Driven: Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe 2015 Review
Following a week long test drive of the ultimate status symbol and icon, the Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe, here is what we made of the car.
What is the Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe all about?
The Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe is the pinnacle of luxury motorcars and I’m certainly proud to say that it is British built. The Rolls-Royce Phantom is priced to a very select number of individuals who are able to afford such a fine piece of motoring art, which of course keeps this car highly exclusive.
The design of the Rolls-Royce Phantom is nothing less than a work of art. Starting with the crown jewels of the Phantom, the ‘Spirit of Ecstasy’, she sits on top of that humongous front grille, the staple piece of the Rolls-Royce brand. From here the car flows back with a brushed steel bonnet that is surrounded by powder blue exterior paintwork and is finished off with a set of 21 inch alloy wheels. The Phantom Drophead comes in around 5.6m long and weighs a great massive 2,630kg. The Phantom is powered by a V12 6.75-litre engine that creates 453bhp and 720Nm of torque, this means that the car can get from 0 to 60mph in 5.6 seconds and will do a top speed of 149mph.
How does it drive?
The Rolls-Royce Phantom technically differs very little from the Phantom saloon driving experience, but having the roof off opens you up to a whole new world. Getting inside the car it almost has an SUV type feel because of the height you sit at. You have to get up and over the door sills to get into the car; it is certainly more of a giant leap for mankind, rather than a small step.
Once you are behind the wheel, you pop the electronic key in the ignition and start up the V12 engine with the push of a button. You will be surprised what you hear when it starts up…nothing. The 6.75-litre V12 is purposely designed to be as quiet and refined as physically possible, and Rolls-Royce have certainly ticked the box on this one. Putting the car into gear and moving off in the Rolls-Royce for the first time is a moment you will always remember. Rolls-Royce have created a surreal sensation of transitioning from stand still to moving without any motion being felt by the driver, it is insane. There are a selection of things in the mix that go into creating this feeling; the engine design, gearbox configuration, size of the car, size of the wheels, and choice of suspension components to name a few.
This smooth and relaxing experience is made possible through innovations in the mechanics of the car. The Phantom isolates you from the flaws on the ground underneath you and allows you to cruise along, magically correcting the road conditions no matter how extreme.
When driving the car on the road you can’t help but be very aware of the mass of the Phantom, but visibility is surprisingly good due to the humongous wing mirrors and clever camera system which help make it more manageable. Being a Drophead Coupe you get the convertible car experience allowing you to take in the sounds, sights, smells and emotions of your surroundings which provides an even more exclusive experience than the saloon, and further helps with that visibility too. When it comes to power the Rolls-Royce can still deliver for sure. The 0-60mph time in the Phantom seems as if it takes no effort what so ever to get there, and past 60mph the car just keeps going and going. It is very bizarre being in a car this large that still has a fast pace.
What is it like inside?
The Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe interior is built to a ridiculously high standard. It uses an array of very fine and exclusive materials to create an indulgent and bespoke interior to meet even the most refined of requirements. The interior of this particular model had a powder blue and wood finish. The teak wood was an immaculate finish on this car, I have never seen another car that features anything similar to this. Take a look at the picture below to get a feel for how impressive the car looks.
On the inside of the Rolls-Royce there is actually quite a lot of buttons, but they all serve a purpose and don’t take too much time to get used to. The car uses a James Bond style rotating LCD screen that converts to a clock when you don’t want it to be visible.
The Drophead Coupe has an advanced sound system with speakers all around. The car plays music with outstanding fidelity which will impress even those with the highest of standards. This sound system adds great value to the Rolls-Royce, allowing you to drive around in luxury listening to the music of your choice at truly impressive sound quality. This ticks a very big box for me.
As you would expect with Rolls-Royce, there is always a selection of umbrellas in the car! This model in particular had 2 umbrellas in the front doors and an extra two that are mounted on inside of the boot lid. It goes without saying these are some of the best umbrellas you will ever handle, they are amazing – not something you will hear me say very often about umbrellas, or probably ever again for that matter!
The Experience
It doesn’t really come much tougher than trying to define the Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe experience, quite simply the Phantom provides a highly exclusive and undoubtedly enjoyable way to travel; you will always get noticed in a Drophead Phantom.
The Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe is top of the tree when it comes to a seriously premium convertible car. It has both the persona and road presence to stop the world in its tracks. I’ve witnessed the Phantom capture the attention of crowds, and cars even clear the road for you. Wherever you go in the Rolls-Royce you will be respected.
Verdict
It goes without saying that the Rolls-Royce Phantom is a huge investment that 99% of the globe will never be able to afford. But that is also part of the beauty of this car, it is an exclusive pleasure to be driven only by the people who have put themselves in the position where they can afford to experience the ultimate in luxury motoring. And the Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe does an excellent job of fulfilling this need. The car is an absolute beauty to look at, to drive, or to be chauffeured in.
Video Highlights
Specification
Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe
- Price: £348,595
- Engine: 6.75-litre V12
- Power: 453bhp
- Torque: 720Nm
- Transmission: 8 Speed Automatic
- 0-62mph: 5.6 Seconds
- Top speed: 149mph
- Weight: 2,630g
- Economy: 14mpg
- CO2: 347g/km
Author: Paul Hadley
