New Car: 2012 Bentley Flying Spur Series 51

No, the 2012 Bentley Continental Flying Spur may not be an all-new design like its two-door sibling, but the luxury sedan does receive a few new touches for the new model year -- including a Series 51 variant.

Previously available only on the Continental GT and GTC, Bentley's Series 51 treatment -- named after the year the Bentley Styling department was established -- adds a few unique styling and interior touches to the already luxurious Flying Spur. Customers can still choose the precise paint hue used on the car, although they'll now be able to pick from a number of unique two-tone paint schemes, which are reserved for Series 51 models. Other unique touches include bespoke nine-spoke, 19-inch wheels with a graphite finish, along with Series 51 badging applied to both front fenders.

Per Bentley tradition, buyers can completely personalize the colors and materials used within the Flying Spur's cabin, but the Series 51 designation adds a few additional options. Designers have created 14 different tri-tone interior color schemes, which incorporate a dark main color, a lighter insert color, and a third accent hue used for stitching and seat piping. Customers can order a special Sapelli Pomelle veneer wood trim, which is another Series 51 exclusive.

Bentley offers the Series 51 package on both the standard Flying Spur and the powerful Flying Spur Speed, but all cars -- even those ordered without the 51 package -- receive a few additional revisions for 2012. Buyers can now opt for blue-painted brake calipers, along with front fender vents with either black or chrome mesh inserts. Inside, all cars receive an upgraded infotainment/navigation system, which incorporates a 30-gigabyte hard drive. Bentley says the new system is Google Maps compatible in most markets, and can pinpoint a precise destination based upon geo-tagged photos saved on an SD memory card.

All 2012 Flying Spurs -- including the Series 51 range -- are scheduled to go in sale in March 2011, but we wouldn't be surprised if an all-new sedan is around the corner. The addition of the Series 51 model to the Continental GT did presage an all-new car, and reports have suggested the next-gen Flying Spur may indeed launch in late 2012.

Thanks to: Motor Trend