Supercar / BENTLEY FLYING SPUR HYBRID

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© Richard McCreery

BENTLEY FLYING SPUR HYBRID

by Richard McCreery

Paul Simon might have come up with 50 ways to leave your lover, but Bentley has developed 56 billion ways to create your own individual car. That is the astounding number of different combinations the British company says can be configured when choosing your car, so you are unlikely to run into another that is exactly the same.

The vast range of colours, trims, hides, wheels and options on offer mean that you can go in whichever direction you like, whether it’s sporty, classic or even bling - our test car with gold (Patina) paint and black gloss detailing certainly draws the eye. It is rare that one model of car can be produced with so many different types of character, but that is precisely what Bentley has managed to do as it caters for the growing trend of personalization.

The Bentley Flying Spur, the car tested here, is a 4 door saloon with active all-wheel drive that offers practicality and space for those who may feel that an SUV is just too big. Not that the car is small, measuring 5.3 metres in length, but for driving pleasure the saloon has a lower stance that seems better suited to European roads, which can often be quite narrow. Fortunately, the Flying Spur never feels especially wide for a car in this class and the perfectly weighted steering makes it easy to position on the road, something that is very welcome when you are travelling at speed down winding lanes.

The beautiful ‘Flying B’ on the bonnet also helps you determine where the front of the car is and reversing is made relatively easy thanks to various cameras that even include an overhead view of the car - how do they do that? The Bentley can be specced with either a 6 litre W12 engine, a 4 litre V8 or a 2.9 litre V6 plug-in hybrid combination. If you are looking for drama, go for the W12, but if you are considering the limousine-like Flying Spur over the other models in the Bentley range then you are probably looking for something else.

The smaller-engined hybrid changes the character of the car somewhat compared to those with larger

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THE FUTURE OF LUXURY CAR TRAVEL IS HERE

engines but its power is practically the same as the V8 when the electric motor kicks in, putting out 536 bhp in total. A time of 4.3 seconds to go from 0-100km/hr is quick enough to match a Porsche 911 Carrera and is only two tenths of a second behind the V8 Flying Spur. Going electric doesn’t mean going slower.

The V6 might not be quite as earthquake-inducing as its big brothers but the addition of a silent, clean form of propulsion brings other advantages. For that true limousine experience, nothing beats rolling away from standstill on full electric power and it will run like that for up to 40 kms. Aside from the absence of noise that enhances your sereneness, the car glides down the road at low speeds with a smoothness that can’t be matched by a traditional engine and it feels very special. a lot less fuel than most other cars of this size and performance, with Bentley claiming a Combined Fuel Economy figure of 3.3 l/100 km (85 mpg) for the hybrid versus 12.7 l/100 km (22 mpg) for the V8. Fuel consumption might not be an issue for owners who can afford the 177,000 Euros starting price for this model, but it also produces considerably fewer emissions: 75g/ km vs 288 g/km, helping offset any guilt you might feel about driving such a large car.

Apart from the choice of engine, prospective buyers will be faced with another dilemma - where to sit. Even though the driver’s seat is a wonderful place to be, once you’ve spent some time in the rear of the car you probably won’t want to get out. There is a huge amount of room to stretch out, the Beluga leather with contrast stitching feels soft to the touch and the massage seats work very well. The twin sunroof setup means that

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© Fredrik Ulen

passengers have plenty of light if they want it, but they can also quickly close several blinds all around them at the touch of a single button. Travel in the back of this car and you soon start to feel like royalty, an experience that is enhanced by the high quality of materials and intricate design highlights, not to mention the number of people who want to photograph this giant gold bar on wheels (to stay under the radar, choose one of the other 80 colour combinations on offer).

And whilst Bentley is a brand that people associate with tradition and classical engineering, the latest models are hardly short of the kind of technology that make the driver’s life more pleasant, safer and easier. The head-up display soon becomes the default way to check your speed, with the figures hovering in thin air above that long bonnet. You also have night vision, adaptive cruise control, a built-in Wi-Fi hotspot and the ability to check the status of your car remotely using your smartphone.

Ambient mood lighting means that the interior looks even more glamorous in the dark, plus there is the option of a 20-speaker Naim sound system and removable touch screens to keep younger passengers occupied. In sharp contrast to all that tech, there is even a traditional compass, one of the three chromeringed dials that appear by magic thanks to the rotating display panel on the dashboard.

The hybrid Flying Spur may not be the sportiest car in the Bentley line up, but it feels like the future. The ability to glide serenely through town on electric power seems to compliment perfectly the nature of this particular model, it enhances the car’s luxury status.

Once you’ve tried it, you may never want to go back to a car that only runs on old fashioned fossil fuels. And with so much power, this car will be fast enough for most people in the real world. Of course, no one ever said Bentley’s were cheap, you can have a Mercedes S-class for much less. But the difference is reflected in the way you feel when you are on board, either behind the wheel or as a passenger. In the Flying Spur, you are being treated like royalty rather than someone who simply has money.

LET'S SHINE!

by Laura Canepa

The Maisons of high-end jewellery have certainly contributed to illuminating 2022 with new, sensational creations. Some drawing inspiration from nature, some from distant or simply imagined destinations, they have made precious stones the undisputed queens of the Olympus of excellence.

© Chaumet

CHAUMET - In the wake of the Torsade and Déferlante collections that explored movement, freedom and the flow of water, Chaumet dedicates an ensemble of seventy masterpieces to the sea. A lyrical, poetic allegory that captures the wonders and mysteries of the abyss.

© Federal-Studio

CHOPARD - Chopard brought a touch of magic to the red carpet of the Cannes Film Festival, drawing inspiration precisely from the seventh art for the seventy-five creations making up the “Chopard Loves Cinema” Red Carpet collection.

From the sensational diamonds to the velvety sapphires, the collection whispers all of Caroline Scheufele's passion for gemmology, underlining the values of ethics and sustainability.

Chopard, “Chopard Loves Cinema” Red Carpet Collection. Fairmined certified ethical white gold earrings with two 17.16 and 15.85 carat unheated cornflower blue cushion-cut sapphires, one 3.03 carat internally flawless D grade oval diamond, one 3 carat VVS1 grade D oval diamond , 19 carats, two 0.71 and 0.68 carat intense purple pink fancy diamonds, two fancy blue and brilliant diamonds. Fairmined certified ethical white gold ring with a 20.40 carat cushioin-cut vivid blue unheated sapphire and diamonds.

© Harry Winston

HARRY WINSTON - From the blooming bougainvillea of the Amalfi Coast to the sunsets over the Grand Canyon and on to the azure waters of Greece. These are the destinations to which Harry Winston dedicates the new Majestic Escapes high jewellery collection. An ode to planet earth, to love and safeguard for the future.

© Graff

GRAFF - At the Paris fashion week, the Graff boutique on Rue St-Honoré hosted fifty masterpieces from the new Graffabulous collection. A tribute to the rarest and most unique gifts that Mother Nature has given to man: precious stones. Wonderful fancy yellow diamonds, hypnotic emeralds, sapphires and rubies are the protagonists of the timeless know-how of this London jewellery house.

Graff, Graffabulous Collection.

High jewelery necklace with 151 carats of emerald spheres, diamonds and emeralds. High jewelery earrings with emeralds and diamonds. Ring in parure.