What’s new, what’s next, and what’s making noise in the glamorous world of motoring
Track-focused – Koenigsegg’s Sadair’s Spear combines extreme power with full road legality and Scandinavian engineering. Limited to just 30 units worldwide, it features a twin-turbo V8 producing 1,300 hp on standard fuel and up to 1,625 hp on E85, paired with the revolutionary Light Speed Transmission for near-instant gear changes. Weight has been reduced by around 35 kg, further improving the power-to-weight ratio and sharpening on-track responsiveness even further.
Aerodynamic enhancements include a top-mounted double-blade rear wing, elongated rear design, expanded canards, and refined hood vents, delivering exceptional downforce and cooling across high-speed sections. The bespoke suspension, Triplex dampers, upgraded carbon-ceramic brakes, and track-oriented tyres ensure precision handling, stability, and control even at extreme limits.
Inside, the cockpit is minimalist yet driver-focused, with carbon-fibre racing seats, optional 6-point harnesses, and steering-wheel-mounted paddle controls for maximum engagement. Advanced systems such as SmartCluster and Autoskin maintain comfort while keeping weight to a minimum, balancing extreme performance with road usability for drivers seeking uncompromised capability both on circuit and public roads alike.
Koenigsegg
www.koenigsegg.com
Bentley Flying Spur Speed: Velocity, Civilised
Very few road cars are capable of reaching 60 mph in just over three seconds. Those that do are typically low slung, uncompromising machines built for spectacle rather than serenity, all carbon fibre angles and engine noise, designed to be worn rather than inhabited at all.
Bentley takes a different approach… The Flying Spur Speed delivers that level of acceleration from within an environment more reminiscent of a private members’ club than a race paddock. It is a large, stately four door grand tourer that places refinement, craftsmanship and composure at the forefront, yet beneath its tailored exterior lies a lineage shaped not in boardrooms, but on the world’s most demanding race circuit.
The story begins with the “Bentley Boys”, the gentleman racers of the 1920s whose victories at Le Mans, six wins between 1924 and 1930, established the marque as a symbol of endurance and engineering resolve. Bentley returned to the 24 Hours in the early 2000s and, once again, left with victory honours.
The Flying Spur Speed delivers startling pace while remaining composed, comfortable and quietly confident
Speed, for Bentley, is not marketing language; it is heritage.
That heritage now expresses itself in a distinctly modern form. The fourth generation Flying Spur Speed pairs a twin turbocharged 4.0 litre V8 with a high output electric motor, creating a hybrid system that delivers extraordinary performance with the quiet authority expected of the marque. The sprint to 100 km per hour arrives in approximately 3.3 seconds, yet the sensation is less dramatic than it is surreal, closer to the seamless surge of a long haul aircraft at cruising altitude than a traditional sports saloon.
Electric assistance brings another dimension, near silent progress at low speeds and the ability to glide through city centres with an almost imperceptible mechanical presence. Despite its performance credentials, the car is engineered for distance, delivering the sort of touring range that makes continental journeys feel entirely natural.
Inside, the Flying Spur Speed is less cockpit, more drawing room. Veneers are book matched, metal surfaces cool to the touch, and leather is stitched with the precision of bespoke tailoring. The experience is not one of technology dominating craft, but of technology serving it.
The example I drove was equipped with Bentley’s Touring Specification, a suite of driver assistance systems that quietly shoulder much of the workload on long journeys. Adaptive cruise control, lane guidance, night vision and the marque’s Safeguard systems operate with discreet competence. On rural roads, the night vision system proved particularly reassuring, detecting wildlife beyond the reach of the headlamps, a reminder that true luxury often lies in reduced stress rather than increased speed.
And that, perhaps, defines the Flying Spur Speed. It is not a car that shouts about its capability. Instead, it delivers remarkable performance, continental range and limousine comfort in a manner so composed that the numbers almost feel incidental.
In a world increasingly fascinated with extremes, Bentley’s flagship saloon presents a rarer proposition: velocity, civilised.
Words by Stuart Shield
CEO, International Property Media
With special thanks to:
George Galanopolous, CEO Luxaviation UK
e. quotes.uk@luxaviation.com
