when it comes brute power, Bentley is certainly not lacking of any, but that never stops the Crewe folks from adding a wee bit more to the new V8-powered Continental GT S. the new S model will be available in both the coupe and convertible form. at the heart of the S models, is the 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 powertrain with an extra 21 horses and 20 Nm of torque wrung out. as it stands, the S model is perked up with 520 hp with a peak torque of 680 Nm (388 kW and 501 lb-ft, respectively) – though not a lot by virtue of its 2,200+ kg of heft (around 5,000+ lbs). nevertheless, century sprint is still impressive with the aid of close-ratio ZF 8-speed automatic transmission: the Continental GT S makes it in just 4.5 seconds with a top speed of 309 km/h (192 mph) while the convertible achieve it in 4.7 seconds with a top speed of 308 km/h (191 mph).
another bit of good news for gas-watchers, you will be glad that even with the power/torque bump, the GT V8 S still maintains the same fuel-economy of over 805 km (500 miles) on a full tank and apparently, the CO2 emissions also remain the same as the regular eight-pot Continental. though the suspension setup largely remains unchanged, the new GT V8 S does received a few subtle tweaks like lowered sports suspension (by 10 mm, to be precise), increased spring rates, as well as revised damping for “a more engaging and responsive drive.” handling is further boosted by stiffer bushing and anti-roll bar, and a re-calibrated steer system. on the outside, you will find sharp front splitter, discrete side sills and subtle rear diffuser in Beluga gloss to complement the lowered stance. also on the exterior is a set of 20″ rolling stocks unique to the S models, red-painted brake calipers, black gloss radiator grille with a lone chrome divider and ‘figure of eight’ exhaust tail pipes.
the cabin is the usual handcrafted flair synonymous with Bentley including soft-touch leathers, wood veneers, polished metals and deep-pile carpeting. those, along with knurled chrome detailing on the gearshift lever and ventilation controls, and an advanced infortainment system comprising of an 8″ touchscreen monitor with an onboard hard drive of 30GB capacity, rounds up the interior package. as with any Bentley ride, the 2014 Bentley Continental GT V8 S is further customizable with a range of optional equipment. no word on the pricing and exact availability, but it is said that the deliveries will start in early 2014. in the mean time, do take some time to check out some awesome images of the 2014 Bentley Continental GT V8 S in the gallery below, or you can wait for it to grace the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show to catch a glimpse of this beauty.
