The first generation Bentley Continental Flying Spur was unveiled in 2005 as a four-door sedan variant of the Continental GT grand tourer. Built on the Volkswagen Group D1 platform, the model featured permanent all-wheel drive and adaptive air suspension across all four wheels. It was powered by a 6.0-liter twin-turbocharged W12 engine producing 560 horsepower, mated to a smooth six-speed ZF automatic transmission. In 2008, Bentley introduced the high-performance Speed variant, featuring a tuned 610-horsepower W12 engine, revised suspension setup, lower ride height, and sharper steering response. The vehicle combined handcrafted luxury interior appointments with effortless high-speed capability. Throughout its lifecycle, the Continental Flying Spur was distributed globally across North America, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, proving to be one of the most commercially successful sedans in the modern history of the Crewe-based marque.