Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupé
From BMW Tech
| Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupé, in Palm Beach, Florida | |
| Automotive industry | Rolls-Royce |
|---|---|
| Parent company | BMW Group |
| Also called | Drophead Coupé |
| Production | 2007-present |
| Assembly | Westhampnett, Chichester (district), United Kingdom |
| Predecessor | Rolls-Royce Corniche V |
| Car classification | Luxury car |
| Car body style | 2-door, 4-seat Convertible |
| Automobile layout | FR layout |
| Internal combustion engine | V12 engine 6749 cc (412 cu in) |
| Transmission (mechanics) | 6-speed Automatic transmission |
| Wheelbase | 3,320 mm (130.7 in) |
| Length | 5,609 mm (220.8 in) |
| Width | 1,987 mm (78.2 in) |
| Height | 1,581 mm (62.2 in) |
| Curb weight | 2,620 kg (5,800 lb) |
| Fuel capacity | 80 L (21.1 US gal; 17.6 imp gal) |
| Related | Rolls-Royce Phantom Coupé |
The Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupé is a handmade convertible manufactured by Rolls-Royce that debuted at the 2007 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Michigan, on January 7 2007.[1] The platform is based on the 2003 Rolls-Royce Phantom and has styling heavily derived from the Rolls-Royce 100EX, a Concept car unveiled to celebrate the company's centennial in 2004.
Contents |
Exterior
The exterior remains faithful to the Marine (ocean)-nautical theme of the 100EX. The two-door four-seat droptop features rearward opening Suicide door and a two-tone color scheme that delineates between the upper and lower bodywork and frames the Teak wood paneling of the droptop's tonneau cover. Unlike the 2004 concept car, however, the production unit eschews the EX's aluminium bonnet in favour of more easily maintained stainless steel.
The front fascia takes its cues from the 100EX but with the crucial difference of the middle bodywork/raised bonnet/grille assemblage terminating midway down the face rather than continuing downwards and bisecting the front bumper. The headlamps are also taken straight out of the 100EX/101EX concept and are similar to the Phantom's. The deepset rectangular high beams are Light-emitting diode (LED) units while the round "faux-foglamp" driving lights are projector-style Xenon arc lamp. The exterior is available in more than 44,000 color combinations.
It combines aluminium technology and hand-crafted materials. All in all, the car continues Rolls-Royce's current design theme, premiered on the Phantom, combining features of luxuriant 1930s Art Deco with cold 21st century "techno-modern".
Interior
The interior is a modern avant-garde reinterpretation of the traditional English Gentlemen's Clubroom with a wide, varied pluralistic palette of design philosophies ranging from minimalism to Art Deco. Perhaps the car's main design showcase is the yachting-inspired wood veneering that wraps around the 8/9ths top portion of the cabin from coach door to coach door and terminating in a crafted droptop tonneau cover, hand-finished in nautical-grade teak wood paneling sandwiched between an interior band of contrasting hardwood and the bare stainless steel motif of the car's upper exterior bodywork. Similarly with the 100EX and 101EX, the dashboard and the steering wheel are straight out of the Phantom.
A triangular Pillar (car) with Quarter glass, as well as the spring-loaded pop-up rollover hoops behind the rear seats, provide additional strength and protection for the convertible body.
Production
In its first year on the market (2007), 253 Drophead Coupés were sold worldwide.[2]
The first car destined for the U.S. market was Auction at the 2007 Naples, Florida Florida food festivals charity for $2 million, of which $1.6 million will go to the Naples Children and Education Foundation.[3] Purchased by a local real estate developer, the winning bid is believed to be the most expensive new car ever sold in the U.S.[4]
Concepts
Pininfarina built a version called the Hyperion, based on the Drophead Coupé.[5] The car was unveiled in 2008 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance.[6]
Scale model
Although a number of unauthorized scale models of the Phantom Drophead Coupe have been produced, Rolls Royce has awarded Exoto the exclusive right to make a 1:18 of the Phantom Drophead Coupe. The model will sell for US$498 making it one of the most expensive scale models. Minichamps, a German model maker has been given the right to produce a 1:43 scale model costing about US $70.
References
- ↑ Hutton, Ray (December 2006). "2008 Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe - Auto Shows - The production version stays true to its conceptual forerunners". Car and Driver. http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/hot_lists/car_shopping/what_s_new_for_2008/2008_rolls_royce_phantom_drophead_coupe_auto_shows. Retrieved on 2008-05-14.
- ↑ http://www.bmwgroup.com/geschaeftsbericht2007/_downloads/BMW_Group_2007.pdf, retrieved 3-20-2008.
- ↑ Layden, Laura (2007-01-27). "Going, going, gone: Rolls Royce fetches $2 million". Naples Daily News. http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2007/jan/27/wine_auction_rare_rolls_royce_goes_2_million/?wine_festival. Retrieved on 2008-05-14.
- ↑ Evans, Gary (2007-02-16). "First US Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe Auctioned for $2 million". Naples Daily News. http://www.greatcarstv.com/news/first-us-rolls-royce-phantom-drophead-coupe-auctioned-for-$2-million.html. Retrieved on 2008-05-14.
- ↑ 2008 Rolls-Royce Hyperion
- ↑ Pics Aplenty: Pininfarina Rolls-Royce Hyperion
External links
- Official Rolls-Royce website, offering detailed specifications and pictures about the Drophead Coupé
- Soft-top Rolls lifts the lid on global wealth, by Jorn Madslien, BBC News
- Phantom Romance Autoweek article about the 2008 Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe
- Images of the Phantom Drophead Coupe
| Rolls-Royce Motor Cars road car timeline
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| Standard | 10 hp 15 hp | V-8 20 hp | Twenty | 20/25 | 25/30 Wraith | World War II | Silver Dawn | Silver Cloud | Silver Shadow/Silver Wraith II | Silver Spirit/Spur/Dawn | ||||||||||||||||
| Luxury vehicle | 30 hp | 40/50 hp (Silver Ghost) | Phantom I/II/III | Silver Wraith | Camargue | Silver Seraph | Phantom | |||||||||||||||||||
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| Convertible | Corniche/II/III/IV | Corniche V | Phantom Drophead | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Coupe | Phantom Coupé | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
