Once upon a time, if you owned a Bentley, it was customary to employ a chauffeur.

Not so any longer – technology has taken care of that.

And its fastest convertible yet, the magnificently engineered 200mph Continental GTC Speed, is home to one of the most intelligent cruise control systems in the world, making driving a very relaxing affair.

A radar monitors the distance of the traffic ahead and moderates the Speed accordingly – something that would have been unimaginable when the Continental was first produced in 1952.

This results in the Bentley thinking for itself, braking and accelerating on its own, similar to autopilot in an executive jet.

It begs the question “has technology gone too far?”

You can imagine in years to come all cars being like this and the driver becoming redundant.

Yes it is clever. But use it for too long and there is a fear that you’ll forget how to drive.

The six-speed automatic gearbox removes the hassle of changing gear but get bored and the paddles on the left and the right of the steering wheel allow it to drive like a manual.

David Money, sales manager at Bentley Hampshire in the New Forest, is quick to point out that “for a 200mph supercar it is very easy to drive” and at low speeds, this two-tonne beast is as simple to manoeuvre as a Fiesta.

“It’s a true grand tourer and, unlike other less compromising sports cars, is as refined and relaxing at 30mph on country roads as it is at 130mph on the autobahn,” Mr Money says.

“The 0 to 60 is sub-five seconds but even more impressive is the maximum torque, produced at just 1,600 revs. Accelerate strongly at low speeds and there is a tremendous surge of power, which will project you rapidly towards the legal limit.”

A journey along mainly B-roads from Christchurch to Bath gives a good opportunity to demonstrate its abilities.

One minute it will be happily crawling through a jam drawing great attention.

The reason? The blue crystal Bentley is low to the ground, with striking multi-spoke alloys, a boot-mounted lip spoiler and wide twin-rifled exhaust tail pipes, which emit the most pleasing roar, putting every boy racer to shame.

Seconds later, on overtaking, the W12, 600bhp engine will propel the vehicle with gut wrenching force – thrusting driver and passengers back in their cream Portland hide seats.

Inside there are generous quantities of chrome on most switches, including the push button start and the handbrake. The dash is aluminium and everything is electric from the roof to the boot.

And that roof is a feat of engineering excellence because the mechanism ensures it operates very smoothly.

Once activated all the windows automatically go down and the roof neatly folds into the boot – a pleasure to watch.

It is hard to criticise such a prestigious motor car but I have found some chinks in its beautifully designed armour.

There is some wind noise when travelling fast and the plastic gearshift paddles on the steering wheel would look more at home on my mountain bike – surely chrome would be better suited?

Space is a bit of an issue too. It is a chore to transport four adults, the front seats needing to be pushed quite far forward to afford the rear occupants adequate legroom.

But this doesn’t matter much because the Bentley makes even the dullest of journeys into a fabulous occasion generating many lustful glances.

Despite Volkswagen acquiring the manufacturer 12 years ago, Bentleys are still lovingly produced in Crewe.

According to Mr Money, one of the staff, who has been at the factory for 30 years, has used the same fork for at least half that time to ensure that there is equal spacing between the stitching on each steering wheel.

Silver Lady Sales in Bournemouth sells pre-owned Bentleys and Rolls Royce cars and owner Steve Drewitt anticipates selling the GTC Speed in the near future.

“They are good value but it is hard to get them,” he says.

“It’s still too new at the moment.

“I sold a GTC last week for £85,000 and I have one GT at the moment,” says Mr Drewitt, who sells 85 Bentleys and Rolls Royce cars a year.