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The third-generation Bentley Flying Spur W12 presents an appealing engineering puzzle: a substantial luxury sedan designed to feel manageable in town and composed on a long highway drive. Electronic all-wheel steering is central to that brief, but it is easily confused with all-wheel drive. For US buyers reviewing pre-owned examples, separating those systems makes both the specification sheet and the road test more informative.
Steering and drive describe different jobs
Bentley’s third-generation Flying Spur technical overview identifies electronic all-wheel steering as standard on the W12 and optional on the V8 in the range it describes. At low speeds, the rear wheels turn in the opposite direction to the front wheels to improve maneuverability. Active all-wheel drive, meanwhile, controls how engine torque reaches the axles.
The two features solve different problems. Rear-wheel steering changes the way the car traces a turn; driven wheels transmit propulsion. An advertisement that says “all-wheel drive” therefore has not answered a question about rear-wheel steering. This distinction becomes particularly useful when cross-shopping a W12 with another engine variant or an older Flying Spur.
The behavior changes with speed
Bentley’s model-year 2024 range brochure describes rear-wheel angles of up to 4.1 degrees opposite the fronts at low speeds, and up to 1.5 degrees in the same direction at higher speeds. It also explains the use of three-chamber air springs and continuous damping control. The steering and suspension systems address different aspects of the same journey.
The low-speed effect can be relevant in parking structures and hotel arrival areas. At higher speeds, small same-direction rear steering inputs support stability. Neither description makes the body smaller, so an improved turning path should not be confused with extra clearance beside a pillar or through a narrow entrance. Check the whole vehicle’s surroundings while maneuvering.
Confirm the complete W12 package
The factory Flying Spur customer book lists an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission, Bentley Dynamic Ride, active all-wheel drive and electronic all-wheel steering for the W12. It is a period European brochure, so have a retailer verify the corresponding equipment on a specific US car using its original build information.
Keep the generation, powertrain and derivative together in your comparison notes. A W12 badge by itself does not identify every chassis feature across the model’s history. Likewise, a current Flying Spur webpage may describe a later powertrain rather than the gasoline W12 example under consideration.
Design a test drive around real use
Begin with a normal parking maneuver in a suitably open area. Notice how much steering input is needed and whether the car’s responses feel consistent. Then include urban pavement and a highway segment at legal speeds, using the same drive mode for the initial comparison. Avoid attributing every sensation to rear steering; tires, alignment and suspension condition also influence what you feel.
Ask a Bentley specialist to inspect those components, review diagnostic records and explain any steering or suspension repairs. If the car has aftermarket wheels or altered ride height, request the original specifications and assess the changes carefully. Finally, sit in the rear during part of the route. A Flying Spur should be evaluated for the driver’s confidence and the passenger’s comfort, because the engineering is intended to serve both.
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