IN THIS FEATURE Is it really the world's fastest saloon? Still British in character Streaks like a Vulcan bomber Considerably better than you

But those worried by the fact that Bentley is now not only owned by a German company, but they're also going to be built there, should allay their fears. All Bentleys sold in Britain will still be built here and, if customers abroad are really that concerned, I understand they will be able to stipulate they get a Crewe-built car too.

In the meantime, there's no doubting that the GT and Flying Spur have more than the Continental name in common. Visually they're all but identical from the windscreen forward and under the skin you'll find the same 553bhp, W12, twin turbo engine, the same suspension, gearbox and brakes. The big differences are the extra half metre in length boasted by the Spur, its four doors, the inclusion of B-pillars and a decent sized boot. This has allowed Bentley to turn the Continental concept into a spacious saloon where four adults can sprawl around with space to spare in every direction.

The back has plenty of space to stretch out in

To me, although I think some of the GT's prettiness has been lost in the stretching process, the car works better as a saloon. Partly this is an historical thing - I think being a full four seater is in integral part of what any Bentley should be about, but it's also because there's nothing quite like stretching out in the back of a handcrafted cabin, swaddled in wood, surrounded by highly polished tree and looking out across one of the most imposing views in motoring, that afforded by a Bentley's bonnet.

Astonishingly, despite all its extra hardwear, the Spur is just 95kg heavier than the GT, which is why its performance remains all but undiminished. But what the extra length does bring - along with completely new suspension settings - is a level of ride comfort a GT owner would not recognise. It's not as good as the best mass-produced luxury cars, the Lexus LS430 and Mercedes S-class in particular, but it's still comfortable enough to pull off the authentic limousine waft with real conviction.