While Bentley's new Bentayga SUV is garnering all the attention, the Crewe firm has quietly released a more powerful 'S' version of the Flying Spur V8 saloon. It'll debut at the 2016 Geneva Motor Show before customer deliveries in the summer.
The Flying Spur V8 S slots in between the regular V8 and flagship W12 in the Rolls-Royce Ghost rival's range. The 4.0-litre twin-turbo engine gets an extra 21bhp, bringing the total to 521bhp. A substantial 680Nm of torque ensures it first from 0-60mph in 4.6 seconds, which is 0.3 seconds quicker than the V8. The top speed is 190mph.
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Economy and emissions are unaffected, however, at 25.9mpg and 254g/km respectively. A new 'S' mode for the gearbox brings additional engine braking, sharper throttle response and lock the four-wheel drive Flying Spur out of eighth gear.
Bentley also claims the V8 S gets a "new responsive suspension tuning" and tweaked adaptive dampers to improve body control without affecting ride and refinement.
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Exterior revisions include new badging, a black radiator grille, rear diffuser and 20-inch gloss painted wheels, while more black detailing can be specified optionally. The cabin also gets piano-black wood veneers and leather with unique stitching.
Pricing will be announced at Geneva, but expect the Flying Spur V8 S to rise up to or above £150,000.
Would you buy a Flying Spur over an S-Class or Ghost if you had the money? Let us know below!