German Car Zone

Merc1 · 11-02-2007, 02:35 PM

Picking a color could take years.

Rolls-Royce, in BMW’s hands nine years now, continues its glamorous and flamboyant traditions—big and bazoomy, yet somehow stately, even while knocking over a cocktail table or two during a flashy entrance. But once upon a time, getting into a $412,000 Rolls convertible was cause for grown men to begin pawing at it like beered-up college boys, but now the wow quotient is down: There seem to be fewer chromed “organ knobs,” colored leather appears not so exotic in the age of bling, and the little forest of lacquered woods and the elegant emblems aren’t quite so glorious anymore.

This all-new convertible is yachtlike in length—220.8 inches, a foot and change more than the limolike Mercedes S-class. Indeed, the two rear-hinged “coach doors” are so long that from inside, they’re beyond reach. Push a switch, and they come barreling shut with a regal thunk.

Everyone walks around back to run fingers over 30-some pieces of teak wood. This car has its own deck! It’s an extra $8500 and requires a special oil, don’t you know. You can have a brushed stainless-steel hood, but—so tacky to bring this up—it’s more, too: $9750. (Buy both options, and it’s just $17,000.) Choose any of 4300 colors (nine are standard), with 10 shades of interior leather, 6 hood colors, 6 types of wood veneers. The radio has 15 speakers and 9 amplifiers.

BMW has inserted its big mojo, a 6.7-liter V-12, under the hood, worth 453 horses and a torque index of 531 at 3500 rpm, propelling this smooth 5800-pound projectile to, it’s said, 60 in 5.7 seconds and on to a governed 149 mph. For 412 grand, that’s possibly underpowered. For that dough, why not jet power? The motoring press made naughty jokes about the car’s interesting “sports lumbering” over Tuscan two-lanes, but its space-frame structure and a 50/50 distribution of the results of its Wellesian waistline, along with all the diligent engineering the company can rightfully brag about, make for a pleasant ride absent of cowl shake, although someone might have added a wind blocker. The soft top has five layers of material, some of it cashmere. Tradition rejected the idea of a folding metal top. It would have compromised the car’s looks. The top goes up or down in 25 seconds.

Here’s why you buy a Phantom drophead coupe: In Tuscany, dapper white-haired Italian men appear at road’s edge to smile with sparkling eyes that say, “Good for you.” And wave their walking sticks merrily at your success.

There are 94,970 people in the world worth at least $30 million, reason enough for Rolls to feel confident it can attract nearly a fifth of one percent of them, or 200 sales a year of this convertible. About 35,000 of those swells are Americans. The line began forming at Rolls showrooms last July.

VEHICLE TYPE: front-engine, rear-wheel-drive, 4-passenger, 2-door convertible

BASE PRICE: $412,000

ENGINE TYPE: DOHC 48-valve V-12, aluminum block and heads, direct fuel injection
Displacement: 412 cu in, 6749cc
Power (SAE net): 453 bhp @ 5350 rpm
Torque (SAE net): 531 lb-ft @ 3500 rpm

TRANSMISSION: 6-speed automatic

DIMENSIONS:
Wheelbase: 130.7 in Length: 220.8 in Width: 78.2 in Height: 62.2 in
Curb weight: 5800 lb

PERFORMANCE (MFR’S EST):
Zero to 60 mph: 5.7 sec
Top speed (governor limited): 149 mph

PROJECTED FUEL ECONOMY (C/D EST):
EPA city driving: 12 mpg
EPA highway driving: 18 mpg

First Drive: 2008 Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe - Previews - Car and Driver October 2007

M

shonguiz · 11-02-2007, 03:58 PM

The Black car is so damn cool.

Bruce · 11-02-2007, 04:30 PM

Even though I wouldn't want to drive one around town (too flashy), there's no denying what a spectacular vehicle it is. As far as I'm concerned it's got oddles of old school charm without managing to appear contrived. Yet at the same, it looks as - if not more so - modern than most everything else. My favourite luxo barge, no qualms about it.

Tarek · 11-02-2007, 04:59 PM

I'm realy unable to like that car for some weird unknown reason,maybe that wood on the back...i don't know!

vedjo01 · 11-02-2007, 05:56 PM

This is not a car..it´s a president hotel suite on wheels

!
What a masterpiece..

EnI · 11-02-2007, 08:12 PM

Luwalira & coolraoul!

This is a RR DC thread. Changing this thread into Maybach Landaulet vs RR DC is considered a thread-jacking, and therefore a rule violation.

If you want a Maybach vs RR discussion open a new thread in Internal combustion section!