2026 Bentley Continental GT S
Quick Answer: The 2026 Continental GT S
The S takes the same 671-horsepower plug-in hybrid V8 as the base Continental GT and wraps it in Bentley's Performance Active Chassis, a darker, more deliberately sporting car than the equipment list alone would suggest. Blacked-out exterior trim, a firmer suspension calibration, and interior detailing pulled from Bentley's sportier corner of the configurator set it apart from the entry model without touching Speed's step up to 771 horsepower. Standard all-wheel drive, roughly 30 miles of electric range, and the usual absence of a published MSRP, this is a build-to-order car at Bentley Manhattan, like every 2026 Continental GT.
A sportier attitude, not a different engine
Bentley's own language for the S is "thrilling sports attitude," and that's really a chassis and styling story rather than a horsepower one. The Performance Active Chassis is the mechanical piece: it sharpens body control and steering response versus the base car without asking a buyer to trade away the ride comfort a Continental GT is supposed to deliver on the West Side Highway or a longer run up to the Hudson Valley. Bentley pairs it with dark exterior trim, a grille finished in gloss black rather than chrome, and matching badging, an unmistakable read from across a parking garage.
Inside, the S carries the same three-screen-adjacent tech suite as every 2026 Continental GT (wireless CarPlay and Android Auto, the My Bentley App Studio, a 5G hotspot) but leans its trim and stitching toward a more sporting cabin than the standard Continental GT or Azure. The instrument cluster even displays a small "S" badge in its startup graphic, a detail that shows up in the manufacturer's own product photography and is easy to miss until it's pointed out.
Where it sits against Speed
The most common cross-shop for the S is Speed, and the honest distinction is horsepower versus attitude. Speed carries the 771-horsepower Ultra Performance Hybrid tune and a 0-60 time roughly four-tenths of a second quicker; the S keeps the 671-horsepower setup shared with the base Continental GT and Azure but adds the chassis hardware and styling that make it feel sportier day to day. For buyers who want the darker look and the sharper handling without chasing the last measure of straight-line speed, the S is arguably the more honest choice, and it's meaningfully less of a jump in cost than Speed or Mulliner.
Frequently asked questions
What's different about the Continental GT S versus the base model?
The powertrain is identical, 671 horsepower and 686 lb-ft either way, so the difference lives in the chassis and the styling. The S adds Bentley's Performance Active Chassis for sharper handling and a darker, blacked-out exterior treatment versus the base car's more neutral presentation.
Is the Continental GT S all-wheel drive?
Yes, all-wheel drive is standard on every 2026 Continental GT model, S included, along with the same 8-speed automatic and roughly 30 miles of EPA electric-only range.
How does the Continental GT S compare with Speed?
Speed carries the 771-horsepower Ultra Performance Hybrid tune and a 0-60 time roughly four-tenths of a second quicker, about 3.1 seconds against the S's 3.5. The S keeps the 671-horsepower setup shared with the base car and Azure but adds the chassis hardware and darker styling, and it is a smaller step up in cost than Speed or Mulliner.
What does Bentley Performance Active Chassis do?
It is the mechanical piece behind the S's sportier character: it sharpens body control and steering response versus the base Continental GT without asking a buyer to trade away the ride comfort a grand tourer is supposed to deliver on the West Side Highway or a longer run up to the Hudson Valley.
Compare it in person
The S is on the showroom floor at Bentley Manhattan next to the rest of the 2026 range, which is really the only fair way to judge whether its chassis tuning is worth the step up from the base Continental GT. The Continental GT trim comparison guide covers how all five models compare, and the Continental GT pricing & buying guide explains how Bentley Manhattan handles configuration since there's no published sticker price to reference.
More Continental GT research
Bentley does not publish an official MSRP for the 2026 Continental GT S; the vehicle is built to order. Horsepower, torque, and EPA figures per Bentley Motors and fueleconomy.gov for the certified powertrain configuration; real-world range and efficiency vary with options and driving conditions.