Performance Review: Bentley Continental Flying Spur 6.0 W12 - [2005]

Figures & Specs Summary:

Bentley Continental Performance Review.

Introduction:

This edition of the Bentley Continental Flying Spur 6.0 W12 is the 6 speed / Auto version and was first brought out in 2005. This was at around the same time as the introduction of the 2006 Caparo T1 2.4 V8 and the 2005 Bugatti Veyron 8.0 litre W16.This particular Bentley Continental has a 5998cc Twin Turbo Petrol powerplant with 12 cylinders in a W formation.

Alternative Petrol W12's includes the 2017 Bentley Continental Supersports 6.0 W12 Bi Turbo

The Continental shares its Petrol W12 engine configuration with the likes of the 2017 Bentley Continental Supersports 6.0 W12 Bi Turbo and the 2017 Bentley Continental GT 6.0 W12 Turbo. If you're looking for other fast cars which share the Continental's All Wheel Drive, Saloon combination then how about the or the .

Power and Weight:

Weighing in at 2475 kgs (5456 lbs) this makes the Bentley Continental Flying Spur 6.0 W12 in the same weight category as the 2023 Lotus Eletre 603 bhp or the give or take 50kg.

The Bentley Continental shares the same bhp with the 3996 Bentley Continental GT 4.0 V8 Turbo Convertible (542 bhp)

In terms of power the 5998cc 48V W12 engine produces 552 bhp (411 kW) @ 6100 rpm similar to the 3996 Bentley Continental GT 4.0 V8 Turbo Convertible (542 bhp) or the 2023 BMW 3 Series M3 CS 3.0 Twin Turbo G80 (542 bhp).

The Twin Turbo W12 throws out 479 lb-ft (649.4 Nm) @ 1600 rpm placing it with cars of similar torque performance figures such as the 2024 Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray 6.2 V8 Petrol Hybrid C8 (470 lb-ft) or the 2023 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 5.5 V8 C8 (460 lb-ft).

Power to Weight:

If one combines the weight with power or torque performance for the Bentley Continental you can get a better idea of it's real world performance.

The 2017 Audi A4 RS4 Avant 2.9 V6 Turbo (248.0 bhp per ton) has similar Bhp Per Ton stats as the Bentley Continental.

The Bentley Continental has a Power to weight ratio of 223.0 bhp per ton and 193.5 lb-ft per ton. Bhp Per Ton figures of the 2005 Continental competing with the 2017 Audi A4 RS4 Avant 2.9 V6 Turbo (248.0 bhp per ton) or the 2006 Mercedes CLS Class 55 AMG (247.9 bhp per ton).

Power to Weight(cont.):

If you agree with the late great Carroll Shelby then arguably an even better indicator of potential performance, Torque. Use weight as well and you end up with - Torque per ton, with the Bentley Continental generating around 193.5 lb-ft per ton. If you're curious as to what other cars have as much torque to weight then look no further than the 1997 Subaru Impreza WRX - Classic JDM (218.4 lb-ft per ton) or the 1997 Subaru Impreza WRX STI V4 - Classic JDM (218.4 lb-ft per ton).

Acceleration:

With a 0-60mph time of 5.20 secs or a 0-100km/h (0-62mph) of 5.4 secs, this made the Bentley Continental Flying Spur 6.0 W12 as fast as the 2021 Honda Civic Type R 2.0 16V Limited Edition (5.20 secs) the 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E AWD (5.20 secs) the 2018 Tesla Model 3 Mid Range (5.20 secs) the or the 2018 Bentley Bentayga Hybrid 3.0 V6 Turbo (5.20 secs). This Bentley Continental Flying Spur 6.0 W12 is also faster than the 2019 Tesla Model 3 Standard Range Plus (5.30 secs) the 2019 Renault Megane RS 1.8 Turbo 300 Trophy-R (5.30 secs) the 2017 Mercedes G Class 63 AMG (5.30 secs) the and the 2017 Land-Rover Velar 3.0 V6 Supercharged 360 (5.30 secs).

Quarter Mile time is a close race between the Continental and the 1971 Jensen SP Automatic 7.2 V8

When talking about the performance of the Bentley Continental on the drag strip it can reach a quarter mile in an estimated 13.04 secs @ 104.9 mph. Similar performance down the quarter mile can be found with the the 1971 Jensen SP Automatic 7.2 V8 (12.98 secs), the 2001 Mercedes C Class 32 AMG (12.99 secs), and the 2018 Renault Megane RS 1.8 Turbo 300 Trophy (12.99 secs).

Top Speed:

Modern performance cars are often artificially restricted to 155mph. The 2005 version of the Bentley Continental Flying Spur 6.0 W12 has a maximum speed of 194mph.

Top Speed of the 2005 Continental equals the 2022 Ferrari 296 GTS Assetto 3.0 V6 Twin Turbo Hybrid (205 mph)

If maxing out your car on the AutoBahn is your thing and you're wondering what's faster than the 2005 Bentley Continental Flying Spur 6.0 W12 then how about the 2022 Ferrari 296 GTS Assetto 3.0 V6 Twin Turbo Hybrid (205 mph), the 2022 Ferrari 296 GTS 3.0 V6 Twin Turbo Hybrid (205 mph), or the 2021 Ferrari 296 GTB Assetto 3.0 V6 Twin Turbo Hybrid (205 mph).

Related Links:

2005 Continental Rivals List.

A Brief History of Bentley

Car Comparison