If you are a Bentley fan, then the latest offering from their stable will be of interest to you as it fulfills the need for speed while maintaining the standards of luxury one has come to expect from the company.
With a top speed of 322kmph the Continental Flying Spur Speed is the fastest four-door Bentley ever made.
This Dh1 million thoroughbred shares its bloodlines with the fastest four-seat coupé of its time, the original 1957 Continental Flying Spur and Bentley's legendary Speed models that first appeared in 1923.
Geoff Dowding, Director of Worldwide Operations, Bentley told Emirates Business: "The Continental Flying Spur Speed offers a range of headline performance figures including a 0 to 100kmph sprint time of 4.8 seconds and a top speed of 322kmph.
"The Continental Flying Spur Speed is distinguished by subtle design cues which emphasise its performance credentials, including dark-tinted radiator and air intake grilles, wider rifled exhaust tail pipes and unique 20-inch multi-spoke alloy wheels."
The heart of every car is the engine and the Continental Flying Spur Speed's unconventional six-litre engine is configured in four banks of three cylinders in a W formation. This makes it short and compact allowing for more interior space.
But its size is deceptive as the twin turbochargers boost the power output to an astonishing 600bhp and the car develops maximum torque of 750Nm at 1700 to 5600rpm, delivering an immediate sensation of limitless power as you move through the gears.
However, the shorter engine configuration, together with a fuel tank under the floor of the car, gave the Continental Flying Spur Speed's design team the unprecedented luxury of space. The result is a capacious interior, beautifully appointed for the comfort of all occupants. The impressive boot space was designed with practicality in mind, easily accommodating golf clubs and luggage.
The Continental Flying Spur Speed is equipped with the full suite of passive safety equipment that includes a total of six airbags, seatbelt pre-tensioners and retraction systems for all seats, and a front passenger seat occupant detection system.
Self-adjusting air springs and electronic dampers operate independently for each wheel, while permanent all-wheel drive enhances traction control. And the largest front brakes to be found on any passenger car in the world provide commensurate reassurance at the touch of the pedal. The throttles, fuel injection, twin turbochargers and ignition are controlled by the engine management system.
Full electronic control of the six-speed automatic transmission, air suspension and continuous all-wheel drive combine to provide the immediate feedback. Steering, suspension and chassis work together in absolute harmony, while intelligent under-the-skin technology monitors and fine-tunes every aspect of your exhilaration.
The Bluetooth telephone system in the car is the latest technology available to enable you to connect your mobile phone to the onboard telephone system. Bluetooth uses a wireless link between the mobile phone and the car's onboard telephone system. A key advantage of this system is that it provides you with greater flexibility as it offers three separate ways in which to connect to the system, through, Bluetooth rSAP, Bluetooth Hands Free Profile and a SIM Card Reader.
The Infotainment System is the electronic heart of the Continental Flying Spur Speed. The system operates DVD Satellite Navigation system, hi-fi system, TV Tuner, four-zone climate control, suspension and ride height adjustment, mobile telephone controls and on-board computer controls. The driver can operate and adjust almost all of the key driving and entertainment systems through a console.
The car comes with a powerful sound system especially developed for Bentley by Naim. It delivers a distinct 'live concert-like experience' offering industry leading power output through a unique amplifier and speaker system.
Dowding summed it up: "When we asked our future customers about their needs they were very clear. He wanted performance and luxury, style and practicality, inspiration and solidity, excitement and safety. The Continental Flying Spur Speed is our response to their 'no compromise' attitude, and our desire to further the Bentley story."