Motoring: Bentley Flying Spur; new electric vehicles; and protecting our vehicles
THE appearance of a flagship Bentley is always an occasion to relish and after its recent dalliance in the off-road sector, the company has got back to what it does best – luxury super-saloons.
The Crewe company says that the new Flying Spur W12 S is the perfect blend of ‘luxury, style and power’.
The new model is the first four-door Bentley to have a top speed in excess of 200 mph, and is said to offer drivers a more sporting experience, for those looking for increased power, torque and responsiveness.
The Flying Spur W12 S features a number of dark styling cues which hint at its new and improved dynamic capabilities. A suite of blackware detailing – including Beluga gloss radiator grille and light surrounds – a rear diffuser and optional carbon fibre veneer are intended to give the new model a dramatic appearance to match its enhanced performance.
Wolfgang Dürheimer, chairman and chief executive of Bentley Motors, said: “The Flying Spur W12 S is the ultimate luxury performance sedan. It combines sharper dynamics and an increase in power from our renowned W12 engine with a more assertive exterior and interior design for customers looking for a Flying Spur with extra attitude.”
The Flying Spur W12 S features enhanced power and torque outputs from the mighty 6.0-litre, twin-turbo W12 engine. Through precise calibration and tuning, engine power is increased from 625 PS to 635 PS (626 bhp) and torque from 800 Nm to 820 Nm (605 lb. ft.) for a more dynamic drive. Full torque is available from just 2,000 rpm, making for a totally effortless driving experience.
This increase in power means that the Flying Spur W12 S achieves a top speed of 202 mph – making it the first four-door Bentley to exceed the 200 mph barrier. The initial sprint from 0-60 mph takes 4.2 seconds.
In modern Bentley tradition, power is delivered to the road via an all-wheel-drive system with a 40:60 rear-biased torque split for a sure-footed drive in all road and weather conditions.
Complementing these power upgrades, a new responsive suspension tune improves handling and provides even more traction, while optional carbon ceramic brakes are available with red or black painted calipers.
“The new flagship Flying Spur has specific damper and stability control calibrations for a more involving, agile drive. Yet, due to its clever suspension set-up, which retains the refined ride for which the Flying Spur W12 is renowned, the S derivative remains a luxury sedan for those who wish to be chauffeured, as well as those who choose to drive,” says the German-owned firm.
The Flying Spur also comes complete with a suite of onboard technology, enlivening the office-on-wheels approach favoured by many Bentley owners.
For those preferring just to sit back and enjoy the drive, the car features an innovative Touch Screen Remote, deployed from the veneered rear centre console at the touch of a button, which allows control of the car’s climate and infotainment systems from the comfort of the rear seat. The Flying Spur also features a WiFi hotspot for connectivity on demand while travelling.
Customer deliveries of the new Flying Spur W12 S will start at the end of the year. Prices have yet to be announced.
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ELECTRIC vehicles have come a long way over the last couple of years. Once seen as small, inferior and not very powerful, electric cars are now common sights on roads all over the world.
Thanks to investments in longevity of batteries, and the willingness of car manufacturers to embrace new ideas, electric cars are now seen as one of the most important parts of the world’s green initiative. And with this, come some exciting and intriguing electric car releases.
Nissan is one of those in the vanguard and it is now set to take on the electric market by force, releasing an entire range of electric-powered SUVs.
This approach has been welcomed by salary sacrifice firm, Fleet Evolution.
Andrew Leech, director of Fleet Evolution, said: “Nissan has a long-standing history of producing great-quality cars, however recently they have really stepped up their game with their SUVs.
“The Juke and Qashqai are two of the most popular vehicles on the market, and if the rumours are true and they are set to bring out all-electric versions, this would be great for the market and almost certainly encourage people to make the switch.”
The technological leaps made by the industry mean it is now easier than ever to harness battery power in order to keep larger vehicles, such as SUVs, going for long periods of time.
Making electric vehicles a feasible option for larger families and those living in the countryside who need a 4×4 or crossover in order to get around comfortably, Nissan’s announcement could signal the start of mainstream SUVs making the jump to electric, and potentially challenge the only all-electric crossover on the market, the Tesla Model X.
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AT heart we’re a trusting race and new research would appear to confirm that.
According to the results of a YouGov consumer survey published by the automotive industry, government, police and insurance bodies at least two in five car owners don’t appear to think twice about leaving their car keys with a stranger, despite the potential security risk.
Car theft has fallen significantly since the mid 1990’s when, at its peak, up to 620,000 cars were stolen each year.
Today that figure is below 80,000.1 However, responding to police figures showing reported incidents rose by 8% in the year to March 2016, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), Home Office, Metropolitan Police Service and Thatcham Research, the motor insurers’ automotive research centre, have joined forces to understand the nature of modern day car theft and develop solutions to tackle it.
To support the results of the survey the partners have published a 10-point plan to help owners secure their vehicles. (See below)
The survey found that in the past 12 months, 43% of British drivers have left their car keys with someone they don’t know, with 71% of them not checking whether the company or individual was a member of an accredited code of practice or other professional standard. In comparison, just 11% said they have trusted their house keys to a stranger.
Meanwhile, just 11% of people said the first thing they look for in a car park is CCTV, gated entry or manned barriers. At home, respondents admitted to leaving their car keys in clear view or close to the front door on a hallway hook or sideboard, leaving them at risk of opportunistic thieves.
Cars are more secure than ever before, with manufacturers continually working on new security features. Investment in new technology means that all new cars sold in the UK now have an immobiliser and many are fitted with an alarm and double locking as standard.
But car owners can still play an important part in protecting their vehicles by taking simple preventative measures, including parking in well-lit and secure parking spaces, double checking their car is locked before walking away, and checking the credentials of any company with which they leave their keys.
Sarah Newton, Minister for Safeguarding, Vulnerability and Countering Extremism, said: “With thefts significantly lower than they were 20 years ago and manufacturers using the latest technology to make our cars safer than ever, the public would be forgiven for putting vehicle crime to the back of their minds. But the recent rise in the number of reported crimes is a reminder that determined thieves are still out there and we should remain vigilant.
“It is important that we all understand this increase, the changing nature of vehicle crime and the steps that can be taken to prevent further increases in these crimes. For many of us, leaving our car keys with a stranger is hard to avoid, but it is always worth checking whether they are a member of an accredited code of practice or other professional body.”
Mike Hawes, Chief Executive, SMMT, said “Manufacturers invest billions of pounds every year to stay one step ahead of the criminals, and the latest models include sophisticated immobilisers, smartphone-controlled tracking devices and random key codes to prevent cloning.
“Technology can only do so much, however, and while car makers, the police and government continue to work together to ensure that stealing cars is as difficult as possible, these latest figures show there’s more consumers can do to minimise risk.”
In positive news, 93% of consumers responding to the survey said they always check their car is locked before walking away, whether by listening for the locking noise, watching for the lights to flash, waiting for the wing mirrors to fold in or simply pulling the door handle.
10 EASY WAYS TO SAFEGUARD YOUR CAR
1. Think about who you leave your vehicle keys with. Treat them as you do your house keys – do you know the person you are leaving your keys with? Do you trust them?
2. Check who you are leaving your vehicle keys with. Where possible, check that a company you entrust your keys to is a member of an accredited code of practice or other professional standard such as Motor Codes (motorcodes.co.uk); the British Parking Association’s Park Mark scheme (parkmark.co.uk); or the Car Wash Advisory Service’s WashMark initiative (carwashadvisoryservice.co.uk).
3. Think about where you park your vehicle – is it in a safe place? Well-lit and well-populated areas or car parks with security features such as CCTV, manned barriers or gated entry will give you greater peace of mind.
4. Check that your vehicle is locked before leaving it. Listen for the locking noise, watch for the lights to flash or mirrors to fold, or simply pull the door handle.
5. Think about where you leave your spare key. Don’t leave it in your vehicle, and be mindful of how many spares you have and where they are kept.
6. Check that you haven’t left valuables on display in your vehicle. We all know that this can attract opportunist thieves.
7. Check that the vehicle’s windows are closed, even if you are only leaving it for a few minutes. Open windows make it all the easier for thieves to gain access.
8. Think about where you keep your keys at home. Keep them well away from the door or windows and out of sight.
9. Check that your alarm or immobiliser is enabled when you leave your car. A simple check could save considerable expense and inconvenience later.
10. Check whether your vehicle has an alarm or immobiliser. If it doesn’t, think about buying an aftermarket alarm, steering wheel lock or other locking device. These are proven to deter thieves.
