THE NEW FLYING SPUR IN DETAIL

With the new Flying Spur, Bentley has reset the boundaries of what was perceived to be possible to deliver the ultimate luxury four-door Grand Tourer.

Nowhere is the British Brand's remarkable attention to detail more evident than in the Diamond Knurling Specification, which sees traditional craftsmanship brought into the digital era through the application of state-of-the-art technology.

The process started with the Bentley design team's decision to incorporate more artistic and sculptured air vents in the front center console, and to apply the facet knurling from the 'bullseye' air vents and other rotary switches across the curves of the new components.
With knurling traditionally featuring on relatively easily produced cylindrical shaped components, the decision meant a completely new challenge in terms of both design and manufacturing feasibility. Creating the models using conventional CAD software would not allow the diamond patterns to wrap seamlessly around the sculpture without the shapes becoming unacceptably distorted.

THE STORY OF DIAMOND KNURLING

To move the next level, Bentley teamed up with Astheimer to develop the algorithms that would make it possible. Through the use of innovative parametric software, which is employed to automate the generation of complex 2D and 3D design details, Astheimer effectively captured traditional craftsmanship by encoding Bentley's brand DNA into algorithms that could be reused elsewhere.

Bentley's design and engineering teams overcame a series of unprecedented challenges to create the unique look and feel of the 'facet knurling' that adorns the surfaces of the front console vents - which incorporate some 5,331 individual diamond shapes alone - as well at the B-pillar and rear console vents.