2008 Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupé Preview

Written By: MyRide.com
Reprinted under license.

There will always be a Rolls-Royce

What it Is

Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coup Preview - 2007 Detroit Auto Show: Rolls-Royce doesn't manufacture cars. It hand crafts motorcars. Similarly, the two-door open-air version of the Phantom sedan is no mere convertible, but a drophead coup . No matter what you call it though, it is a striking automobile to behold. The styling evokes traditions of past Rolls-Royce cars without slumming the retro ghetto. The wood is plentiful, the chrome finishes are mirror-like, and every interior surface that isn't wood or metal is covered with hides from a small herd of identical cattle. You don't drive this car, you motor.

Why it Matters

It's likely that 99.99 percent of the people reading this won't ever come close to buying a Phantom Drophead Coup . For those that can consider this car, they can be content that they purchased a vehicle that continues a long line of extraordinary Rolls-Royce convertibles. It is also the second vehicle to be developed at Rolls-Royce since BMW took over stewardship of the company in 1998. The rest of us will have to make do with fleeting glimpses.

What's Under the Hood

The days when Rolls-Royce used ambiguous terms like "adequate" to describe its power output are long gone. The Phantom Drophead Coup 's 5776 lbs. are motivated by a 453 horsepower 6.7-liter V12 mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. Torque is a prodigious 531 lb.-ft., more than enough to get the mighty Roller rolling. Rolls-Royce estimates 0-60 mph in 5.7 seconds, and top speed is limited to 149 mph. We'd call that "more than adequate."

What it Looks Like

The 2008 Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coup looks like only one other car on the road, the Rolls-Royce Phantom sedan. Despite this, there are significant differences. Every exterior panel is different, and the Coup is shorter overall than the sedan. It shares the distinctive (and controversial) Rolls-Royce front end treatment. It also has a cloth top, odd considering that hardtop convertibles are almost the norm today. Particularly noteworthy are the rear-hinged doors. Yes, those are massive chrome door handles you see under the side mirrors. We can't think of one practical reason why you'd want the doors to hinge to the rear, and that's exactly why they're perfect for a car like this.

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