Bentley Flying Spur

Our verdict

It’s a more-door Continental and actually the better for it. The ‘Speed’ variant is currently the fastest saloon in the world at over 200mph top end.

Comfort

A very comfy car given the potential speed, the Spurt can deliver on the cross-continental blast. Can be a little bit choppy on the larger wheel sizes, but this is a very, very fast car, so you have to make some compromises. And there's masses of space for four.

Performance

That 6.0-litre W12 packs a 552bhp punch (600bhp in the ‘Speed) and can get the Flying Spur to 62mph in 4.9 seconds (4.5) via the four-wheel drive transmission. The stock car only reaches 195mph officially, with the Speed hitting the=2 0magic double ton. Just about enough, then.

Cool

There's something about a Flying Spur that means that it remains cool even when the Conti GT is exclusively populated by nouveau riche retards. The four-door just seems more regal... 

Quality

Of the finest fit'n'finish in the world. Hand-sorted, smells right, good equipment levels. It's not quite the gorgeous profligacy of the Arnage, but it looks great and doesn't seem to fall to bits.  

Handling

The four-wheel drive makes the Flying Spur surprisingly chuckable despite its bulk. There's plenty of grip and the steering always puts the car exactly where you want it - and it feels like it sheds a tonne or so on a backroad.

Practicality

The boot's huge, the back's huge, it's a great saloon. You'll just have to get your butler to fill it up a lot, is all.

Running costs

Mid-teens mpg, group 20 insurance, max tax (obviously), utter brain crippling depreciation in this market - you have to want one.