Bentley Continental Flying Spur

Essentially the four-door version of Bentley's Continental GT coupe, this nearly 5,500-pound sedan exhibits impressive agility and poise-at-the-limit that set it apart from its ultra-luxury competition. In terms of pure luxury, ride quality and presence, the Bentley Continental Flying Spur might lose some style points to its ultra-expensive competition -- but with a price tag that's more than $100,000 cheaper there are bound to be some trade-offs.

The Flying Spur combines classic British design with a decidedly Teutonic expression of logical control placement and meticulous fit and finish (courtesy of VW's ownership of Bentley). There are enough animal hides and pieces of veneered timber to serve duty in the finest English men's clubrooms?or to bring tears of protest from some environmentalists.

But escape is only a throttle press away, as the twin-turbo W12 engine's 552 horsepower can quickly haul the Spur's significant mass to a top speed of nearly 200 mph. Providing the counterweight to all this motion are huge brakes nearly 16 inches in diameter that bring the big Bentley back to rest with impressive composure.

All told, the Bentley Continental Flying Spur provides the requisite levels of high-end luxury while adding a surprising dose of on-road competence and fun, too. For the fortunate few in the market for an ultra-luxury sedan, it should prove to be an appealing combination.