Bentley now does undoubtedly the finest interiors of any car maker. Its concept of British luxury is spot-on: the finest materials, sourced from sustainable global providers, handcrafted with a mixture of cutting-edge technology and traditional artistry. The provenance of everything is transparent, the styling carefully surfs the line between subtle and statement, and the blend of colours – even their names – is unique and memorable. One test car was Cricket Ball Red – actually a very dark metallic red with a deep lustre – with Camel and Beluga (buttercream and dark grey/blue) coloured hides inside.
The very finest thing in our Flying Spur, however, the likes of which we’ve never seen before, was the 3D diamond pattern on the leather covering the doors. Stretching from the edge of the rear door to the B-pillar, where it faded out to a flat surface, the pattern has no stitching – the leather is moulded and stiffened then applied to the door. The result is a very contemporary feel and yet another design innovation that sets Bentley apart. The company says it is now perfecting the same design on its wood surfaces.
There is naturally acres of leg room in the rear, which can seat five, but most will be wanting to pull the centre arm rest down, which reveals an optional fridge and cup holders. In front of the centre squab is a cradle holding a remote-control tablet for rear-seat occupants. It is pleasantly heavy and pops up from its holder when you touch the eject arrow graphic on the screen. You can then control all infotainment functions of the car, including those on the rear screens if you’ve ticked the option box for rear entertainment.
You’ll also want Bentley’s rotating screen display for the front: shaped like a Toblerone, it flicks between digital touchscreen, three analogue dials or a total information detox with just a continuation of the fascia.
We also had ambient mood lighting, 22-inch polished wheels, leather headliner, embroidered Bentley emblems, adaptive cruise control, head-up display, night vision and lane assist, all of which is extra.