Last week I was lucky enough to find myself behind the wheel of a Bentley Continental GT V8S. It proved to be a quite stunning car but then, so it should, because the particular model I drove, with options, would set you back in excess of £200,000.

There are, of course, some people for whom spending £200,000 on a car would be obscene. What would the neighbours think, after all?

In that case there’s the £252,000 Mulsanne Speed which, loaded with options that include deep pile Wilton overmats (£1,085), refrigerated bottle cooler with frosted glass and bespoke crystal champagne flutes (£8,225) and a first aid kit with warning triangle (£100), tops £307,000.

Stately, elegant and refined beyond reason the Mulsanne Speed is a car that defies logic. Under the bonnet lurks a 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V8 pumping out 530bhp and an almighty 811lbft of torque that can propel this palatial limousine to 60mph in an unbelievable 4.8 seconds on its way to a top speed of 190mph.

Those figures are all the more remarkable when you consider that this is a heavy – gross weight 3.2 tonnes – and vast – 2.208m wide x 5.575m long x 1.521m tall – machine.

Power output is up just 25bhp while torque has increased by 59lbft compared to the ‘standard’ model but while that figure didn’t peak until 2,250rpm in the Speed it arrives at just 1,750rpm and from there remains pretty much flat until 4,200rpm.

It’s not just about raw numbers, however, it’s also about how all that power and performance is delivered. Find yourself a nice straight stretch of quiet road, point that long, handcrafted bonnet towards the horizon and floor the throttle. Nothing can prepare you for the incredible sensation as the Mulsanne pins you against the most beautifully trimmed, sumptuously finished leather seats you’re ever likely to park your backside in, either inside a car or out, and the cabin fills with the roar of eight cylinders working in perfect, harmonic, unison.

It’s a feast for the senses and the way that the big Bentley gathers pace is almost hypnotic and certainly addictive which is why it’s wise to keep at least half an eye on the speedometer, so ferocious yet so cosseting is the Speed that before you know it you’re travelling at velocities that are on the wrong side of legal.

There’s a Sport mode that sharpens up the gear changes and tightens up the adaptive dampers to improve responsiveness but let’s not forget this is a big, heavy car and no matter how clever you are the laws of physics will not be defied.

Perhaps the most unexpected aspect of driving the Mulsanne is how quickly you become accustomed to its size. That’s in part down to the ease with which it can be driven. Cruising around the posh parts of London, negotiating the roadworks and contraflows, is a doddle thanks to the beautifully judged steering and the smooth as silk automatic box.

The only parking aids on my test car were radar and a rear-facing camera but I still found the Mulsanne surprisingly easy to park. You can use the flying B mounted on the front of the bonnet as a sighter and the relative slab-sidedness, as well as the generously sized mirrors, means that it’s not difficult to avoid scraping those rather beautiful, and expensive, alloy wheels along the kerb.

It would be stretching the truth a little to state that it’s as equally at home tackling the bends its agility belies its size, making those blasts through the countryside more fun than they have any right being. There is a massive amount of grip and, if you keep the faith, you can carry a lot more speed through the corners than you would have thought possible. Don’t expect changes of direction to come easily, however, the sheer mass of the car means that stringing a series of fast corners together is asking just a little too much.

Thankfully the brakes are more than up to the task of bringing all that mass to a standstill, with huge 400mm discs at the front and 370mm at the back

Of course the Mulsanne is, first and foremost, a luxury saloon and there’s no shortage of evidence to that fact. The level of finish and the quality of the detailing, inside and out, is second to none. Aluminium, leather (lots and lots of it), wood veneers, they’re all present and correct and provide a level of luxury that most of us can only dream about.

There are a lot of buttons. In fact, it’s interesting to note that as many, more mainstream, manufacturers look to minimise the ‘clutter’ in their cars, integrating controls into the infotainment systems the Mulsanne proudly bucks this trend, opting instead for a liberal smattering of buttons across the base of the dashboard to operate the air con, sat nav, and audio systems.

Fitted to my test car was the optional 2,200W Naim audio system that, coupled with the 16-speaker - including two subwoofers - set-up produced epic sounds, rich in texture and colour. There are, of course, connections for iPods and MP3 players, SD card readers, micro USB and, unusually, a six-CD autochanger.

If you’re fed up with driving and it isn’t the chauffeur’s day off then relax in one of the rear armchairs, enjoy a gentle, revitalising, massage while watching a suitably cerebral DVD and coiffing a glass of chilled Dom Perignon from the aforementioned bespoke crystal glass champagne flutes.

Or you could enjoy a little light snack at the electrically operated picnic tables with iPad connection mounted in the back of the front seats.

If the sun’s bearing down on you, raising the temperature of your bubbly above bearable, or you’re seeking a little additional privacy, you can simply raise the blinds over the side and rear windows.

Close your eyes – it’s okay, you’re in the back remember – and it’s possible to let all impression of motion just slip away, so serene and unruffled is your progress.

Personally, as inviting as that sounds, the very best place to be is up front where all the action is. Despite surrounding the occupants with unrivalled luxury the Mulsanne Speed is intended to be, first and foremost, a driver’s car.

If you’re wondering how anyone can tell that you’ve spent an extra £20,000 or so on a Speed the differences, though subtle, are there: The external brightware, including the trademark grille, have been treated to a dark tint. Lower bumper apertures, lights and wing vents have been given the same treatment.

If you look closely enough, you’ll also be able to spot discreet ‘Speed’ fender badges but, if you don’t feel that’s enough to get you noticed – it is – then there’s a choice of more than 100 colours. Bentley are, however, in the business of providing a unique motoring experience so, should you require it, they can paint your pride and joy any colour you want.

Aspirations. That’s what Bentleys appeal to. Every car that rolls off the production line at Crewe has desirability in its DNA. You see it on the faces of people who stop to look as one silently rolls past, and you can hear it in their voices as they chat excitedly to their friends. You can try telling yourself that the Bentley Mulsanne Speed is just a car, but in your heart and soul, you know that it’s more. Much more.

Bentley Mulsanne Speed

Price: £252,000

As tested: £307,800

Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbo V8

Transmission: ZF 8-speed automatic, rear-wheel drive

Power: 530bhp

Torque: 811lbft

Acceleration (0-60mph): 4.8sec

Maximum speed: 190mph

Urban: 12.4mpg

Extra urban: 28.4mpg

Combined: 19.3mpg

Emissions (CO2): 342g/km

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