A group of car enthusiasts and businessmen is believed to be planning an eleventh-hour offer this week that will top Volkswagen's bid for Rolls-Royce Motor Cars.

The group of Rolls and Bentley car owners, mostly British and American millionaires, plans to offer more than #450m and is said to have formed a new company called Crewe Motors, after the Rolls and Bentley factory, to launch its bid. It has provided for about #350m in back-up capital for investment in future models.

The terms would surpass the VW offer of #430 which itself beat a rival bid of #340m from BMW.