Rolls Royce Phantom Drophead Series II

What more resplendent way to experience open air motoring than from behind the wheel of the Rolls Royce Phantom Drophead Series II. This most luxurious expression of Phantom is redefining the luxury car market segment. This ultra exclusive Hyper Cabrio from the Phantom family of luxury motoring continues to share the powerful presence of elegance, performance, and technology. Although the Phantom Drophead shares many attributes of its family, it has a unique personality of its own.

The design is inspired by the J-class yachts of the 1930s; they were NOTORIOUS for their performance and use of natural materials in a luxuriously decadent manner. Traditional hand crafted engineering combined with breath taking beauty mark the Phantom Drophead as the modern interpretation of the luxury convertible. It continues the long heritage of two-door, four-seat open Grand Touring Rolls Royces and is created to be the best cabriolet in the world.

Every Phantom is hand built at the Home of Rolls Royce at Goodwood in England. It takes 60 pairs of hands to design, craft, and construct a Rolls Royce. The Phantom Drophead is less formal and more sporting than its stablemates. It evokes the feeling of being aboard an elegant motor yacht. Its classic self-closing coach doors allow elegant entry and exit to and from the rear lounge seat.

The unique seating design gently positions passengers towards each other creating an intimate atmosphere. The signature hood is constructed of five layers of material including cashmere, and when closed, creates a hermetic seal. The hand sewn headliner conceals all convertible hardware and mocks the appearance of a hardtop coupe. 

The elegant cabin can be designed to suit the client, bespoke options create infinite choices making each a truly one of a kind automobile. It requires nine hand sewn hides and over two weeks to complete. The leather is pre-shrunk and drum-dyed, it won’t squeak nor crack. The new center console organizes everything for convenience.

The fascia is available in full metal or high gloss veneers. Wood veneer gracing the cabin comes from the skills of modern technology all hand crafted. Depending upon the specification up to 43 wooden parts are used in all Phantom models. Each is constructed of up to 28 layers of wood.

Thin sheets of aluminium are applied in between the layers of wood to prevent splintering in an accident. All veneer is mirrored and constructed from the same log. It is then hand polished to a glass-like appearance so strong that a cigarette can be stubbed out on its finish leaving no marks. All wood and veneer used by Rolls Royce are done by a team of specialists dedicated to perfection.

That beautiful decking around the convertible top’s locker is made from Teak. It was selected because of its hardy properties and its resistance to moisture and decay. Each deck is made from more than 30 pieces of wood precisely machine grooved and sealed by a specially formulated blend of oils. Its look is designed to preserve the appearance of a fresh unprocessed finish resembling natural timber.

A unique new camera system is offered as standard equipment on all Phantom Series II models. Cameras positioned in five locations gives the driver a complete view of all angles around the car. Two are located in the front bumper, one in the underside of each rear view mirror and one located in the boot lid.

The Phantom Drophead is powered as all Phantoms with the formidable 6.75 litre, naturally aspirated 48-valve alloy V12 engine. It cranks 453 bhp @ 5,350 rpm with 720 Nm peak torque @ 3,500 rpm. A ZF eight speed automatic transmission powers 0-60 in 5.7 seconds with an electronically limited top speed of 149 mph which isn’t bad for a vehicle of its stature. If you want to go faster, drive the Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse…….OK? A Rolls Royce isn’t meant for extreme speed……it is a luxury car. You wouldn’t drink a fine Chateau Lafite Rothschild out of a Styrofoam cup at the race track would you?

Its double wishbone front suspension and sophisticated rear multi-link suspension set-up is fitted with anti-lift and anti-dive geometry. Anti-dive is a suspension parameter that affects the amount of suspension deflection when brakes are applied. Anti-lift in the rear suspension reduces rebound travel while braking. There is also and anti-squat feature that keeps the vehicle poised under acceleration. The famous Rolls Royce “Magic Carpet Ride” makes every road seamlessly perfect. A Rolls Royce just does everything better.

The Phantom Drophead utilizes the Rolls Royce Intelligent Safety and Information System (ISIS) which utilize sensors located throughout. In the event of impact, the system makes up to 4,000 calculations per second establishing the severity. It then deploys a network of safety systems. These include intelligent braking and restraint systems such as Dynamic Stability Control, Dynamic Traction Control, seat belt pre-tensioners, and air bags. The driver and passengers are protected with a sophisticated array of active and passive safety features.

This avant-garde Hyper Cabrio is shaped entirely by hand by the master coachbuilders. The latest manifestation of the Rolls Royce art is a range of motor cars offering an incomparable blend of craftsmanship, advanced technology, comfort and refinement. All aspects of safety as well as comfort are of paramount concern to Rolls Royce. Everything is designed for smoothness, quietness, and the feeling of well being which comes from driving the finest example of the automotive art. Being the quintessential status symbol, Rolls Royce represents the ultimate in motoring. The Rolls Royce Phantom Drophead coupe is truly “The Spirit of Excellence.”