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COOKING UP A STORM

The new Rolls Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe is extremely well travelled and everywhere it goes it leaves a wake of elation behind it

Much like the concept 101EX it is based on, the new Rolls Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe is heavily influenced by the nautical world. In fact one of the most striking features is the optional teak wood panelling which wraps around the back seats and spans out to the droptop`s tonneau cover. The heavily embellished cream leather interior makes for an excellent contrast; again very much in keeping with the traditional upholstery in yachts. The Rolls Royce 101EX concept car was built to commemorate the company`s centennial in 2004. It was commended for its liberal ideas and modern design philosophy, this was particuarly illustrated by its suicide doors and stainless steel brushed bonnet which is also mirrored in its windscreen surrounds. Due to Rolls Royce’s experimental vehicle also being 16.5cm shorter and 7.1cm lower than the Phantom it was intended to be more agile and engaging to drive. Such was the impact of its cutting edge image that it drew the attention of Hollywood stars, Shanghai’s finest business tycoons, Abu Dhabi’s young Sheiks and of course Britain’s multi millionaires.

At the time Rolls Royce denied any forthcoming plans to build it but three years later and the resemblance to the new Phantom Drophead Coupe is uncanny. It’s headlights for example are straight off the 101EX and even the vertically hinged doors have been brought to production. Look closely at the sides of the Drophead Coupe and you’ll see its sides are much more tapered and thanks to the extraction of 225mm in its overall length you’ll need slightly less garage space for it. Its aluminium spaceframe platform also has a 250mm shorter wheelbase than the original Phantom which it is based around and every exterior pannel is new. The Coupe also features a more ‘laid back’ grille which slightly softens its hard, flat, rectangular face. No less imposing or majestic you understand but its slanted lines do make it appear less adverse to air currents.
Powering a car that sees every conceivable comfort as a necessity is not an easy task, combine this with re-inforced aluminium sills, a stranglehold of chassis underpinnings and a near bullet-proof windscreen frame and you can see how the weight crept up by 70kg to a hefty 2620kg. To counteract this excess, a mamouth 6.75-litre V12 engine howls beneath the bonnet. All out it produces 435bhp and has Porsche-like acceleration from 0-60mph (a staggering 5.7 seconds). Top end it will breeze along at 145mph but even with tons of grip and awesome brakes, it’s still some beast of a thing to stop. Not that you’ll be driving it like a hulligan; as soon as you sink back in to its hand finished seats and take a hold of its ornate steering wheel (a classic Phantom centre piece), you’ll be transported to the utopian side of life.

Even the bitter elements will have a job breaking your apparition; with practical wipe down upholstery and durable floor matting, it holds true to its nautical endeavours. Once a few drops turn in to a bit of a gale however, the Drophead Coupe provides five layers of insulation between its occupants and the outside world. So even if you’re pulled over star gazing with your lover, things can get all the more cosy with the sound of raindrops on the roof and a surround sound orchestra seranading you. You’ll only get crisp quality from its nine channels and 15 speakers and should you feel the inclination to dance there’s enough height at the rear.
Now as we’ve already mentioned, Rolls Royce’s are certainly for romantics but along with this they have always been calmly mesmirising rather than giving you lightning bolt jitters. With BMW’s influence though its much more audacious. For example nobody really thought they would put a brushed stainless steel bonnet, screen surround and quarterlight frames on the options list, next we’ll be able to specify a race suspension.

Okay, not quite. Its silky ride quality is still its pièce de résistance – who needs an orthopaedic surgeon when you’ve got a Rolls Royce? Besides, stress wasn’t invented when they made this opulent extension of ‘Laissez Faire’ Britain. It seems this rather Victorian idea of intimacy gets carried over with the handling too; just keep your driving gloves on and don’t expect any pillow talk! The point is it’s an effortless drive and its ambience is all consuming; serene, imperial and unable to be replicated. Isn’t that what its buyers want, a bespoke, hand built machine that was given just as much passion and precision as the very first? Well that’s exactly what you’ve got and as the Drophead Coupe is the most eccentric Rolls Royce ever produced it opens the way for a whole new clientele.

Verdict

FOR: Its beautiful Teak panelling and all consuming serenity
AGAINST: Its bold experimentation may offend some of its more traditional buyers
CONCLUSION: Modern vision, authentic feel; if you want the grandeur with a blend of Saint Tropez then the Rolls Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe is just the ticket

Spec

ENGINE: V12, 6749cc, 48v, direct injection
POWER: 453bhp @ 5350rpm
TORQUE (lb/ft): 531lb ft @ 3500rpm
0-60mph (sec): 5.7
TOP SPEED: 149mph
TRANSMISSION: 6-speed automatic
PRICE: £260,000
RIVALS: Maybach 57, Bentley Azure