WHEN it comes to choosing which car one might buy in the wake of a lottery win a Bentley would top the wish list for many.

A more difficult decision might be which one to go for?

Does one choose a sporty Continental GT - in either coupe or convertible form - a more spacious Flying Spur saloon or the "ultimate" Bentley in the shape of the Mulsanne?

The undisputed "king" of the range, even by Bentley standards the Mulsanne goes the extra mile in terms of its size, power and sheer opulence.

Strictly speaking it's not a limousine but in reality it has many of the characteristics of one, including its price tag.

At £228,000 it's the sort of figure most might associate more with a house purchase than a means of transport.

But it's easy to see why it costs as much as it does, emerging as an outstanding example of ultimate British craftsmanship, undisputed style and engineering excellence.

The Mulsanne was introduced as the replacement to the Arnage and is very much a Bentley for the modern age, while also having more than a nod to the past.

It manages to fuse old and new to great effect. The exterior styling is certainly way more contemporary than the Arnage, yet it still manages to retain an inherent element of Bentley design DNA that pays homage to a great automotive heritage.

On the inside there's plenty of modern technology yet the overall feel is very traditional. From the luxurious hide seats that are still hand-made in Bentley's Crewe factory to old-fashioned dials and switches that are veritable works of art, it's a place that's a real pleasure to be in - even when standing still.

Best of all, though, is the craftsmanship, particularly when it comes to the use of fine veneers and woods throughout the car, which shows the kind of skill and attention to detail that really has to be seen to be believed. It adds considerable ambience to the interior and helps give the car much of its character.

The Mulsanne is powered by a whopping 6.75-litre twin-turbo V8 engine. It's about as silky smooth and engine as one could wish for and its noise makes little if any intrusion into the cabin at more sedate speeds.

So much so it's hard to imagine it being a gas guzzler but economy certainly isn't a strong point. At worst, on a slow suburban commute I was getting less than 10 miles to the gallon, though if you're not too heavy with your right foot you might manage 22mpg on a motorway journey.

Out on an open road the Mulsanne's engine and its dynamic capabilities can be explored to the full. Of course it's a big and heavy car (2,685kg) but it's also a proper sporting saloon that delivers great performance and a thoroughly exhilarating drive. There's an element of roll through the bends but unfortunately the laws of physics can't be prevented from coming into play.

It boasts 505bhp, 752lb/ft of torque, a 0-62mph of 5.3 seconds and a top speed of 184mph.

Perhaps one of the most difficult things to get used to is the Mulsanne's sheer bulk. As cars go it really is a giant. Seemingly standard manoeuvres take just a little more thought and planning. When supermarket parking, spaces shrink in comparison and a multi-storey car park is probably best avoided.