The High Life Roller

Rolls-Royce's flagship convertible tempts the toniest lot with an open sky for a roof and a ride quality fit for royalty, without losing the company's motoring heritage

Maybe it's true what they say: when two opposites meet, magic happens. Charles Rolls was a Cambridge-educated individual and an avid aviator, while Henry Royce was a breadwinner at the tender age of nine. Their union - Rolls-Royce - for over 100 years, has brought the world Goodwood's finest creations and arguably some of the best cars in the world.

With the aid of the BMW group, the company with the celebrated heritage was pulled out of financial crisis and endowed its many recent successes, namely the Phantom and the more affordable Ghost. The Phantom was first launched in 2003, and given an update in 2012, giving birth to the Series II. And the rest of the range got the same improvements in the drivetrain and connectivity. So, on this rare occasion, we get to drive the ragtop version - the 2015 Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe - and explore the changes.
Design & Aesthetics
At first glance, the Phantom Drophead Coupe is pretty awe-inspiring, kind of like a designer yacht sailing solemnly over serene waters. In any trim, including the Drophead version, the Phantom is an imposing sea of steel. There's so much car that it's almost as long as the 7/8-seater GMC Suburban SUV and almost as wide as a lane. It is also 5ft tall, and the hood is almost as high as that of the Toyota Landcruiser. Of course, this being the convertible, there is a lavish, coloured canvas roof instead of the conventional steel top.

The all-aluminium chassis, which is probably the largest of its kind, takes about 2,000 welds to keep together - the task of which is entrusted to only one in 10 welders - meaning that it takes a good two months to complete. And we wonder why there's a long waiting time for these things. The face of the Drophead is broad, bold and cuboid, with the large Pantheon grille dominating the front, commemorating the more fortunate past of the Greeks. Atop the grille, leaning into the wind, is the Spirit of Ecstasy, which some simply call the flying lady. It can be had in numerous finishes, including frosted glass and gold. The electronically retractable mechanism keeps it away from the prying eyes of vandals. New rectangular LED lamps have replaced the predecessor's round headlamps. Even with the geometric frontal cues, it manages to look contemporary.
Giving this new Rolls an unparalleled curb appeal is the optional, but must-have, brushed steel bonnet. It's not just the imposing length of the hood, it's the fact that these brushed etches are single lines drawn by an expert hand. The side profile exposes its 5,612mm body that tapers down to a long rear overhang.
At the rear, you have lamps with chrome surrounds and rectangular tail pipes. The wheels of fortune are 21" large, in plenty of styles and finishes to cater to your taste, while the self-righting wheel centres are standard - it ensures that the Rolls-Royce monogram is always upright. There is, supposedly, 45kg of paint sprayed all over, and you get your pick of 44,000 shades. Or you can choose your own and have it named after you.
Once you open the rear-hinged "suicide doors", which is an event in itself, you find a Teflon-coated grandfather umbrella, purposefully lodged in, in case of bad weather. The coach doors also have the soft close function that locks itself if you leave it half-ajar, like in a Merc's S-Class, and can be closed with a touch of a button located near the A-pillar.
Speaking of pillars, since there's no B-pillar, you get an open, uninterrupted view of the world outside, even from the back seats. However, the raised platform makes it a little harder for old timers to get in. The cosseting private interior, reminiscent of the early Phantoms, has a whole list of seemingly fragile but extremely artful elements all over, and everything you see is authentic - like the genuine leather and wood veneer and real steel fixtures. The in-cabin veneer comes from a single tree, creating a seamless flow of natural wood from the facia to the rear compartment, with classic choices of woods like walnut.
There's an admirable simplicity inside, starting with the instrument panel, which has a power reserve meter to the left, instead of the tachometer. The steering wheel is a daintily thin rim which is a refreshing change from the overly chunky units of today. The seat surfaces are lavish - almost decadent - with the hides of 11 bulls needed to create the flawless upholstery in a 3-flute design that's optimised for comfort. This adds another 17 days to production time. The seat adjustments are chrome toggles concealed under a leather-clad drawer.
You get the largest folding soft top on any car with this Drophead, and getting topless takes 25 seconds, with the roof stowed away neatly under a panel of fine, oiled teak. Customisation possibilities are endless with personalised tread plates, bespoke leather piping, embroidery, etc. And even though the fit and finish is outrageously good, the resilience and longevity is something only a long-term test can establish.
Powertrain & Performance
Unbelievably, the lesser Ghost has a more potent engine that puts out almost 100bhp more than the Phantom, but the price you pay in the latter is mostly to uphold traditions. Planted in its enormous engine bay is a naturally aspirated direct injection 6.75L V12, from which master engineers at BMW have managed to extract as much as 453 hp at 5,350rpm; while peak torque is an exceptional 720Nm that is available from as low as 3,500rpm. In a light body chassis, it would be a rocket ship, but in the 2,719kg Drophead, it's best described as adequate.
Also new is a smooth-shifting 8-speed traditional automatic transmission. The innovation is in its GPS connectivity that is designed to always keep you in the ideal power range. The added gear ratios also improves fuel economy by 10 per cent on the combined cycle, and CO2 emissions fall from 388 to 347g/km. The 80L tank should give you a couple of days of range, considering the average Rolls-Royce travels only 19km a day!
The shifts between ratios are seemingly invisible and they should be, considering you never feel like driving in a spirited pace. But place your foot firmly on the throttle and the Drophead surges ahead, hitting 100km/h in a claimed 5.8 seconds, and on to a top speed of 240km/h. At one time, Rolls-Royce engines held world speed records in the air, on land and on water. Even at those speeds, however, the double floor chassis and double glazed windows keep the cabin noise low.
There is plenty of brake tech implied on paper, but the sheer mass is all too overwhelming for the brakes. Stomp hard and the car will come to a rest in about 120ft from a 100km/h, but the Drophead's nose will dive deep and the tyres will screech. It is best to brake early and gently, and ease it into a halt, like a ship being eased into the harbour. What's best about the Rolls however, is its incredibly plush ride quality. It just floats over irregularities and speed humps. The Drophead is also one of the most poised cars you'll drive. It's nowhere near as dynamic as the Bentley Continental GT - its closest rival - but the typical rack and pinion steering mechanism is buttery smooth and adjusts with speed. The only downside is the 13.1m turning radius.
Features & Functionality
In the world of Roll-Royce, everything is infinitely customisable, as alluded to before, but there is plenty of standard equipment that will aid convenience and set the mood right. The Phantom's larger 8.8" control centre display is present in the Drophead, with eight programmable bookmarks giving you access to key functions. The new satellite navigation system includes 3D maps with landscape topography, guided tours, etc. The redesigned multimedia iDrive controller has handwriting recognition and the system recognises English, Arabic, Mandarin and Latin - just for kicks. Safety on the move comes in the form of antilock brakes, traction and stability control, a pop-up rollover protection system, active front head restraints, front knee ?airbags, front side airbags and Rolls-Royce Assist emergency telematics. Also standard are front and rear parking sensors and a surround-view camera system that helps with parking.
If you are eating alfresco, the optional picnic boot provides a comfortable two-seater table in the car's stern. And beneath the teak decking, you will find a drinks cabinet and cooler box. You also get a 15-speaker Harman Kardon Lexicon Logic 7 surround-sound audio system with a glove box-mounted six-DVD changer, an auxiliary audio jack and a USB/iPod interface, all as standard. It sounds great, but falls short of the magnificent unit in the Wraith. The 315L boot is a little shallow for a long trip away, but the rich carpet inlays will cushion your Louis Vuitton luggage.
Verdict
The 2015 Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe provides the perfect transition from your palatial home to your double-storey yacht and back. Also, "Winter is coming", which makes it more convertible friendly. If you have the financial backing and the time for a leisurely drive. we say sign on that dotted line. A man-made product has seldom been this good.

• On The Road