The Bentley Continental GT is now available in a tightened-up S form, which brings an extra hint of agility and a bespoke design package. Based on the Bentley Continental GT V8, it is available in both coupe and convertible forms, and takes the total number of variants on sale to five – Mulliner, Speed, Azure, standard Continental GT and the Continental GT S.
- GT S becomes fifth variant in the Continental's line-up
- Comes with a 48V electric anti-roll control system
- Gets blacked-out bits on the exterior
Bentley Continental GT S: engine
As with the similarly conceived Bentley Bentayga S that was launched last year, the new variant is available exclusively with the firm's 549hp, 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8, dispatching the 0-100kph sprint time in 4.0 seconds and topping out at around 320kph.
The engine, chosen for the lightness it affords over the top-rung V12, now breathes through a new sports exhaust system designed to "amplify the cross plane V8 beat".
Bentley Continental GT S: chassis, handling
And, in line with the S model's dynamic billing, it comes equipped with a 48V electric anti-roll control system capable of generating up to 1,295Nm of torque in as little as 0.3 seconds.
Bentley claims that this system, which uses motors inside the anti-roll bars to compensate for lateral movement in cornering, can also improve ride comfort at a cruise by disconnecting the left- and right-hand-side wheels from each other.
Bentley Continental GT S: exterior and interior
Like its Bentayga sibling, the new Continental variant is marked out from the more luxury-focused models in the line-up by its black grille, wheels, exterior trim, exhaust tips and wing mirrors. The lights at both ends have tinted lenses, meanwhile, and the brake calipers stand out with bright red paint.
Inside, the sporting intent of the S is highlighted by its Dinamica-trimmed steering wheel, seats and gearstick, while the gauge cluster displays the same performance-themed graphics as the top-rung, W12-powered Bentley Continental GT Speed.
Bentley has yet to confirm pricing for the S, but expect it to command a sizeable premium over the standard GT V8, which starts at around Rs 4.12 crore (on-road, Delhi).
Bentley in India
Bentley currently sells the Bentayga SUV, the Continental GT grand tourer and the Flying Spur luxury sedan. Bentley has also been improving its sales figures each year. The manufacturer sold a record number of cars in 2020, only to surpass it by over 31 percent in 2021. The Bentayga had a lion's share of the total sales.
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