Rolls-Royce does not build many cars like the Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupé: a 2-door convertible with 6749 cc V12, built from 2007 to 2016 in the decade of stability control, dual-clutch gearboxes and the first serious hybrids. Its designer of record is Ian Cameron.
The story
The Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupé is a luxury grand tourer manufactured by Rolls-Royce that debuted at the 2007 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Michigan, on 7 January 2007. It is based on the 2003 Rolls-Royce Phantom and has styling heavily derived from the 100EX, a concept car shown to celebrate the company's centennial in 2004. Several Drophead Coupés were used in the 2012 Summer Olympics closing ceremony.
What is underneath
Under the skin sits 6749 cc V12. Kerb weight is 2620 kg. The gearbox is a 6-speed automatic, 8-speed automatic. The layout matters: a front engine drives the rear wheels, the classic proportion — long bonnet, cabin set back — that most people picture when they picture a sports saloon or a grand tourer. The wheelbase is 3320 mm. These are manufacturer figures carried by Wikipedia and Wikidata, not road-test measurements.
Its place in the line
Where it sits in Rolls-Royce's history is not in doubt: the Rolls-Royce Corniche V came before it; the Rolls-Royce Dawn followed it; it was built at West Sussex, England (Goodwood plant), United Kingdom. On a showroom list of its day it stood against the Nissan GT-R, the Volkswagen Tiguan, the Hyundai i30. Nearby in the Rolls-Royce catalogue sit the Rolls-Royce 100EX and the Rolls-Royce 102EX.
Rolls-Royce Phantom