A few weeks ago we pitted two of our halo supercars against one another, our new McLaren MP4-12C against our veteran, the Ferrari 458 Italia.  This week let’s change up the pace from tire-shredding, screaming take-offs to more polite, luxurious cruising.  With that being said, let’s take a look at our veteran Bentley Continental Flying Spur and our exciting new Rolls-Royce Ghost.  Though these cars are both firmly set in the “entry-opulent” luxury sedan category, both have very different personalities.  Yes, there was a point in time when Rollers and Bentleys were often times synonymous, but this is not at all true anymore, which is why we love having both luxury sedan rentals in our collection.

First Brit up is our Bentley Continental Flying Spur rental.  This beauty has been our staple ultra luxury sedan for some time now and we just can’t get enough.  I mean, can you ever get tired of a twin-turbo W12 motor good for 190 mph?  Yes, you heard right.  There’s no room for silly speed governors in the Flying Spur and this luxury barge has no problem nearing 200 mph in calm and collected sporting style.  Let’s get back into the specifics.  The Twin-Turbo W12 churns up over 550 hp and over 550 ft.lb. of torque (at only about 1,600 rpm) and is mated to a 6-speed automatic and a sticky AWD system.  In fact, our Bentley Continental Flying Spur rental brings in a 0.86 skidpad rating which is phenomenal for a car that tips the scales at over 5,600 pounds.  While both the Flying Spur & the Ghost provide that beautiful, torque-tastic (yes, torque-tastic) thrust, the Bentley does it with a bit more bite.  And as we’ll see with the serene Roller, that extra bite does not mean much more intrusive.  Under full-throttle acceleration, the Bentley emits a guttural hum unique from that of any other 12-cylinder on the road.

Aesthetically, the Bentley is a strong, stately looking luxury sedan.  Exterior cues are uniquely Bentley and have done a good job in putting a sleek, modern twist on the once boxier design cues of Bentleys past.  Inside, the Flying Spur is appropriately adorned in swaths of sexy black leather and mirrored wood veneers.  Gauges and ergonomics are bit more “techy” than the Rolls-Royce Ghost and the new Bentley’s German undertones are evident here.

The next of our luxury barges is one of our newest additions, our Rolls-Royce Ghost rental.  Similarly weighty and immensely powerful, the Rolls packs 563 hp and 573 ft.lb. of torque from its Twin-Trbo V12, which is mated to an 8-speed auto.  All of this power is good for moving this 5,500 pound barge to 60 in 4.7 seconds, just a few fractions of a second slower than the Bentley.  It is how the Rolls-Royce gets to 60 that is unique, even to a venerable luxury competitor like the Flying Spur.  The serenity in the Ghost is astonishing, moving its occupants in near silence and providing the driver a wafting sensation that makes it nearly feel as if you’re driving a car with an electric motor (it’s that smooth).  It’s softer demeanor and RWD (as opposed to the Bentley’s AWD) means a less agile car, but fittingly so.

Design on our Rolls-Royce Ghost rental is stunning and truly one-of-a-kind.  The Ghost’s fast-raking pillars and bodywork that tucks in around the wheels makes for a powerful stance that is a bit deceiving in that it makes the car look smaller than it actually is.  Many prefer this design language in comparison to the massive design cues of the Phantom.  A sexy stainless steel interpretation of the Roller grill and the retractable Spirit of Ecstasy hood ornament remind us that this is a Rolls-Royce and nothing else.  Inside, the soft, wide-set seats complement the more upright (and simplistic) position of its ergonomics, all of which contrasts with the sportier set, more button-laden Bentley.

All in all, our two ultra-luxury sedans, the Bentley Continental Flying Spur and Rolls-Royce Ghost, provide comparable doses of luxury and quality, but present very different demeanors and personalities.  While the Bentley is a bit sportier in its driving experience and design, the Rolls-Royce provides a satisfyingly soft yet powerful experience.  Both cars have German roots now, and the Bentley arguably shows them a bit more, which undoubtedly makes for a different personality.  In a sense, the Rolls-Royce is more unique in that it makes more of an overt statement of ultra-luxury.  This feat could be good or not-so-good based on the personality of the driver.  When it all comes down to it, we’re happy to offer two of the world’s most luxurious vehicles and are sure that either car would put a smile on even the most discerning luxury car driver.

– Evan W.