Part 1
Spur of the moment. An experience reaching stratospheric levels. AUTO BILD INDIA drives Bentley's Continental Flying Spur and GT at Yas Marina Circuit and we also take a ride in the new GTC and EXP2, the oldest Bentley.
Gone are the days when Middle East used to bring back images of the bedouin and the rich betting on camel races for fun. Now it is the hub of Asia's uber class car enthusiasts and the races take place in the modern day speed arena – Formula One track, Yas Marina Circuit. We got the priveledge to drive the ultra luxury levianthans the uptown people call cars at Formula One world champion Sebastian Vettel's lucky circuit where he won two consecutive years. For a mere mortal like yours ruly if being on the track under the flood lights wasn't an awe moment getting to drive the Bentley Continental Flying Spur Speed , GT and the GTC was an overwhelming experience, to say the least. All I could keep muttering to myself was please let this not be a dream as I don't want to wake up from this motoring paradise.
Before I could get my hands on these delicious beauties, the marque made sure we fi rst understood the track by getting a bird's eye view. Being a virgin for helicopter ride, the pilot's advice for me was to sit back and enjoy the view. Honestly no words could describe the ride or the glistening Yas Island below. All one can say is that it truly looked like United Arab Emirates' answer to Kohinoor. I was totally bedazzled.
After flying high, the Flying Spur Speed awaited me with open arms and ready to scream down the track with its perceptible 6-litre W12 engine roar. With 552bhp under the hood, the question is not what speed you achieved rather how many seconds it took you to reach that speed. Weighing two and half tonnes and costing almost Rs 2 crore, I had no intentions of letting the free spirit in me take over and time some quick laps. So I kept to my slow pace. While driving the Flying Spur Speed it wasn't the extremely smooth engine, which accelerates without a whimper or the speedo needle shooting up to 180kmph I noticed but the dual-tone interiors – baby pink and white! Only one person came to my mind with over the top luxury and bling-bling colour – Paris Hilton. Master craftmanship and exquisite style are the British marque's forte as the wooden panels used in the Flying Spur Speed comes from a single tree burr over 70 years old. What was surprising was that with 475 litres of boot space, the rear of the Flying Spur Speed not even once step out. This luxury on wheels experiences no roll, keeping itself planted on the tarmac.
Part 2
Ensuring that the company’s roots are very much remembered, a surprise guest from 1920, the Bentley EXP2, made an appearance. The prototype 3-litre engine of the EXP2.
Next up was the Continental GT. Even the creator of Batman, Bob Kane, would forgive me for saying this Bentley could easily become a Batmobile. With its retro-tourer looks, the GT is drop dead gorgeous. Sit inside this 2-door coupe and I guarantee you that you will get adrenalised with its energy. It can seat four people but let's be honest who would volunteer to get all squashed in the back. Get behind the wheel and the W12 engine is a lot more audible. This is easily Bentley's bad boy car, which could in its highly luxurious level call it Bentley's answer to sportscars. Getting back to this mean machine, the suspension setup was on the stiffer side and with a very responsive engine, its nimble feet belied its girth. The cocoon like cabin space giving you a sporty feel and the Yas Marina Circuit being your road one just can't help but push the car. This Rs 1.8 crore car is a bit boorish with loads of gruff and atittude. Simply awesome!
As we are at a racing track, Bentley had a special treat for all of us as they took us out on the EXP2. This is a motorsport car from the past, year 1920 to be precise, and is the oldest running car from the Bentley stable. The EXP2 was the first British sportscar using a then-new concept of alloy pistons and creating a need for speed. Constructed by Walter Owen Bentley himself, the EXP2 is a prototype 3-litre racing car and was a revelation in its time, sporting four valves and two plugs per cylinder. It scored 11 race wins during its on-track career from 1921. After achieving 11 first places and six in 2nd place during its racing career, the EXP2 was then used for research and development of aero engines.
Before we had to say goodbye we also got a drive in the new GTC. This covertible coupe's aerodynamics have been altered to make sure that the wind never smacks you on the face. With the wind not beating down on you at a speed over 120kmph, having a conversation was as easy as a pie. Apart from the change in aerodynamics and weighting less everything else is similar to the GT. It is powered by the massive powerful 5998cc W12 petrol engine.
