With the passing of the seventh-generation of Rolls Royce Phantom, there are many performance saloons that are champing to take its luxury crown
Bentley Flying Spur (W12)
Once tied in a relationship with Rolls Royce, Bentley was
set free from its UK-based sister when BMW and Volkswagen bought the
two companies in 2003. It was at this point that Bentley seemed to gain a
kick of performance to its production line, initially with the
Continental GT.
Beforehand, huge 6.75-litre V8s were wasted as tools for cruising instead of setting lap times, but things have very much changed since the likes of the Azure and Turbo R.
Alpina BMWs are the definition of factory sleepers, especially considering the stats the latest creation is sporting. The 2017 B7 Biturbo has been tested to 205mph, despite its initial forecasting of just 193mph. It manages to achieve this using the BMW 7-series as a base, along with a revised version of the N63 90-degree 4.4-litre V8.
Beforehand, huge 6.75-litre V8s were wasted as tools for cruising instead of setting lap times, but things have very much changed since the likes of the Azure and Turbo R.
Using the Volkswagen D1 chassis (shared with the Audi
A8), Bentley produced the 200mph Flying Spur - a four-door alternative
to the Continental GT. Bentley will give you a 6.0-litre twin-turbo W12
for your troubles that’ll be good for 616bhp, although for £10,000 less
you could settle for the 4.0-litre 500bhp V8.
The Flying Spur uses an eight-speed ZF gearbox to haul 2.5 tonnes along the highway and comes in at a whopping £170,000. But considering that most Flying Spur buyers will have someone to open the door for them at all times, that six-figure sum shouldn’t be an issue.
BMW Alpina B7 BiturboThe Flying Spur uses an eight-speed ZF gearbox to haul 2.5 tonnes along the highway and comes in at a whopping £170,000. But considering that most Flying Spur buyers will have someone to open the door for them at all times, that six-figure sum shouldn’t be an issue.
Alpina BMWs are the definition of factory sleepers, especially considering the stats the latest creation is sporting. The 2017 B7 Biturbo has been tested to 205mph, despite its initial forecasting of just 193mph. It manages to achieve this using the BMW 7-series as a base, along with a revised version of the N63 90-degree 4.4-litre V8.
By upgrading the two turbochargers, intercooler, pistons
and exhaust system, the power output comes in at a McLaren-frightening
599bhp which is channeled (again) through an eight-speed ZF
transmission.
The BMW M760li has come along and trumped the B7 in terms of cylinders with a 6.6-litre twin-turbo V12, but in outright performance terms, the independent company still has the last laugh.
Complete list (CarThrottle.com)
The BMW M760li has come along and trumped the B7 in terms of cylinders with a 6.6-litre twin-turbo V12, but in outright performance terms, the independent company still has the last laugh.
Complete list (CarThrottle.com)
