Bentley is introducing a new Styling Specification for the Flying Spur, allowing customers to emphasise the sporting credentials of the world's fastest production sedan and give the car an even more sporting aesthetic to match its unrivalled performance.
Crafted by hand in high gloss carbon fibre to exact tolerances following an extensive development programme, the Styling Specification includes a carbon fibre front bumper splitter, side skirts with metallic Bentley badges, rear diffuser and boot lid spoiler.
The carbon fibre weave is a 2x2 twill pattern, woven in the same direction for all components to ensure consistency, and is laid-up in multiple layers, each oriented for optimum strength and durability whilst maintaining minimal weight.
The side skirts also include an exquisite detail with the inclusion of a three-dimensional electroformed Bentley badge.
The profile of the badge was developed specially for the Styling Specification, to minimise the risk of air bubbles forming in the lacquer overcoat while still providing the eye-catching faceted appearance.
The first designs were assessed and refined using computational fluid dynamics software for aerodynamic performance including front and rear lift and overall drag.
Simulations were also made of the effect on powertrain cooling, brake cooling and noise, vibration and harshness.
Electrical testing was also conducted to minimise any affect that the carbon fibre parts may have on vehicle systems from the Park Distance Control to the radar systems and antennae for on-board communications and entertainment.
Only once these virtual assessments are complete are the first physical prototypes manufactured, before being refined in the wind tunnel and on the test track. The Styling Specification components have also been assessed across all driving conditions up to and including the vehicle's top speed, as well as for stability, feel and performance under both acceleration and braking to ensure that the Bentley driving dynamic has been maintained.
