What's the news?
Well, not that it needed it exactly, but the Bentley Continental GT Speed is getting more power. Thanks to some tweaks to its mighty 6.0-litre turbocharged W12 engine, it now has 642hp (up by 7hp from before) and a frankly comical 840Nm (up by 20Nm) of torque.
That's good enough to push this sybaritic sled from 0-100km/h in just 4.1 seconds and on to a top speed of 331km/h. Knowing Bentley, those figures are on the conservative side...
The W12 engine is still built by a small team of just 30 hand-picked Bentley engineers, and it's through careful management of the turbos and boost phases that the extra torque has been found.
As well as more power, you can now have the GT Speed with added menace, thanks to an optional Black Edition. As with the similarly-themed Rolls-Royce Wraith Black Label version, the Black Edition comes with high-gloss black finish on the outside instead of chrome, with massive 21-inch black wheels hiding optionally black (or red) brake callipers. As Spinal Tap might say, none more black...
The front splitter, side skirts and rear diffuser can be had in a contrast colour though, including Hallmark, Beluga, St James' Red and a new shade, Cyber Yellow. It's a bit Civic Type R for a Bentley if you ask us, but customers know best, eh?
Inside, there's carbon fibre finish for the dash, doors and centre console and leather trimmed contrasting Porpoise, Beluga, Pillar Box Red or new Cyber Yellow colours to match the outside.
Paul Jones, Product Line Director for Continental GT, comments: "We have developed the GT Speed Black Edition to meet demand from customers for a model in the Continental line that offers both increased sporting capabilities and instantly recognisable styling cues. The Black Edition has a subtle but purposeful look that is backed up by exceptional performance."