2011 NAIAS: Bentley Continental Flying Spur Series 51

Bentley has brought the Flying Spur Series 51 to this year’s NAIAS, taking customers further into its tailor-made woods. The Series 51 is destined for both Continental Flying Spur and Flying Spur Speed, bringing an exclusive range of recommended combinations created by the carmaker’s color and trim specialists.

The two incarnations of the luxury saloon get no less than 12 unique designs, with the focus being placed on the vehicle’s interior.

The list of interior goodies includes wood veneers or aluminum pedals for the dashboard, including a limited-edition Sapelli Pomelle veneer, which offers a rare naturally occurring quilted effect in the wood, and the company’s leather-finished child seat.

As for the exterior, this receives a number of John Blatchley-inspired duo-tone paint options that use an accent color running from the bonnet, over the roof and onto the bootlid. The pack also includes unique Series 51 19-inch alloy rims that use a nine-spoke design and a graphite finish.

The high-tech features haven’t been forgotten, with the vehicles using goodies like a touchscreen infotainment system with a 30 GB hard-drive.

"The Series 51 design concept is inspired by the spirit of the inaugural Bentley styling department in Crewe established by the gifted John Blatchley, who shaped the original and iconic 1950s Bentley Continentals. Today, it provides for a virtually bespoke ordering service due to the thousands of configurations available through Bentley's expansive colour and trim catalogue," said Dirk van Braeckel, Bentley's director of design.

The Series 51 design options, along with the 2012 Continental Flying Spur, Flying Spur Speed will enter the market in March 2011.