If you’ve ever come across any of Bentley’s Black Edition models, you know that the British luxury car brand spares no expense in dressing them up, right down to seemingly inconsequential details like a 12 o’clock red stripe on the steering wheel. Prepare yourselves then for more Black Edition goodness from Bentley because the automaker has just introduced the latest iteration of that series, only this time, it’s for the Continental GT V8 S.

The vehicle is predictably called the Continental GT V8 S Black Edition and like model from which it’s based on, it’s available in both coupe and convertible body styles. The objective of the Black Edition has always been grounded on creating a sportier look for the Continental GT V8 S. It’s a little more appropriate with this particular model since the GT V8 S is touted as a version of the Continental that’s been tuned for power and performance.

So the Continental GT V8 S Black Edition is essentially a marriage of upgrades meant to give the model a comprehensive lineup of enhancements. If the formula sounds familiar, it’s because Bentley has been doing it for quite some time now and the results, more often than not, have been overwhelmingly positive.

Does the special edition Continental GT V8 S follow in the path created by its Black Edition predecessors? That’s what we’re about to find out, although based on first impressions, I’m confident that this new model won’t have any problems making a name for itself.

Continue after the jump to read more about the Bentley Continental GT V8 S.

2017 Bentley Continental GT V8 S Black Edition

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  • Model: 2017 Bentley Continental GT V8 S Black Edition
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What makes the Bentley Continental GT V8 S Black Edition special

For those who are not familiar with Bentley’s lineup of Black Edition models, there’s one important disclaimer that needs to be mentioned: just because the name has “black” in it, that doesn’t mean that the models themselves are dressed in black. While a blacked out Bentley looks like a good idea too, that’s not what the Black Editions are all about.

It’s important to know that because the Continental GT V8 S Black Edition is actually more colorful than it name suggests. A lot more colorful. Take for instance the body colors available for the special edition model; none of them have anything to do with black or any other shade that’s close to it. Instead, Bentley’s offering four different body colors for the GT V8 S Black Edition, including Cyber Yellow, Hallmark Gray, St. James’ Red, and Beluga.

In other words, the Continental GT V8 S Black Edition has a colorful choice of palettes, which really shouldn’t come as a surprise since past Black Edition models have offered similar color treatments. In fact, the Bentley Continental GT Speed Black Edition that Bentley introduced back in May 2016 also featured similar colors, namely Hallmark, Beluga, St. James’ Red, and Cyber Yellow.

Note: side-by-side photo of the Bentley Continental GT V8 S Black Edition and the Bentley Continental GT Speed Black Edition.

So the question now begs: why are they even called Black Editions in the first place? The answer, of course, can be found in the highlights of the body, particularly the high-gloss black finishes found on certain sections of the car, including the side window surrounds, lower bumper and lower body side rubbing strips, door handles, headlamp bezels, and the radiator matrix surround. Adding to the black treatment is a new set of 21-inch seven-spoke alloy wheels and dark tint lights and rear lamps.

Again, the treatment isn’t a new occurrence because the aforementioned Continental GT Speed Black Edition was also the recipient of blacked-out components, particularly the main grille, headlamp bezels, and all meshes of the three-piece bumper grille layout, and headlamps bezels. In addition, the window trim, the lower chrome strip, and the mirror caps were also finished in black, as were the taillight bezels and the bumper insert.

Move to the interior and the upgrades take a turn for the better with the help of Mulliner, Bentley’s world-famous, in-house personalization division. The most significant of these upgrades are the GT Design Seats and the headliner bow, which features colorful elements that correspond to the color of the Continental GT V8 S Black Edition’s body.

The involvement of Mulliner is a big selling point for the Continental GT V8 S Black Edition. No photos of the cabin have been released so it’s hard to see the extent of upgrades that are included, but rest assured, if there’s anybody who knows how to turn a luxurious cabin into something that’s totally eye-catching, it’s Mulliner.

Sadly, even Mulliner can’t do anything with the Continental GT V8 S’s 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V-8 engine and its 521-horsepower and 502-pound-feet of torque output. It’s still an impressive total, and past Black Edition models didn’t receive power and performance upgrades of their own. Still, it would’ve been nice to see upgrades in this section too without having to go to the aftermarket tuning scene to get them. That’s especially true since the standard numbers are already capable of getting from 0 to 60 mph in just 4.3 seconds to go with a top speed of 192 mph.

Overall though, the Continental GT V8 S Black Edition is a wonderful piece, shortcomings notwithstanding. The limited nature of this particular model adds to its appeal and before we get too caught up in the upgrades, it’s important to remember that we’re still talking about Bentley here.

There’s a reason why the British car maker is considered one of the most luxurious brands in the world. This Continental GT V8 S Black Edition is a good reminder of that.