DROP DEAD GORGEOUS
This article is from our archives and has not been updated and integrated with our "new" site yet... Even so, it's still awesome - so keep reading!
Published on Thu, Sep 4, 2008
By: The LACar Editorial Staff
© All photos by Harvey Schwartz
DROP DEAD GORGEOUS
It's great to see that Roll-Royce is building the ultimate in luxury, along with
superb driving dynamics. The all-new 2008 Roll-Royce Drophead Coupe Convertible
is a driver's car that you will appreciate more each and every day you slide
behind the wheel. The larger and heavier Rolls-Royce Phantom Sedan is usually
found with a hired chauffer at the wheel.
Launched at the Detroit Auto Show in 2006, the Phantom Drophead Coupe
Convertible is the second new model from Rolls-Royce since BMW Group took
ownership of the marquee in 1998. It is a perfect marriage of BMW power and
performance with Roll-Royce signature design and interior craftsmanship and
luxury.
The two-door, four-seat convertible is a less formal interpretation of classic
Roll-Royce design. Using the lightweight rigidity of an all-aluminum spaceframe,
it marries modern technology to a sleek, streamlined convertible body. Its
exterior lines echo the timeless styling of the great Rolls-Royce cars-a long
hood, large diameter wheels, short front and long rear overhangs, and the
signature dynamic line descending along its sides. Inside, the design emphasizes
the airy openness of top-down driving, embracing the elements and creating a
stunning interior.
The car has been carefully crafted to be aesthetically pleasing, yet practical
too. The finest wood, leather, chrome and brushed steel have been used where
most appropriate. Form and function share equal billing. The simplicity of the
design belies a car built to provide years of effortless service. The car offers
owners an unparalleled convertible experience, combining compelling drivability
with exceptional engineering, technology and design-handcrafted from the finest
materials to an exceptional level of quality.
The exterior of the car is both stunning and brilliant; it is the largest
convertible on the road. Every exterior panel on the car is new, echoing the
car's style but with carefully considered proportions more suited to the shorter
body. From the raked front end to the sweeping rear, every aspect was studied at
length to ensure that the finished car looked purposeful.
There is raw beauty emanating from the car with materials used in a way that
emphasizes their natural charm and there is immediacy to the exposed elements of
brushed steel and solid teak. Bleaches, stains and lacquers were shunned as far
as possible in favor of more natural finishes. You hands touch only chrome,
leather and wood. Other materials, such as the brushed steel, are used as
architectural detailing, giving the whole car a sense of visual tactility.
Chief designer Ian Cameron states it best, "The Phantom Drophead Coupe
Convertible is about emphasizing the essentials of pleasure. Above all, we were
determined to make this car a joy to live with. Rolls-Royce is the opposite of
stiff formality. Why would you design and build a car like this and not make it
fun to drive?"
The profile of the car is fundamentally transformed from that of a conventional
four-seat convertible by the inclusion of front coach doors. Evocative of the
classic sports car profile, they add considerably easy entry and exit for rear
seat passengers as well as for the driver and front passenger. Just as
important, they also add significantly to the overall strength and stiffness of
the body as they allow the construction of an uninterrupted A-pillar. These
coach doors are only found on Rolls-Royce Motor Cars.
At the front sits a new, more rakish grille, giving the car a more casual air
while retaining its classic looks. Finished in steel, the center fins are
polished while the surround is brushed to match the optional brushed steel hood
and A-pillar. The grille is hinged at the top in order to give way in the event
of a low-speed impact. On top sits the Spirit of Ecstasy, remodeled using
advanced computer software. Today she has a more lifelike appearance, with clear
definition of her features. Finished in stainless steel, she is also available
in silver or gold. At the push of a button the statue drops down and a door
slides over the opening for extra security.
The front end of the car is more streamlined that that of previous Rolls-Royce
cars. Slim front LED side lights sit above round, High Intensity Discharge
driving lamps that are self-leveling, and feature power washers. The front
bumper is integrated into the design, further softening the look. A discreet
camera sits underneath the license plate to provide an excellent split-screen
view of the road ahead, via the on-board monitor, to help when parking or when
pull out of a side road.
One of the best visual clues to the cars character can be found at the rear. The
picnic boot is the very essence of automotive affability. The only type of its
kind on any convertible, it offers easy access to the luggage compartment as
well as providing comfortable outdoor seating for two adults. The substantial
hinges can hold up to 300 pounds. The 11.1 cubic feet of space, enough to hold
three sets of golf clubs, and this space remains intact whether the top is
raised or not.
Two of the most visually stunning options are the teak decking for the rear hood
cover and top trim, and the brushed steel hood and A-pillar. First seen on the
100EX concept car in 2004, these are signature elements of the Phantom Drophead
Coupe look. The brushed finish of the hood and A-pillars mimic the classic
Phantoms of the '20s and '30s but with a delightful 21st. century twist.
The rear teak decking epitomizes the careful design and attention to detail seen
throughout the car. It is as functional as it is beautiful. Teak was used
because of its inherently hardy properties and its resistance to moisture and
decay. Special techniques were developed in the Rolls-Royce wood shop to
preserve the appearance of a fresh, unprocessed finish, the aim to have a final
deck that was as close to natural timber as possible. More than 30 individual
pieces of teak go into each deck, protected by a specially formulated blend of
oils. As with all the woods and veneers used by Rolls-Royce, it is sourced from
sustainable forests by a team of specialists. It is recommended that the teak be
oiled several times a year.
The convertible top is the largest of any modern convertible. Its acoustic is
exemplary, with five layers of insulation material between occupants and the
outside world. Lined with cashmere blend, the structure is more like a
custom-made, wool suit than a traditional fabric roof. Rolls-Royce was keen to
use a fabric rather than a folding hard-top for several reasons, not the least
aesthetics. As Ian Cameron describes, "There is nothing more romantic than
driving a convertible in the rain at night and hearing the drops hit the roof.
In meetings with our customers we realized that they felt the same way." A
further benefit of the tailored, soft-top is the relatively small space required
to stow it.
The interior concept revolves around the idea of an indoor/outdoor space: an
all-weather passenger compartment that combines the practicality required for
convertible driving with the sumptuous elegance expected of Rolls-Royce. Rather
than take inspiration solely from the automotive world, Chief Interior Designer
Alan Shepherd looked elsewhere. "In 2004, when we were designing the 100EX, we
visited a boatyard in Southampton where one of the famous 1930s America's Cup
J-class yachts was being restored. We were struck by the variety and uses of
different materials throughout. All of the J-class yachts have a tremendous
sense of purposeful elegance about them, and this was something that we were
keen to emulate."
The car has been designed in which to enjoy the elements. The all-weather
surfaces of the interior have been designed to take what nature can throw at
them. "We didn't want owners to feel as if they had to pull over at the first
spot of rain" says Cameron. To this end, a number of notable features can be
seen throughout the interior. First, the seats have no ridges in them, giving a
smooth surface so that moisture can be wiped clean. In place of traditional
floor mats, wholly more practical sisal mats are used. Even the carpet itself
employs 21st century materials designed to deal with the moisture and humidity
encountered in many areas of the world.
The front seats are slimmer than the Phantom sedan's but still offer an
uncompromised degree of comfort and support. Integrated seatbelts are mounted
directly onto them, while active head restraints and front/side airbags give
further protection to the torso and head. The driving position is set
deliberately high to give a commanding view of the road over the long hood, and
the curved rear lounge seats offer an intimate, social environment for
passengers. Rear legroom is excellent and marks the car out as a true four-seater.
The exceptional Lexicon Logic7 audio system has been specially designed for the
car taking into account the differing acoustic properties of the convertible. It
features a 420-watt, nine-channel amplifier, 15-speakers including two
floor-mounted subwoofers, six-in-dash CD player, AM-FM-Weatherband radio tuner
with an auxiliary input for an external audio device.
The interior is simply amazing and comes with these standard features not
mentioned above: full-leather with natural grain and pre-shrunk hides,
book-matched figured veneer or non-book-matched straight grained veneer wood
with contrast detailing, brushed steel waist-rail finishers, power-closing
assistance for the coach doors at the push of a button,
power automatic soft close for the coach doors and the two-piece split picnic
tailgate, electrically adjustable front seats with lumbar support, memory
settings and heat, power tilting/telescoping, leather-wrapped, multi-function
steering wheel with tilt-away feature, automatic climate control, laminated
front glass with climate control glazing, self-righting wheel centers, control
center with foldaway controller and 6.5-inch monitor with integrated controls
for telephone, navigation system, audio/entertainment system and vehicle
configuration, satellite radio system, Bluetooth wireless technology for
hands-free calling, voice-recognition system for select vehicle controls and
park distance control, front and rear.
I've driven the Bentley Continental GTC convertible which was amazing but the
Drophead Coupe Convertible is on a higher level of comfort and luxury. Perfectly
matching the Rolls-Royce design and interior are excellent power and performance
dynamics from BMW.
The engineering challenge was to make this convertible the one with the highest
degree of torsional rigidity throughout the body while keeping weight down. Tens
of thousands of miles were driven over rough roads to identify and eliminate
potential problems. The result is a spaceframe chassis that makes the car
perhaps the most rigid in its class. A clear indicator is when looking through
the rearview mirror it shows no vibration at all, even at high speeds. A great
deal of this is due to the modifications around the triangular A-pillar. The
entire windscreen surround was designed to be an integral part of the rollover
protection system. Consequently the A-pillar struts run right down to
double-layered floor of the car. Additional aluminum extrusions have been
utilized, along with wider side sills. The rear haunches have single extrusion
beams running at waist height on either side.
In all, more than 460 feet of weld go into each car, 65 feet more than the
Phantom sedan. Incorporated into the rear spaceframe structure is the concealed
rollover protection system which deploys from within the rear head restraints in
just a split second in the event of an accident. All of the body panels are made
of aluminum and composite material for strength, lightweight and a long life.
Further adding to occupant safety, frontal impacts are absorbed by crumple zones
directed into Y-shaped chassis members and the main understructure-the strongest
part of the chassis. Side impact intrusion is minimized by the double-skinned
floor construction, strong side sills and integral side impact bars in each
door. Additional braces above and below the engine bay and under the rear axle
add further rigidity to the spaceframe.
The spaceframe is constructed at the BMW center for aluminum competence in
Digolfing, Germany. Manufactured to within a tolerance of just 0.004in., each
spaceframe is welded entirely by hand. They are then checked by a
computer-guided machine to ensure absolute accuracy.
One of the more interesting problems encountered by the engineering team was the
proximity of the optional brushed steel hood to the aluminum front fenders.
These materials are not normally used alongside each other due to the adverse
corrosion effects of aluminum on steel. An integral part of the testing process
was a 20-year old DeLorean car. Manufactured with stainless steel body panels,
it provided an interesting case study into the long-term durability of the
material.
All of the panels used on the car are unique to this car, representing some of
the 1,300 new parts used. Unlike the Phantom sedan, the front fenders have been
constructed from aluminum using the 'superform' technique, in which aluminum is
heated to the critical temperature before being literally sucked down over a
mold to form the large, complex shape.
The Drophead Coupe Convertible is unique unto itself, as no other convertible
manufactured in the world today comes close to its styling, interior comfort,
convenience, luxury or safety.
The car's advanced aluminum spaceframe is at the heart of its refined, dynamic
driving experience. As I said before, this is a driver's car, no chauffer
needed, thank you.
Lightweight and exceptionally strong, the car feels more nimble than it should.
Its inherently rigid frame is essential in isolating vibration and maintaining
the hushed interior calm associated with Rolls-Royce. The car is shorter than
the Phantom sedan by 9.8-inch so turn-in is quicker and sharper, making for a
more agile driving experience.
The lower center of gravity, combined with the reduced wheelbase and incredibly
stiff body produces a sporty ride that is more refined and comfortable. Feedback
from the wheels is informs you of the surface but is never intrusive. Imperfect
road surfaces go unnoticed while feel through the slim steering wheel inspires
you to go faster with confidence. New spring dampers and lighter anti-roll bars
have been engineered to maintain comfort without loss of agility. Self-leveling
air struts continuously adjust for increased speed and loading in hard
cornering, giving you the ability to cut through turns with absolute precision.
The front double-wishbone suspension features a hydraulic mount to minimize
vibration though the steering wheel. A multi-link rear setup is designed for
increased ride comfort with anti-lift and anti-dive technology.
With no fixed roof, much of the car's weight naturally sits lower and further
forward than in the Phantom sedan, due to the structural roll-over protection
built into the A-pillar. Nonetheless, a 50:50 weight distribution has been
maintained to further enhance the car's balance while turning and at high-speeds
on the freeways. Other heavy components-such as the engine, gearbox, and
prop-shaft, for example-sit as low as possible, again contributing to the low
center of gravity.
Exceptional ride quality and grip is provided by standard Michelin PAX run-flat
tires, or optional Goodyear EMT run-flat tires are fitted around lightweight,
aluminum alloy, nine-spoke wheels, 21 X 8.5 up front and 21 X 9.5 in the rear. The
inclusion of run-flat tire technology removes the need for spare wheel/tire and
a jack, freeing up space in the luggage compartment.
Since the weight of the large wheels and tires have a direct impact on ride
comfort and driving dynamics, Rolls-Royce has developed a lightweight ceramic
core to the wheels to reduce unsprung weight.
Ample power is supplied by a 6.75 liter, naturally aspirated, V12 engine that
develops 453hp and a massive 531 pound-feet of torque. Delivery is smooth and
abundant. Furthermore, with 75 percent of the engine power available at just
1,000 rpm, speed from a standstill is exceptional for a 5,800 pound car, an
remains so throughout the rev range. This highly efficient unit uses direct
injection and variable valve timing and is mated to a specially designed ZF
6-speed automatic, shift-by-wire transmission.
The powerful V12 will accelerate the car to 60mph in under six seconds and on to
a limited to speed of 149 mph.
It stops in equally impressive fashion using 14.7in. ventilated discs up front
and 14.5in. vented discs in the rear. Large alloy, twin-piston calipers at the
front and large alloy single-piston calipers at the rear bring the
large-diameter wheels to a stop. The system is enhanced with ABS, brake assist.
An electromechanical park brake can be applied via a button on the dashboard.
For maximum active safety, the sophisticated braking system is augmented by an
advanced dynamic stability control system that gives outstanding car control in
an emergency situation.
Craftsmanship is a hallmark of Rolls-Royce. From the traditional wood and
leather workshop skills to the complex welding of the aluminum spaceframe, a
21st. century Rolls-Royce is a blend of hand crafted expertise and high-tech
materials and techniques.
The all-new 2008 Rolls-Royce Drophead Coupe Convertible is not for everybody.
Prices start at $407,000.00, and my test car carried a sticker price of
$442,000.00.
Only 100 of these superb and unique cars will be shipped to the U.S. each year
to keep its exclusivity.
© Words and pictures by Harvey Schwartz
SUMMARY JUDGMENT
Rolls-Royce is back in rare form.
For more information about Roll-Royce products, go to
rolls-roycemotorcars.com
More photos from Harvey Schwartz can be found at autofotos.com
SPECIFICATIONS
Name:
Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe Convertible
Price:
$407,000 (base)
$442,390 (as tested)
Engine:
V12 Direct Injection 48-valve, VVT all-alloy engine
Horsepower:
453 horsepower at 5,350 rpm
Torque:
531 pound-feet at 3,500 rpm
EPA mileage specs:
11 mpg/city, 18 mpg/highway
Drive configuration:
Front engine/rear-wheel-drive
Transmission:
ZF 6-speed automatic
Front suspension:
Independent, aluminum intensive double-wishbones, air-springs, dynamic,
gas-charged shocks, anti-roll bar
Rear suspension:
Independent, multi-link, aluminum intensive, air-springs, dynamic gas-charged
shocks, anti-roll bar
Wheels/tires
Front: 21 X 8.5 alloy wheels/255/50R21 Goodyear high-performance Run Flat
Rear: 21 X 9.5 alloy wheels/285/45R21 Goodyear high-performance Run Flat
Brakes:
Front: 14.7-inch vented discs/twin-piston calipers
Rear: 14.6-inch vented discs/single-piston calipers
ABS/BA/EBD/Stability Control/Anti-Roll Mitigation
Total length:
220.8 inches
Total width:
78.2 inches
Total height:
62.2 inches
Curb weight:
5,776 pounds
0-60 mph:
5.7 sec.