an older relative said once: Dressing her up will do more for her than sunlight will sweeten trash". Harsh, and no the Flying Brick isn't trash by any means, but all that Mansory stuff won't help what is a lacking design from the get go, IMO of course.

M

 

[SDNR]

I don't know what you're trying to say here Roberto, but the CLS and Flying Brick are on opposite sides of the style scale. The CLS' fenders and wheel arches are simply elegant and nothing like the Flyer Brick.

M

LOL ...look carefully Marcus. I totally agree with you that the CLS is much prettier ...but it is interesting how some quite similar design ideas can translate so differently.

 

[SDNR]

That first pick of the Flying Brick is awful, it looks way overdone. Now the second pic of the car sitting inside a hall or something (and with that camera angle) looks a lot better, but its all photographic trickery. Now the Coupe I can almost stand with the Mansory changes, but looking at these pics remind me of something an older relative said once: Dressing her up will do more for her than sunlight will sweeten trash". Harsh, and no the Flying Brick isn't trash by any means, but all that Mansory stuff won't help what is a lacking design from the get go, IMO of course.
.
M

Yeah, the Mansory FS exterior looks terrible. I know you will never like this car Marcus, I have given up trying to convince you that it isn't so bad, but let's just hope the Arnage replacement is much better.

 

[Snake Vargas]

I take issue with the Spur and Conti GT as well. It's impressive for its size and because I know what it stands for, but the detailing is nonexistant. Although the CLS and the Bentleys look similar in profile, it's from other angles that the difference is evident.

The Bentleys' front is just a smoothed facade, with a slot below for the bumper vents, a hole in the middle for the grille, and four round holes for shapeless lights. It's just so anonymous, it's like a bar of soap. I haven't even got started with the rear, which I consider worse than the front.

As for the CLS, love it or hate it, you can't say it's boring. The lights have a shape, and the grille is purposeful and filled with the three pointed star. The fenders are much more rakish than the constant-radius of the staid Bentleys. That the bumper has some more features also helps the CLS.

I couldn't say I hate the Bentleys, it's just that I find them ever so passionless.

The Arnage at least makes up for it with classical 'British' lines in the profile, and that big ol' chunk of a grille - upright, like a good stately vehicle's grille should be.

 

[SDNR]

Snake, everything you have just said, I totally 100% agree with ....that is exactly how I feel about it too.

 

[Merc1]

LOL ...look carefully Marcus. I totally agree with you that the CLS is much prettier ...but it is interesting how some quite similar design ideas can translate so differently.

Ok with them side by side like that I can see what you're talking about, but still.........

Yeah, the Mansory FS exterior looks terrible. I know you will never like this car Marcus, I have given up trying to convince you that it isn't so bad, but let's just hope the Arnage replacement is much better.

God I hope so.

M

 

[Merc1]

I take issue with the Spur and Conti GT as well. It's impressive for its size and because I know what it stands for, but the detailing is nonexistant. Although the CLS and the Bentleys look similar in profile, it's from other angles that the difference is evident.

The Bentleys' front is just a smoothed facade, with a slot below for the bumper vents, a hole in the middle for the grille, and four round holes for shapeless lights. It's just so anonymous, it's like a bar of soap. I haven't even got started with the rear, which I consider worse than the front.

As for the CLS, love it or hate it, you can't say it's boring. The lights have a shape, and the grille is purposeful and filled with the three pointed star. The fenders are much more rakish than the constant-radius of the staid Bentleys. That the bumper has some more features also helps the CLS.

I couldn't say I hate the Bentleys, it's just that I find them ever so passionless.

The Arnage at least makes up for it with classical 'British' lines in the profile, and that big ol' chunk of a grille - upright, like a good stately vehicle's grille should be.

Yes, yes, yes that is it!

M

 

[Merc1]

If the car looked this good in real life I'd be all for this thing:



However this shot uses a lot of photographic trickery, lighting, angle etc. etc. to achieve this effect.

M

 

[Centurion]

Flying Spur orgy.

 

[Merc1]

Yeah that is how the Bentley dealer here has them lined up, like regular cars on a regular car dealer's lot! The sales of these things have been an amazing boon for Bentley. Before these new Bentley's came out you'd see one or two Arnages, but never a row of them like this. What a difference a change in price makes!

M