Merc1

Under the Tuscan sun: Take the long way back to the villa


As we guide the newest Rolls-Royce's proud visage through the lush Italian countryside, we feel as much the captain of a custom-built motor yacht as the driver of a uniquely crafted motorcar. The "six and three-quarter-liter" (not 6.7 or 6.8, thank you; it's 6 3/4, just as Rolls engines have been for decades) V-12 woofles softly. The naturally finished, oiled teak decking glows in the afternoon light. What seems like acres of soft, drum-tanned leather is supple to the touch and adds its own aroma to the sea-scented Tuscan air. Sisal floormats feel good underfoot, and, with the top down, we have a view of this breathtaking yet tranquil region that is unparalleled. The Winged Spirit of Ecstasy hood ornament leads the way, as a soft wind ruffles hillside vines, heavy with Sangiovese and Merlot grapes that'll someday become wines labeled Toscano Superiore. So this is what that whole La Dolce Vita thing is all about.

Who'll be fortunate enough to buy such an automobile, especially at the typically optioned price of $440,000-$450,000? Merrill-Lynch calls them Ultra High Net Worth Individuals -- UHNWIs, for short. In plain terms, really rich people. These are folks who have $30 million or more in investments and disposable income -- not including the value of their home(s) or business(es). There are more than 85,000 UHNWIs in the world, but Rolls-Royce is building the hyperexclusive Phantom Drophead Coup for just a few hundred of them per year.

Dismissing the DHC as a two-door ragtop version of the Phantom sedan would be a mistake. The powertrain, suspension architecture, electronic systems, and some elements of its aluminum structure are shared, but an impressive amount of work, much of it unseen, went into engineering the DHC into far more than a variant of the four-door.

Consider the design itself, inspired by the 100EX concept car that rocked the Geneva show in 2004. Starting right up front, the DHC is the first production Rolls-Royce that breaks from the traditional Parthenon-inspired grille shell. It's curved, angled rearward, and finished in brushed stainless steel instead of polished. Every body panel is new. In the tradition of the finest 1930s-era coachbuilt automobiles, the Drophead boasts rear-hinged, front-opening doors in the name of style and to make entry/exit a more elegant proposition.

An open roof is the natural enemy of structural rigidity, so considerable effort went into making the handwelded alloy body/chassis as stiff as possible. Forty percent of the structure's aluminum extrusion work is new, including massive sills that are larger and thicker than the closed car's. More rigidity comes from the windshield/A-pillar structure. There are alloy triangulation braces in the engine bay. Altogether, more than 1300 parts are different from those in the Phantom sedan.

Why not a retractable metal roof? Rolls officials cite three reasons: It wouldn't have allowed the styling profile they desired. It would've compromised trunk space. A cloth top-a hand-assembled, five-layer, one-touch piece in this case-just looks so much more romantic. We agree.

Could there be a more inviting cabin? Everything you see and touch is wrapped in sublime leather (more than 450 pieces, stitched together by real people with sewing machines), lustrous wood of varying finish, and thickly chromed metal. The only plastic stuff is what's required for crash safety. Some of the switchgear, such as the seat controls and the iDrive controller, is hidden by panels or in cubbies. They may seem a pain to access, but the idea is to reduce the number of buttons and switches for a less cluttered cabin. There are a few ergonomic flubs, such as seat-heater buttons that are deeply recessed and hard to reach and illegible lettering on some of the controls. However, once the owner has mastered the car, it won't matter. The rear seat is easy to access and coved into the sidepanels for comfort. It's all a very social environment.

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I know they're wrapped in the best leather possible, but the door panels and seat look look a little bare, plain even.

M

SDNR

It really has a very different style compared with any other car. I must be honest with you and say there are some details which don't really work for me, but overall, it is a supremely stylish car.

The sisal mats on the floor are quite unique ...enhancing the obvious nautical feeling of the car even more I think.

Merc1

Oh I may get it now. The bare look of the doors and seats is supposed to mimic a luxury yacht?

M

SDNR

Yes, this really harks back to some of the Rolls-Royces of the 1920s and 30s rather than the less 'sporty' post war models -- check THIS out Marcus

Merc1

Wow, ok I can see the lineage now. That Boattail Silver Ghost is just off the charts.

M

RikfromBelgium

that interior is just magnificent: simple, stylish, elegant, ... amazing

warot

I don't think anyone here has any idea what luxury and quality is until you've been inside a RR. My goodness. It just blows everything I've ever thought of knowing away. Everything I touched in the Phantom was just that far ahead of anything I've ever felt. And the leather, don't get me started

Merc1

I believe you because I felt that way when I got a chance to sit in a Bentley Arnage. I can't imagine what it must feel like to drive a car like this whenever you want.

M

warot

Agreed. I mean, I love BMW and Benz to death, but these things are just lightyears ahead. Didn't think it was possible but it is.

You know what else? When you sit inside, you can't believe how big this car is. It really is gargantuan.

I really like the look of this thing btw. It's only a matter of time before people put 24" rims and roll around in Hollywood.

SDNR

Well I would expect it to be amazing .....you sure pay for it to be so