|  Rolls-Royce Motor Cars has revealed new Phantom Drophead Coupe at the Detroit Motor Show. Production of the new car will start at Goodwood in the summer of 2007.
Powering the Drophead Coupe is the same 6.7-liter V12 engine used in the Phantom sedan. It produces 453 horsepower at 5,350 rpm and 531 pound-feet of torque at 3,500 rpm. Drive is sent to the rear wheels via a six-speed automatic transmission. Despite tipping the scales at a portly 5,776 pounds, Rolls-Royce claims the new model goes from zero to 60 mph in a rapid 5.7 seconds. Top speed is limited to 149 mph.
At 220.8 inches in length, the new car is 9.8 inches shorter than the Phantom. A 130.6-inch wheelbase liberates enough space for four in a plush cabin with materials influenced by 1930s America's Cup J-class yachts, according to Rolls-Royce design boss Ian Cameron.
The two-door, four-seat Phantom convertible is a less formal interpretation of classic Rolls-Royce design. Using the lightweight rigidity of an all-aluminium spaceframe, it marries modern technology to a sleek, streamlined convertible body.
The exterior lines of the Phantom Drophead Coupe echo the timeless styling of the great Rolls-Royce cars: a long bonnet, large-diameter wheels, short front and long rear overhangs and the quintessential dynamic line descending along its flanks. Inside, the design emphasises the airy openness of top-down motoring, embracing the elements and creating a stunning, social environment.
Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Chief Designer, Ian Cameron, said, "This car gave us the chance to think about the very nature of convertible motoring and in particular what it means to Rolls-Royce. Above all we were determined to make this car a joy to live with and engineered it to give years of effortless service to its owner."
Front opening coach doors have been homologated for the 2008 Phantom Drophead Coupe and add considerably to the ease of access to the rear seat, as well as to the overall aesthetics. Unique to Rolls-Royce, the doors dramatically transform the Phantom Drophead Coupé's looks, giving a side profile reminiscent of classic sports cars of the '60s. Crucially, they also aid the overall stiffness of the body as the rear hinged doors allow for an uninterrupted A-pillar.
The interior concept revolves around the idea of an indoor/outdoor space: an all-weather passenger compartment that combines the practicality required for convertible motoring 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 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 Phantom Drophead Coupé has been designed as a car 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. Firstly, the seats have no ridges in them, giving a smooth surface so that moisture can be wiped straight off. 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’s but still offer an uncompromised degree of comfort. Integrated seatbelts are mounted directly onto them, while active head restraints and seat squab 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 bonnet, 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.
An exceptional sound system has been specially designed for the Phantom Drophead Coupé, taking into account the differing acoustic properties of the convertible. Nine channels of sound arrive via 15 speakers, creating a stereophonic experience to impress the most hardened audiophiles.
The Phantom Drophead Coupé’s advanced aluminium spaceframe is at the heart of its refined, dynamic driving experience. Lightweight and exceptionally strong, it impacts positively on ride, comfort and safety. Its inherent rigidity is essential in isolating vibration and maintaining the hushed interior calm associated with the brand. The new car is shorter than the Phantom by 250 mm / 9.8 in, so turn-in is slightly quicker, making for a wholly more agile driving experience.
A lower centre of gravity, combined with the reduced wheelbase and incredibly stiff body, produces a ride that is on the refined, comfortable side of sporty. Feedback from the wheels is informative but not intrusive. Imperfect road surfaces go unnoticed while feel through the steering wheel inspires confidence. New spring dampers and lighter anti-roll bars have been engineered to maintain comfort without loss of agility. Self-levelling air struts continuously adjust for increased loading in harder cornering, giving drivers the ability to place the car through turns with absolute precision.
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