Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe - Driving Dynamics - First Drive

The 453-horsepower Rolls V-12 shares its basic makeup with that of the BMW 760 sedan, but it's larger, more powerful, and retuned for even greater refinement. It even sounds different from a 7 Series V-12: dead silent at idle, but with soft intake and exhaust moans when you're really on it. It's backed by ZF's superb six-speed automatic transmission, which offers a "Low" mode-in reality more like a "Sport" mode-holding the tranny longer in each gear for more spirited acceleration. The 531 pound-feet of torque helps move the car from 0-to-60 in 5.6 seconds, says Rolls-Royce, and it feels at least that quick. Plenty of power for any occasion makes the need for forced induction or more cylinders superfluous.

The Phantom DHC, in spite of its two-door convertible configuration, is first and foremost a luxury car. While its mission in life, dynamically, is a quiet and comfortable ride, it's sportier than you may think, up to a point. All the controls are calibrated for fingertips not biceps, and the ride defines the term supple. There's some body lean, but little dive or squat under braking or acceleration. More steering feel would be welcome, but it'll let you know where she's pointed. Top down, it's quiet, allowing normal conversation at 80 mph, and only a bit more volume is required to chat at 100. There is a fair amount of wind buffeting, though; air swirls around the back-seat area, and you can feel it blowing between the front seats. However inelegant, some sort of removable wind blocker would be welcome. Top up, it's appropriately quiet, so much so as to again make you forget any notion of a retractable metal hardtop.

This is one car that, even though it'll cover distance at great pace, doesn't like to be manhandled. Go past about seven-tenths, and the stability controls offer their own brand of assistance. "Perhaps a bit of braking on the inside wheel to get you through that nasty curve, sir?" Hit eight-tenths, and lights and more braking and/or throttle management will step in, although at no time does it feel out of control. The DHC is a sublime driving experience, as long as you respect its size, heft, and purpose. Pushing harder doesn't do the car justice. If you want to filet corners at max revs, get a Ferrari F430. Many UHNWIs already have one anyway.

The Phantom Drophead Coup is what it should be: The best machine this marque has brought forth in decades and one of the most finely crafted automobiles in the world. For what it costs, there's no excuse for it being anything but. Commoners will dismiss this 5800-pound convertible as too big, too thirsty, too irrelevant, and too egregiously expensive for words. But that's okay. They're not Rolls-Royce's target customers anyway. The latter, many who fit into that UHNWI category, are proud of their accomplishments, and few are shy about displaying their wealth. The fact that this new model is sold out through 2008 supports this.

What the Drophead Coup, along with the Phantom sedan, accomplishes best, however, is to bring a sense of occasion back to owning, driving, or riding in a Rolls-Royce.

Surprise & delight: This Phantom has tricks to spare

Cars in this strata need special touches to set them apart from the rest. Here are the Phantom DHC's Top Five: