- Effortless 6.75-litre turbocharged V8 engine
- The finest interior materials and craftsmanship
- Supremely comfortable ride
- Out-dated engine not powerful for its size
- Sheer mass and soft suspension tune make for boat-like handling
- High running and maintenance costs
Overview
Released in November 1994, the Rolls-Royce Mk.III Flying Spur was a prestige saloon. Manufactured in Crewe, England, the rear-wheel drive Mk.II Flying Spur was powered by a 6.75-litre turbocharged V8 petrol engine that was mated to a four-speed automatic transmission. Production of the Flying Spur was limited to 134 vehicles.
V8 Engine
The 6.75-litre V8 petrol engine had an aluminium-silicon alloy cylinder block, aluminium alloy cylinder heads, an exhaust-driven Garrett turbocharger, two valves per cylinder, a compression ratio of 8.1:1 and Bosch Motronic M3.3 engine management. Supplied by General Motors, the electronically-controlled four-speed 4L80E automatic transmission was used due to its high torque capacity.
Dimensions
Based on the Mk.III Silver Spur, the Flying Spur was 5370 mm long, 1877 mm wide, 1485 mm tall and had a 5370 mm long wheelbase; kerb weight was 2450 kg.
Suspension
The Flying Spur had independent front suspension with lower wishbones and independent rear suspension with semi-trailing arms and a self-levelling function. The suspension also featured an Automatic Ride Control (ARC) system which used electronically-controlled dampers. The ARC system used vertical and longitudinal accelerometers to measure body movement – interpreted by a micro-processor – and automatically engaged one of three damper settings: comfort, normal or firm. Firm mode was always employed when the car was stationary.
| Engine | Trans. | Years | Peak power | Peak torque | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mk.III Flying Spur | 6.75-litre turbo petrol V8 | 4sp auto | 1994-95 | 265 kW at 4200 rpm (est.) | 750 Nm at 2000 rpm (est.) |
Safety equipment
Standard safety equipment for the Mk.III Flying Spur included dual front airbags and ABS.
Features
Standard features for the Rolls-Royce Mk.III Flying Spur included 16-inch alloy wheels, a ten speaker Alpine sound system with a radio, cassette player and a CD player with a six-disc CD stacker, climate control air conditioning, leather upholstery, power adjustable and heated front seats with memory settings, cruise control, central locking, power windows and power mirrors.
Related links
- Rolls-Royce and Bentley: Rolls-Royce Mk.III Flying Spur
- Wikipedia.org: Rolls-Royce Mk.III Flying Spur
