Currently reading: 2021 Bentley Flying Spur brings new features, improved refinement

Crewe claims to have used digital prototypes to "eliminate" noise and vibration from its luxury saloon

Bentley claims to have "eliminated" noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) as part of a subtle round of updates to its new Flying Spur saloon

After a year on sale, the Mercedes-Benz S-Class rival has gained a raft of new standard equipment alongside the refinement-boosting tweaks, as well as an enhanced array of personalisation options.

Bentley used 'virtual prototyping' processes to carry out acoustic tests on all parts of the car, identifying areas that produced "unwanted cabin noise". Following the tests, some 40 different components of the car were lightened to make way for additional soundproofing.

By using virtual prototypes prior to carrying out the modifications, Bentley was able to minimise its testing mileage and reduce the number of physical prototype cars in operation.

Elsewhere, the Flying Spur is now equipped with the City Specification package as standard, which brings traffic-sign recognition, hands-free boot opening, a top-down parking camera, welcoming lighting and automatically dimming mirrors. 

A new cabin ioniser emits negatively charged particles through the air-conditioning vents, which create a static charge around airborne particles, causing them to stick to the nearest surface rather than float around the interior. "The result", Bentley said, "is to remove such contaminants from the air that the occupants breathe, thus improving the feeling of wellness."

A new exterior paint colour, Cambrian Grey, is available for 2021, as are a range of 'open-pore' wood veneers for the interior. 

The Flying Spur remains available with a choice of V8 or W12 petrol engines and is priced from £156,130. 

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Felix Page

Felix Page
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Felix is Autocar's deputy editor, responsible for leading the brand's agenda-shaping coverage across all facets of the global automotive industry - both in print and online.

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MarkII 11 May 2021
@Peter Cavellini: Although you may see it as 'useless technology', I imagine anyone that suffers from Asthma or allergies, or simply wants to breathe cleaner air, would be interested in an Ioniser.

An increasing number of car manufacturers now offer the option, so it's not just Bentley.

In relation to exterior noise: The article specifically talks about Bentley's efforts to eliminate NVH (Noise, Vibration and Harshness), which relate to how the operation of a vehicle can create NVH and how engineering to reduce those by-products of vehicle operation, can increase driver & passenger comfort and reduce stressors (especially important in a luxury GT car) - it doesn't mean that the improvements have prevented external noise from entering the vehicle.

Peter Cavellini 10 May 2021

Well,that's about the most useless technology ever, who bothers about or notices dust, or contaminants as Bentley call them, and as for eliminating all exterior sound inside the car, don't we need that so we notice or become aware off whatever?, sounds like a reason to charge more,yes, I know, if you can afford it, your not bothered about paying a bit more.