BLACK BEAUTY

For MORAKOT “AIMEE” SANGTAWEEP, the new Flying Spur four-door Grand Tourer by BENTLEY is an exquisite luxury automobile that’s perfect for life’s extraordinary journeys

IN 2019 BENTLEY, the renowned British car manufacturer, celebrated a milestone anniversary, marking 100 years of creating some of the world’s most superlative luxury vehicles.this year, the marque unveiled its 2020 Flying Spur, a sleek four-door Grand Tourer that’s dripping in elegance, while at the same time packing a ferocious 6.0-litre twin-turbocharged 12-cylinder engine and an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission under its shiny hood.

For actress, model, and businesswoman Morakot “Aimee” Sangtaweep, this stately British brand has always been a presence in her life. She admits that her fascination with Bentleys began early on, dating all the way back to her days as a child growing up in England.

“When I was in London, I was not privileged enough to have a ride in one, but obviously living in Holland Park you could see a string of them always parked near our house,” she says, reminiscing. “For me, a Bentley is like a Cinderella’s carriage. Any girl would have a happy ending if she would be in a Bentley.”

So, what is it that makes these cars so special? “I think it’s the history, first of all, and also that it’s very British. Design-wise, and with respect to the image it has portrayed throughout the years, I think it’s just amazing how they’ve kept a brand of this quality, and up to this standard, still going in this modern age,” Aimee explains.

Interestingly, a quirk of fate not too long ago seems to have firmly planted the seed for Aimee’s recently renewed interest in this iconic automobile. “At the beginning of the year I went to ski in Courchevel, in the French Alps, and the hotel that we stayed in, the Cheval Blanc, had Bentleys to look after us. And I was like: It was meant to be, this is the car for me!”

While there’s no doubt that a flashy four-wheeler is always a welcome addition to the home, the 2020 Bentley Flying Spur also reflects and addresses the needs of the modern family. For this former Miss Thailand Universe pageant winner, who is now both a wife – celebrating her 5th wedding anniversary this month – and the mother of an almost 2-year-old, her new priorities include practicality.

“It’s a safe car, what with all the sensors and screens, and it’s beautiful. And it has a lot of trunk space. Obviously, you have to be able to drive one, and then you’ll realise how good it is.

“I used to race cars,” Aimee reveals, with an undeniable glint in her eye. “Having a lot of experience with cars, I can tell you this one’s just a dream. When I stepped into this car it was simple, it was clean, and it was chic. It smelled so good and felt so right. When I got behind the wheel it was just so smooth. It’s like you’re floating on the road.”

Inside the cabin, the sumptuous leather upholstery is equally as smooth, while the rotating, three-panel centrepiece screen console allows the driver to choose between the main 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen, a set of three analogue gauges (showing outside air temperature, compass, and chronometer), or a book-matched piece of veneer for that old-school look and feel. But Aimee confesses that what she really loves is the double sunroof. “You don’t have to just open one big one. You can choose whether you want to just open one, or both of them. Because sometimes you need a bit of sunlight... or moonlight,” she smiles.

When asked which colour exterior most catches her eye, she carefully weighs her response. “There’s a navy blue and a dark green finish, and I’m actually very attracted to dark green, as my name is morakot and that means ‘emerald’ in Thai. But for me, I think for the new Flying Spur it’s got to be black. Mysterious and elegant and classy… and it goes with my Chanel.”

“Of course, I love classic Bentley models,” she continues, “but as I am a working mom, and a modern woman, I’m ultimately attracted more to the newer ones. I think I have an eye for great craftsmanship, and I love the luxury lifestyle, and I think the Bentley portrays that for me. It answers all my needs.

“I can imagine myself being the passenger too. I like the two backseat mirrors with vanity lights. You can’t have enough mirrors, because ladies will always want a mirror. You would definitely make a grand entrance stepping out of this car as a passenger,” she adds.

While the 2020 Flying Spur has many extraordinary details, the historic ‘Flying B’ hood ornament stands out, as it’s the first time one has appeared on a modern-day edition of the marque’s four-door Grand Tourer. When asked what goes through her mind when she sees this instantly recognisable symbol, she pauses a moment then replies: “I think it just says, ‘Look at me, I can fly!’”

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