It’s not the fastest of Bentley’s Flying Spur stable, but if you’ve been thinking of getting one for a bit now, the Bentley Flying Super V8 S is probably your best bet at coming home a satisfied customer. With significantly more power than the base model but less weight on the nose than the top-of-the-line, it marries the best of both worlds, making for, in our opinion, the smarter choice in the lot.
Providing that increase in power is a retuned version of the same 4-liter twin-turbo V8 in the original model, which now puts out 521 horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque. That’s enough power to give it a top speed of 190 mph, along with a 0 to 60 of 4.6 seconds – both satisfying upgrades from the base version. Even better, that boost in performance comes with no detrimental effect on the car’s fuel economy, CO2 emissions, and driving range.
The Bentley Flying Super V8 S combines the lighter V8 engine with a revised suspension and recalibrated continuous damping, allowing for more precise handling and improved body control, all while retaining the driving refinement that has marked the line. ESC has also been optimized, now allowing for increased wheel slip at higher speeds, so you can fully take advantage of the accompanying increase in power.
It also gets new sport styling cues, including a black radiator grille, rear diffuser, new grille insert, and 20-inch open-spoke painted wheels. While still luxurious, the cabin is fitted to match the sportier exterior, with piano-black wood veneers, a three-spoke steering wheel, two-tone seats, and a contrasting roof center bow.
No pricing yet, but the Bentley Flying Super V8 S is expected to ship out middle of the year.