What's all this about?
Bentley has announced a more powerful version of the Flying Spur V8 four-door, which it will debut in Geneva prior to customer deliveries in the summer.
A more powerful Spur - isn't that just the W12 model?
No, think of the Continental line-up, where there's a variant that bridges the gap between the regular V8 and the first of the 12-cylinder cars. It's called the V8 S.
Ah, so this is the Flying Spur V8 S?
Got it in one. More power for the 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 engine sees peak outputs of 528hp and 680Nm, enough for the ultimate V8 Spur to crack five seconds for the 0-62mph sprint as it clocks in at 4.9 seconds; that's three-tenths quicker than the 'mere' 507hp V8. Top speed on the V8 S is 191mph, which is none too shabby either.
But presumably the S is worse on fuel?
Apparently not. With its variable displacement - meaning the S can run on four cylinders when engine load demands are low - the newest Spur can still achieve 25.9mpg and 254g/km CO2. That gives it a 520-mile range, in theory, on a full tank of gas.
What has Bentley done to the V8 S mechanicals to make it special?
The crew at Crewe has had a fiddle with a lot of the calibration set-ups on the car, namely for the engine, transmission, adaptive suspension and ESC stability control, with all of them a little sportier as befits the S name. Carbon ceramic brakes are an option, with either red or black callipers, although the Spur's all-wheel drive remains the same - that means a 40:60 front-rear torque distribution. Sadly, no mention is made of the naughtier exhaust system that the Conti V8 S enjoys, which makes the car such a riot to drive.
And are there any visual updates?
There's a dark theme. Standard changes include a black grille with a body-colour insert and a 'Beluga gloss' rear diffuser. Options include black light clusters and black exterior mirror housings. As standard, the Spur V8 S gets the 20-inch alloys as seen on its comparable Continental, although a set of Mulliner Driving Specification 21-inch rims, with a black and bright machined six-spoke face, are offered for a fee. There's some V8 S badging on the haunches and inside, piano black veneers, a three-spoke sports steering wheel, a knurled gear lever and shift paddles, a two-tone colour split for the upholstery and roof bow, and 'V8 S' sill plates complete the look. For some more cash, 'V8 S' can be stitched into the headrests if you like.
Matt Robinson - 17 Feb 2016