SPEED takes on a new dimension when it comes to Bentley.

It's the name the famous British car maker gives to its ultra high performance models and in the case of the Continental GT Speed it's the fastest production Bentley ever.

With true supercar performance of 0 to 60 in just four seconds this luxurious machine has just been uprated and now generates an incredible 635bhp from its 6.0-litre W12 engine.

That's 60 horses more than is available in the "standard" Continental GT Coupe and 128 more than you get in the most affordable of the bunch - the 4.0-litre V8.

The difference in price is some £30,000 which sees the GT Speed now costing from £164,500, or £185,710 in the case of this version fitted with £10,000 worth of carbon ceramic brakes - a sound investment for reining in 2.7-tonnes of car which can top 200mph - among some £20,000 of extras.

But it is the bespoke add ons which make any Bentley truly special and put them in a luxury league of their own.

Damson leather quilted upholstery, cream trim inserts and dark tinted aluminium for the facia made the interior of this car something very special - a combination exclusive to the Speed and a feature only just introduced on this flagship of the Continental range.

It is a touch of class befitting of the finest automotive craft which Bentley has made its stock in trade.

The Speed is a car for the discerning who enjoy not only the finest in specification but also delight in engineering excellence.

Despite its awesome credentials with a top speed of 206mph and a standing ton in just nine seconds, this is a car which is exquisite to drive.

The thrum of the W12 is an ever present reminder of the power it possesses and when unleashed it roars.

Sporty driving in the GT Speed is a wondrous experience and the car is a sublime tourer, at its best on the open road.

While all Continentals are blessed with four wheel drive, grip is plentiful but its beauty is the response to every driver input.

On the Speed this is more obvious than with other Continentals and you feel absolutely connected to the car as it goes about its business in a most accomplished fashion - and that's down to gear changes, throttle input and steering.

Seldom will you feel more at one with a car and the agility for what is quite a large car is astounding.

Subtle styling features such as rifled exhaust outlets, slightly extended side skirts and a pronounced front splitter set the Speed apart as does a discreet badge on the front wings - all part and parcel of the Mulliner Style Specification which sees the flourishes on the body colour coded to the overall paint finish.

Specially designed 21-inch alloys and restyled lamp clusters are also fitted to the Speed along with red brake callipers.

For such a performance car - and it is at the pinnacle of GTs - fuel consumption is rated at 19.5mpg with emissions of 338g/km making it one of the thirstiest cars on the road.

Nevertheless, such is the torque from the engine filtered through an eight-speed automatic gearbox that it is easily possible to improve on the consumption and exceed the official figure.

On a country run we managed to average close on 22 to the gallon - a 12 per cent increment.

Around town it is a different matter and single mpg figures are the norm - an indication of how this car pines for the open road - and there it is a true champion of all that is great about one of the most famous motoring brands in the world.

This is not only Bentley's quickest but also one of the finest cars of our time - motoring magic on a grand scale.