| Most would consider me an environmentally
considerate Californian, recycling cans and bottles, turning
the thermostat down, and determined to purchase a hybrid this
next year. But today was a departure into guilty pleasures,
a test drive of an ultra luxury automobile, an opportunity
you just cannot turn down. I put the petal to the metal on
a new Bentley Continental Flying Spur.
My husband and I received an invitation to the exclusive area
showing of the new Bentley. The RSVP invitation directed us
to a historic estate in the Santa Cruz foothills near several
small wineries. The test drive included a gourmet catered
lunch and a lovely take away gift book about Bentley owners.
The Continental Flying Spur is a beautifully built work of
automotive art with amenities and detailing that justifies
the $180,000 eye popping price tag. This is a serious automobile
that tops out at 5,100 pounds with 552 hp under the hood.
The 0-60 mph is a breath taking 4.9 seconds with a top speed
of 195 mph making this model the fasted sedan available for
the street in the world.
The cabin aroma is of fine leather and the dash is beautifully
matched English ash that is custom cut from the same block
of wood and matched through out the interior. The body design
of aerodynamic flowing sheet metal is unique. The seats are
plush yet comfortable and offer every nuance of change to
height, tilt, lumbar, heating and cooling plus the ability
to add length under the knees and a circulating massage setting
to make travel a delight. For protection, the Continental
Flying Spur is equipped with a full suite of safety equipment,
not to mention highly tuned on board computers in the brakes
and engine to compensate and react correctly in any sudden
unexpected avoidance maneuver.
On the road trial passing was instantaneous; the 6-litre,
twin-turbocharged, 12-cylinder engine gave out a muted roar
as I soared up the highway. The variety of tension settings
for ride made control very solid as the Spur held the road
smoothly. The 405mm ventilated front brakes are the largest
available on any passenger car today, braking was smooth but
to the point. This is an automobile that is easily capable
of cruising at autobahn speeds, so it takes vigilance as a
driver not to be seduced into driving outside the limit of
posted speeds. All too soon the test drive was over, back
to reality, I cooled down and my good senses returned.
On the drive home my husband, the engineer, remarked that
Bentley is owned by Volkswagen; the 552 hp engine is, in reality,
made up of two conjoined Passat V-6's with turbos, and the
chassis was taken from the canceled VW Phaeton. Further he
said; we should consider test driving the 2007 Toyota Camry
Hybrid. It's a big, beautiful four door sedan that seats five,
gets around 45 MPG costs about $30K. It will do 0 to 60 in
7.5 seconds and tops out at 110 mph. Not Bentley territory,
but on our crowded California freeways you will actually arrive
at your destination sooner because you can use the commuter
lanes when driving a hybrid.
OK, I replied with a long sigh, the Flying Spur is not an
environmentally sound investment. I must confess it only averages
ten miles to the gallon, is heaver than an SUV and I can't
event think about $3,000 extra gas guzzler tax. However, today's
test was a rare thrill driving in such custom comfort with
unbound luxury and the ability to command the powerhouse under
the hood; truly a guilty pleasure! |
