The arrival of the 2020 Bentley Flying Spur is going to make a lot of bank accounts bleed, but just before the luxury sedan hits the market in full swing, Bentley’s rolling out the Flying Spur First Edition, a special edition model based on, well, the 2020 Flying Spur. The first example of the Flying Spur First Edition will not go on sale. Instead, it will be auctioned off at the Elton John AIDS Foundation’s inaugural ball, called the “Midsummer Party,” on July 24 at Jean Pogizzi’s Villa Dorane in Cap d’Antibes, a resort town between Cannes and Nice on the French Riviera. All proceeds from the auction will go to the EJAF. As for the rest of the Flying Spur First Editions, Bentley will only sell it in the first-year production of the Flying Spur. Best be quick if you want to get your hands on one.

2020 Bentley Flying Spur First Edition

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: 2020 Bentley Flying Spur First Edition
  • [do not use] Vehicle Model: Array

What Makes the 2020 Bentley Flying Spur First Edition Special?

Bentley unveiled the 2020 Flying Spur only last month so it makes sense that the special edition Flying Spur First Edition would arrive soon thereafter. In typical Bentley fashion, the new 2020 Flying Spur First Edition benefits from a handful of exclusive touches; all meant to showcase its position as a brand-new source of envy from those who can’t afford to buy one. Bentley’s not wrong, either. The 2020 Flying Spur First Edition is a legitimate special edition model with legitimate exclusive offerings. They’re mostly cosmetic, but, really’s, who’s keeping score?

Bentley Flying Spur First Edition Exterior Design

Let’s start in the exterior where the Flying Spur First Edition comes with a few identifying marks that separate it from all other 2020 Flying Spur models. In the front, the all-new flying B hood ornament -- it's a new design! -- features illuminated wings that can disappear into a secret compartment when the car is locked and reappear when the engine’s turned on. “ If this sounds familiar to you, it’s because Bentley used a similar badge on the Continental GT First Edition that the automaker released last year. The exclusive sedan sits on a set of 22-inch ally wheels that come courtesy of Bentley’s in-house personalization division. Mulliner’s involvement should spice up the proceedings, particularly in the interior where there are more avenues for Mulliner to showcase its customization prowess. Granted, Bentley made no mention of the extent of Mulliner’s influence in the Flying Spur First Edition, but if you’ve encountered a special edition Bentley before, you know that Mulliner isn’t too far away from the party.

2020 Bentley Flying Spur First Edition Interior Design

Now, let’s move inside. The Union Jack makes another proud appearance in the interior of the Flying Spur First Edition along with fancy lighting that can be configured to match your current mood. It certainly helps that the new Flying Spur already comes with a tricked out interior that includes exclusive and optional 3D wood veneer at the back complements the 3D effect leather that comes as standard in the rear as part of the Mulliner pack and a Naim for Bentley 2,200-watt audio system that comes loaded with 19-speakers and Active Bass Transducers.

The big treat, though, is the Bentley Rotating Display, which you can use to switch between a modern touchscreen display or a set of three classic analog dials. Either way, your display is going to look especially snazzy. A panoramic sunroof is also part of the package, and if you’re worried about safety features, the Flying Spur First Edition is available with lane assist, night vision, a head-up display, and adaptive cruise control with traffic jam assist. All these features come by way of the Flying Spur Touring specification.

2020 Bentley Flying Spur First Edition Powertrain and Performance

There are no engine upgrades available to the Bentley Flying Spur First Edition. Instead, you’re getting the same 6.0-liter twin-turbocharged W-12 engine that makes 626 horsepower and 605 pound-feet of torque. Disappointed about the lack of power upgrades? Don’t be. That matters in the grand scheme of things, particularly when it comes to performance times. The 2020 Flying Spur, for instance, can sprint from 0 to 60 mph in just 3.7 seconds. That’s an improvement of 0.6 seconds from the 2019 Flying Spur and 0.5 seconds from the 2019 Flying Spur S! It seems like all that extra torque can be put to good use, don’t you think? That’s not all. The 2020 Flying Spur can also hit a top speed of 207 mph. That’s an improvement of seven mph from the 2019 Flying Spur (200 mph) and five mph from the 2019 Flying Spur S (202 mph). Power from the Flying Spur’s 6.0-liter twin-turbo W-12 engine travels through an eight-speed ZF automatic transmission, which, in turn, redirects that power to the Flying Spur’s four wheels. All that power requires brakes that are up to the task, too. Fortunately, the Flying Spur comes with the biggest brakes ever fitted to a passenger car - 16.5-inch discs with gloss black calipers -- alongside the ones you'll find on the Continental GT.



Final Thoughts

The all-new Bentley Flying Spur First Edition is a special edition model done right. You might be disappointed if you’re looking for significant changes in the vein of most special edition Bentleys, but let’s be real, the fact that the 2020 Flying Spur is an all-new model is a significant enough change in its own right. You’re already getting more than what you bargained for, so all the exclusive touches that do come with the Flying Spur First Edition are cherries on top of a rather extensive sundae.

Bentley hasn’t announced how much the special edition Flying Spur will cost, but seeing as the “standard” model still has no price itself, it’s hard to pinpoint a specific price tag without Bentley’s help. That said, the all-new 2020 Bentley Flying Spur should sell for at least $250,000, which would put the price of the Flying Spur First Edition a bit above that, probably in the $270,000 range. The first-production Flying Spur First Edition, however, should command a much higher price tag, in part because it won’t be for sale through traditional means.

The only way you can secure that specific model is if you outbid a lot of people. The first-production 2020 Bentley Flying Spur First Edition will be auctioned off at Elton John’s “Midsummer Party” on July 24 at Jean Pogizzi’s Villa Dorane in Cap d’Antibes, France. All the proceeds from that auction will go directly to the Elton John AIDS Foundation.

Further reading

Read our full review on the 2020 Bentley Flying Spur

Read our full review on the 2020 Bentley Flying Spur Hybrid

Read our full review on the 2017 Bentley Flying Spur V8 S.

Read our full review on the 2017 Bentley Flying Spur W12 S.