It’s the first Bentley sedan capable of accelerating beyond 200mph – or 321km/h in our money – and the just-released Flying Spur W12 S delivers a sporty and sexy mean streak to match that turn of speed.

Not that the regular Flying Spur W12 lacks appeal at $423,160 plus on-road costs. But the S badge sees chrome thankfully ditched for a black design theme the extends over the door handles, air intakes, grille and mirrors, in addition to smoked headlights and tail-lights.

Bentley Flying Spur W12 S rear

The Flying Spur W12 S still gets a fixed 40:60 front/rear torque split for its all-wheel-drive system and an eight-speed automatic channelling the 6.0-litre twin-turbo W12 engine that rises 7kW to 467kW and 20Nm to 820Nm. Claimed 0-100km/h falls by only a tenth to 4.5 seconds, however.

Bentley Flying Spur W12-S interior

Bentley is targeting customers looking for a “a Flying Spur with extra attitude” according to the brand’s chairman and chief executive Wolfgang Dürheimer who will officially unveil the car at this month’s Paris motor show.

Bentley Flying Spur W12-S side