Bentley has commenced winter testing of the all-new Flying Spur in Sweden with styling similar to the latest-generation Continental GT. Although the prototype in question has been bathed in camouflage and body cladding, its close link to the Continental GT gives us a good idea of what to expect from a styling perspective. As such, the front end will be much more attractive and adopt a sportier look. If the outgoing Flying Spur was a budding female model in New York, the new car will be supermodel Karlie Kloss. Beyond its improved looks, significant changes will be present under the skin of the Flying Spur. Most significantly, the four-door will share its underpinnings with the Porsche Panamera, opening up the possibility of electrification and the adoption of autonomous driving systems. Similarities to the Panamera probably won鈥檛 stop at the sedan鈥檚 platform. A fleet of engines from the Panamera family are expected, including plug-in hybrid and diesel variants. Range-topping models should retain Bentley鈥檚 familiar 6.0-liter twin-turbo W12, perhaps with small horsepower and torque outputs. Handling should also be greatly improved over the current car thanks to Porsche鈥檚 input. All in all, the new Flying Spur should be a more well-rounded car. A launch towards the end of this year or in early 2019 seems probable.
Firming things up in the second of the dampers鈥?two stages makes the chassis pogo more over ribbed roads and thump over potholes. It鈥檚 not impossible to live with and brings benefits for handling, with even sharper responses and body control, but the standard setting is best. On test the Alfa returned more than respectable performance. It was fastest over all our in-gear assessments. However, the box is jerkier going through the gears at full throttle. Changes are snappy, but there鈥檚 a pause as the ratios are swapped, especially if you take manual control using the 拢275 shift paddles. This refinement issue is joined by a grumbly engine as well; it鈥檚 not as quiet as the Mercedes鈥?motor. In automatic mode the transmission is fine. It鈥檚 not quite as intelligent or early to predict what you want as the C-Class鈥檚 nine-speed unit, but it鈥檚 not as lazy as the Jaguar鈥檚 eight-speed gearbox, either.
Testers' notes: 鈥淕iulia offers genuinely impressive agility; this is the best element of the car鈥檚 handling. The ride is composed as well. The world had waited a long time for a baby Jag, and when the brand launched the XE in 2015, it shot straight to the top of the class. There have been updates, but have they been enough to keep it there? To find out, we test the 拢34,065 20d SE auto, although our pictures show a higher-spec 25d Portfolio. If the Mercedes is the more relaxed cruiser and the Alfa Romeo the sportier, more agile saloon, then the Jaguar splits its rivals鈥?traits, offering a good level of dynamism with decent comfort. The steering is fairly weighty, but has plenty of precision. The speed is good and matches the rate of response from the chassis, while there鈥檚 a decent level of grip. It rolls a little in corners, but the set-up鈥檚 compliant side means that away from our test track and on the road, the XE鈥檚 ride makes long journeys and rougher country roads easy to pick apart.
At the track the Jaguar couldn鈥檛 match its rivals鈥?performance. An 8.2-second 0-60mph time was a second down on the Alfa and 1.7 behind the C-Class. This is partly due to the gearbox, which doesn鈥檛 allow full revs in first gear off the line, shifting up earlier; it鈥檚 also more lethargic to change. Still, the deficit was reduced in gear, and although the XE still couldn鈥檛 match the Giulia鈥檚 pace, it edged out the Mercedes. The Jag pulls strongly enough, but it doesn鈥檛 feel quite as urgent as its rivals here. It鈥檚 also not as refined as the C-Class with its new engine. The Ingenium unit drones at full throttle, and even under lighter acceleration. Testers' notes: 鈥淭he steering is the XE鈥檚 strongest point. It鈥檚 a lovely weight and is the key to the car鈥檚 feel. The chassis set-up gives a good balance between compliance and agility. Mercedes has addressed the major flaws with the C-Class.
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