Bentley Continental GT S is a driver‑focused V8

Unfortunately the S doesn’t get any more power or more serious hardware – the GT Speed’s clever rear diff and all-wheel-steering wouldn’t have gone amiss – but like previous GTS-badged 911s, the GT S seems to be a best hits album of sporty Conti options.

There is a bit of chassis tickling going on underneath, including Dynamic Ride as standard, which adds the 48-volt active anti roll bars. But the twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8 powers the S sans-upgrades, with an admittedly ample 550PS (405kW) and 770Nm (568lb-ft), making a better noise via the now standard sports exhaust.

It’s the visual stuff that the S really brings to the party, with plenty of chrome binned in favour of black trim and the front and rear lights coming tinted. There’s also a new 22-inch five Y-spoked wheel option, finished as standard in gloss black but also available in Pale Brodar Satin. There’s a small black boot lip, black quad-tipped exhausts and a bit of Speed style with sill extenders borrowed from the flagship model.

On the inside all GT S models will be available with their own performance-focused two-tone colour split and ‘Dinamica’ suede trim. Details are everything in Bentleys, so a nice touch is upgraded dash graphics for the S too. Naturally, there are plenty of ‘S’ badges throughout, to remind everything this is an ever-so slightly sportier flavour of Bentley. It’s a handsome brute, as all the new Contis are but we wonder if the perfect Continental is yet to be revealed, with the best engine in combination with the best chassis bits.