A Rolls’s sheer size and weight dictate that a suitably special engine is required. That’s no problem. Thanks to a mighty 453bhp 6.75-litre V12, acceleration is extremely strong and the engine is merely ticking over at motorway speeds.

Thanks to the air suspension, the ride is hushed and sublimely comfortable. The car corners neatly, too, and the steering is accurate as well as light. Do bear in mind, however, that parking bays and narrow country roads were not designed with cars of this magnitude in mind.

You expect a Rolls-Royce to sound like a library on wheels, and for the most part the Phantom is appropriately silent. There's virtually no road noise and the mechanical components work smoothly and silently. Whether you’re wafting around town or effortlessly accelerating up to motorway speeds, the engine remains unobtrusive, and all there is to show the engine flexing its muscles is the merest burble from under the bonnet and the swing of the needle on the power reserve gauge.

The running costs will be massive, but it’s unlikely that anyone who can shell out this kind of money for a car will really care. Discounts are unheard of, but resale values should remain very strong. Of course, the fuel gauge will be a more conspicuous indicator of your consumption, as you’ll average just 17.9mpg - and that's on a good day.

The car was styled in England, but engineered in Germany by parent company BMW, so you get the best of both worlds. The materials and aroma in the cabin are pure Rolls, but the fit and finish are on an altogether higher level than in the company's old hand-built days. Assembly standards are superb, and we’ve no reason to fear mechanical problems.

Rear-hinged 'coach' doors are normally outlawed. However, Rolls-Royce has overcome the problem by fitting a sophisticated electronic locking unit which prevents the doors being opened into the path of a following car. On top of that, a large range of active and passive safety features comes as standard.

The driver sits at Land Rover Discovery level so they get a great view of the road ahead, but rear visibility is limited by that swooping roofline, a pillar box slot of a rear window and tiny rear view mirrors. More welcome is a simplified version of BMW’s iDrive system - a single twist knob that controls all the major heating, entertainment and information functions. However, the electric seat controls are awkwardly located in the centre armrest.

The coupe has ‘coach' doors, which open towards the rear to make it easier to get in and out. Perhaps most impressively, you can make a nonchalant departure by pressing a dash-mounted button and reclining as the doors close automatically. Space inside is generous, although not as vast in the rear as you might expect. There’s a split tailgate, too, which allows you to park up and use the lower section as a seat.

It’s pointless listing what Rolls supplies in the Phantom, as it would take all day. In any case, it’s unlikely that any two cars will leave the factory with the same specification. Basically, Rolls will sell you anything you want – so long as you are prepared to pay for it.