BENTLEY'S revival and reinvention under Volkswagen's umbrella has been a revelation.

The Crewe-based car-maker has gone from strength to strength, breaking cover with the Continental GT, followed by a four-door Continental in the shape of the Flying Spur and more recently the Mulsanne.

With what is being billed as the ultimate luxury SUV on the way, who knows where the marque will be heading next.

While the Continental GT has always been the mainstay of the range, the Flying Spur has tended to lurk in its shadows - at least on the home front.

If you were out on UK roads Bentley-spotting you'd see plenty of GTs but not so many Flying Spurs.

However in China the reverse would be true. When it comes to Far Eastern customers, by and large the Bentley they are after is the Flying Spur - in part because they want to be driven in it rather than doing the driving.

Whilst not intended as a limousine the Flying Spur certainly became one and in its Mark II guise Bentley seem to have embraced this concept further. If anything opulence levels have been upped accordingly and crucially the suspension has been softened to enhance ride comfort.

One of the big differences with the Mark II Flying Spur is that it has dispensed with the Continental tag entirely, enhancing its status as a model in its own right.

The differences go deeper than just a name change though. While its predecessor did look very like a stretched GT with added doors, its replacement stands apart - even if it is still based on an extended version of the same platform.

It displays many of the design flourishes of the larger and more indulgent Mulsanne - Bentley's out-and-out limousine - with curves and flowing lines rather than the boxiness and straight lines which characterised the original.

While the Continental GT saw more of a tweak and tuck approach with the unveiling of the Mark II model the Flying Spur really has been radically overhauled.

To my mind its sculpted and distinctive profile exudes an air of desirability in a way in which its predecessor didn't quite manage to.

The interior seems more familiar, though Bentley insist 600 components of cabin trim have been replaced.

The extensive use of wood in the fascia is an artwork in itself, as well as doing much to create the opulence that is the car's defining character. The way traditional and modern elements are fused continues to be a Bentley strength.

Comfort is also to the fore and the Flying Spur's seats offer about as comfortable an in-car experience as one could wish for - whether you're travelling in the front or the rear.

In this car the front seats were also heated and ventilated and could even offer a massage when the occasion demanded it.

Legroom is plentiful in the rear - as one would expect - and though I didn't get to be driven around I got the sense those who did found the experience to be a more than pleasant one.

The Flying Spur comes with two engine options - Bentley's 6.0-litre, twin-turbocharged W12 petrol engine or a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 and both are mated to an eight-speed ZF automatic transmission.

This was the W12, delivering a blistering 616bhp, boasting a top speed of 200mph and a 0-62mph acceleration time of 4.6 seconds.

The V8 is considerably less powerful - on paper at least - but is only marginally less swift. Nor will it hit that 200mph top speed but when it comes to running costs the differences are more considerable. While the W12 emits 343g/km of CO2 the V8 pumps out just 254g/km. Combined economy figures are 19.2mpg and 25.9mpg respectively.

That said a new engine management system means the W12's emissions are actually 13 per cent lower than in the outgoing model.

Of course if you're in the business of buying a Bentley then the whole issue of running costs might be irrelevant and it has to be said the W12 unit is a deliciously sweet, smooth and potent performer.

So silky smooth and refined is it that it's hard to imagine it being such a gas guzzler - but it is.

At worst on a slow-moving suburban school run I was getting 8.5mpg while generally around town it managed between 12 and 13mpg. Get on the motorway though and it's possible to get more than 20mpg out of it on a long journey.

Consumption aside it performs delightfully and while the latest Flying Spur may have the chauffeur-driven Chinese market firmly in its sights it is still capable of offering the kind of driver delights the marque is famed for - particularly with this unit under the bonnet.

Torque is delivered seamlessly and smoothly throughout the range and this big beast has a turn of pace that will take you by surprise.

Despite that softer suspension it handles sharply, particularly when the adaptive air suspension is adjusted to a more sports-oriented setting.

The Flying Spur may be the epitome of luxury on four wheels but it has an impressively aggressive edge when the occasion demands it.

Quite what the consumption is when pushing it that bit harder is anyone's guess - probably even less than that slow school run - but you can be guaranteed you'll be having far too much fun to care.