Generally found in Arctic waters, the Beluga whale has inexplicably inspired more than a few companies in the transportation industry. Airbus builds a huge freighter called A300-600ST Beluga, and Bentley has just added a new trim level called Beluga Specification to the Flying Spur V8 lineup.
While the resemblance between the A300-600ST and the mammal it’s named after is immediately obvious, the connection to Bentley’s newest trim level is a bit more puzzling. The Beluga Specification stands out from the standard Flying Spur thanks to exclusive black and machined 20-inch six-spoke alloy wheels, a body-colored lower grille bar and a black grille. The modifications give the sedan a noticeably sportier look.
Bentley has chosen not to publish pictures of the Beluga’s inner trappings but the company promises that the sedan gains acres of piano black trim on the dashboard, the door panels, and the center console, knurled shift paddles behind the steering wheel, deep pile floor mats with contrast leather binding, and contrast stitching on the seats. Buyers who need to get work done on the go will be delighted to hear that the Flying Spur ships with onboard wi-fi.
Bentley has not made any modifications under the hood, meaning the Flying Spur Beluga packs a stock twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 engine that’s tuned to deliver 500 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 487 foot-pounds of torque at just 1,700 rpm. Bolted to an eight-speed automatic transmission that spins all four wheels, the eight-cylinder mill sends the 5,329-pound behemoth from zero to 60 mph in an impressive 4.9 seconds and on to a top speed of 183 mph.
The Bentley Flying Spur V8 Beluga Specification is on sale now all around the globe, and the first deliveries are scheduled to take place next fall. How much of a premium the Beluga carries over the regular Flying Spur has not been revealed.
