For a business that just sells about 10,000 automobiles Bentley certainly knows how to proliferate a line. The most recent add-ons to the plethora of Continental selections are the sporty V8 S versions. The coupe was formerly analyzed by us, and we have now gotten our mitts.

One thing Bentley maintains that its topless twodoor is the "stiffest convertible on the planet." Than we had like in a modern, $246,385 droptop although that might be accurate, at least talking, but in practice the V8 S has quivers. Things improve in the softest of the four suspension firmness settings of the GTC V8 S.

Fortunately, there is a zestier jig happening under the V8 S's hood, which provides refuge for the same meaty, double-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 that powers the GT V8 S coupe. It pumps out 521 hp and 502 lb-ft of torque, 21 more ponies and 15 more pound-ft of torque compared to non-S GTC's V8, and paths power to all four wheels -speed automatic. Like the V8 S coupe, the convertible S is thought to function as the most sporty eight-cylinder Continental iteration. That is two tenths of a second though 3 miles per hour quicker on the top end. It is also 4 miles per hour faster compared to non and one tenth quicker -S GTC V8.

The V8 S convertible rides -inch Pirelli P Zero tires but saddles their sidewalls having an extra 398 pounds. Regardless of this, the convertible feels more agile than its 12-cylinder sibs. Braking is unaffected by the additional poundage over the GT V8 S coupe of the convertible, as it erases 70 miles per hour in the 156 feet that are same as the set- V8 S. roof

As remarkable as those numbers are, particularly from a large, four-spot, all-wheel-drive GT auto weighing 5560 pounds, you are about as likely to discover a GT V8 S lapping Laguna Seca as you may be to locate, say, an old Eldorado doing something similar. Painted an ambitiously sporty St. James Crimson color, with an equally over the top black and Hotspur-reddish leather inside, this droptop is still all about fashion.

The sumptuous cottage is prefect for laidback cruises. Everything works with a simplicity that is nice, and having less drive-setting-button overkill is not tire. The aviator is unencumbered by transmission selections beyond choosing "Drive" or "S", and you can decide from four damper settings. This affords more time for sitting back and appreciating the 4.0-liter V8's boisterous exhaust note, the outstanding Naim audio system ($7300), and the passing wind. Lots of interest is attracted by this automobile, particularly in brilliant red,.

Lowering the roof can be done within one traffic signal cycle or on the move at rates up to 20 miles per hour. But take care--about midway through the journey of the roof, the folding mechanism occupies some of the exact same space as back-seat passengers' noggins. Ducking to avoid a speeding softtop mightn't look quite lavish, but the remaining cottage encounter is a lot more than posh enough to mitigate this minor demerit. And when raised, the cottage hushes to close coupe-like degrees of quiet.

Just like the GT V8 S coupe, the droptop needs for small; that would add more weight, although some chassis stiffening would be valued.