Simply Abu Dhabi XXXVI

functions, mood lighting and even the retractable Flying B mascot on the bonnet. Yep you read that correctly. Bentley not only has a mascot that lowers into the grille when parked like Rolls-Royce, but it can be lowered at any time, including via the rear seat remote control. For extra giggles, the mascot also lights up at night. The rear seats envelope you like your favourite old couch but use far more sophisticated fluted leather seats with diamond quilting that is replicated in the doors, leaving you reclined and looking to the stars through the full-length panoramic glass roof. The interior includes a WiFi hotspot and a 16-speaker Bang & Olufsen surround system as standard with the option of a beefier 2,200WNaim unit, while our car also featured a fridge between the rear seat squabs. Peering through to the front, the driver’s area is similar to the recently revealed Continental Coupe it’s based on, offering a new rotating, tri-face centre console that flips to reveal either a 12.3-inch HD infotainment screen, a trio of analogue gauges or simply the continuation of its wood veneer dash. Elegant, modern and tasteful at the same time. The interior is clever in that it shows off a new design language with the three staples of timber, polished metals and leather but in a modern way with a two-tone look for the veneer. It’s capped by an abundance of diamond knurled highlights on most of the touch points such as the door handles, switch gear and air vents. Externally, the Flying Spur’s styling has been heavily revised with only a few hints to the previous model. Most notable is the 200mm wider grille with vertical bars that distances it visually from the Continental Coupe it’s based on and links it to the other saloon in Bentley’s range, the Mulsanne. The knurled effect can be seen on the outside courtesy of cut crystal-look LED matrix head lights and new wraparound taillights incorporating the B motif while giant 21-inch and optional 22-inch alloy wheels complete the outside look.