Mighty performance it may have, but happily Bentley Continental GT Convertible safety levels are impressive too.

The car features a whole host of safety systems including Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD), which varies the amount of braking power sent to each wheel to get the car stopped effectively, and Hydraulic Brake Assistance (HBA), which can boost brake pressure to shorten the car’s stopping distance in an emergency. The brakes themselves are very large and powerful vented iron discs, as they need to be to slow down nearly three tonnes of Bentley from high speeds.

The car can also detect when it hits standing water to mitigate aquaplaning, while its four-wheel drive system and electronic continuously controlled dampers offer extra security on slippery roads.

Side thorax airbags are fitted in the front, while the rear seats are ISOFIX child seat compatible if you’d like to use your Bentley for runs to the nursery.

No high-performance supercar is ever going to get a lot of marks for practicality and even less so when it is a convertible. Boot space is ok to stow a couple of weekend bags and a few other smaller items thanks to a total of 260 litres of space.

The use of a fabric roof helps as it doesn’t take so much boot space as a metal folding one. What also helps is the use of an (optional) space-saving spare wheel, although the idea of a skinny tyre trying to handle that amount of power hardly bears thinking about.

Inside the car there are touches that are not only practical but fitting for such a luxurious top-end convertible. You can raid the options list for massaging and ventilated front seats to stop you getting hot and bothered under the collar on a hot day, plus a neck warmer and heated steering wheel to keep you warm for winter driving.

There is also the option of a power opening and closing boot plus a wind deflector that fits across the rear seats to reduce buffeting when driving with the roof down.

As standard there are cup-holders upfront in the centre console along with a couple of trays to stash loose change etc, plus the front seats have 14-way adjustment and are heated as standard.