Autoblog

PSA: Leaving your Rolls-Royce Drophead open in the rain could be a $100k mistake

Zach Bowman — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 14:58:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Performance, Videos, Rolls-Royce, Luxury

Convertibles have long been the chariot of choice for the devil-may-care crowd, and for good reason. Peeling the roof off of a vehicle has all sorts of negative ramifications, from safety concerns to handling woes and increased chances of skin cancer for those inside. Then there's the ever-present threat of foul weather. But who cares? You only live once and they're making more cars every day, right?

That logic may hold true for your $600 Chrysler LeBaron Convertible, but the argument gets a bit weaker when we're talking about a Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe. The owner of one such vehicle recently parked their ride and left the big Rolls with its roof laid back just in time for a torrential downpour to set in. According to experts, the total damage may cost more than $100,000. The owner is said to have returned to the vehicle, seen its condition and walked away, unconcerned. Hit the jump to see the video for yourself.

Continue reading PSA: Leaving your Rolls-Royce Drophead open in the rain could be a $100k mistake

PSA: Leaving your Rolls-Royce Drophead open in the rain could be a $100k mistake originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 24 Jan 2012 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bijan offers up special edition Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe

Noah Joseph — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 15:30:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Convertible, Rolls-Royce, Luxury

If there was anything Bijan Pakzad loved more than clothing A-list celebrities and heads of state, it was creating the most luxurious automobiles around. The Persian fashion designer (commonly known by his first name alone) owned a one-of-a-kind custom yellow Bugatti Veyron, and before he died, he commissioned a second Grand Sport roadster in his trademark color.

He was also set to team up with Rolls-Royce for a limited run of special Phantoms, but while he may have passed before his time, his successors are evidently keen to keep his legacy alive with this special-edition Phantom Drophead Coupe.

Decked out in Bijan yellow from the body (including hood, window frame, mirrors and wheels) to the interior, the special DHC has Bijan signature touches all around, including a diamond-pavé watch embedded in the dashboard and a picnic set (complete with crystal stemware) in the trunk.

A limited quantity of these unique and extroverted convertibles will be made available at a price reported as high as $1.6 million, and are sure to be snapped up by the same Middle Eastern sheikhs who draped themselves in Bijan's luxurious suits.

Bijan offers up special edition Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 17 Oct 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rolls-Royce once again proves its Bespoke department knows no bounds

Chris Paukert — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 20:01:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Etc., Rolls-Royce, Design/Style, Luxury

Since its inception, Rolls-Royce has made a living making its customers feel very, very special. Given the average net worth of its buyers and the custom-tailored nature of their vehicles, this sort of approach makes good business sense. That said, some customers are clearly more special than others. Michael Fux, a businessman and philanthropist who commissioned the unusual purple Phantom Drophead Coupe seen here, is clearly one of the latter.

Fux is one of Rolls' very best customers, and he's also known for being one of its most outlandish, perpetually giving Goodwood's Bespoke department specialists a workout. Rolls has debuted one-off Fux cars during past Monterey weeks, and this year, they've teamed up again to reveal this striking purple and white Phantom. While the visuals that Fux pushed for certainly won't be to everyone tastes (we're more accustomed to seeing these sort of aesthetic choices among aftermarket firms like Mansory), there's no denying the quality of the workmanship, from the matching purple roof to the customized engraved sill plates and relentlessly white leather interior. And Fux isn't the only Rolls buyer whose tastes require an increasing degree of personalization - earlier this month, the automaker announced plans to double the size of its Bespoke operations to keep up with demand.

Fux's custom Rolls-Royce commissions have never been known for their subtlety. In the past, he's ordered a screaming yellow Phantom Convertible (shown in Pebble in 2008), as well as a candy red Drophead that featured Rolls' first-ever black-and-red carbon fiber inserts. That car was such a test for the English automaker's bespoke team that they not only named the paint for Fux (and guaranteed its exclusivity), they produced a 2010 video about it that you can watch after the jump.

Continue reading Rolls-Royce once again proves its Bespoke department knows no bounds

Rolls-Royce once again proves its Bespoke department knows no bounds originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 19 Aug 2011 20:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sheikh, Rattle and Rolls: Another special Phantom for Abu Dhabi

Noah Joseph — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 13:28:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Coupe, Sedan, Rolls-Royce, Middle East, Luxury

Rolls-Royce Phantom Yas Eagle edition - Click above for high-res image gallery

If there's anywhere in the world where they know how to gild a lily, it's the Persian Gulf. The oil-rich emirates there seem to have an endless appetite for items of, shall we say... questionable taste. And Rolls-Royce seems to have no qualms about milking the region's appetite for all it's worth.

Along with the gold-dipped Drophead Coupe and the series of special editions exclusively for the Gulf, Rolls-Royce has crafted another special Phantom for the land where oil flows like water. Called the Yas Eagle, this special was actually released a few months ago to coincide with the inaugural Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, but details have only made their way onto the Intertubes now.

The package can be ordered on any of the three bodystyles in the Phantom range: sedan, coupe and DHC convertible. It consists of a two-tone white and cobalt blue paint scheme (think the original Viper GTS coupe, sans attitude), an interior done up in blue and red leather (with matching top for the Drophead Coupe), special blue-stained ash veneers, white instrument dials, blue carpets, a checkerboard stripe running down the waistline and across the fascia, an illuminated hood ornament and oh, so much more. Have a look for yourself in the gallery below.

Gallery: Rolls-Royce Phantom Yas Eagle

[Source: Automotive Design Corner]

Sheikh, Rattle and Rolls: Another special Phantom for Abu Dhabi originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 16 Feb 2010 13:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hamann gives the Rolls-Royce Phantom a shot of adrenaline

Noah Joseph — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 15:58:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Tuners, Convertible, Sedan, Rolls-Royce

Hamann Rolls-Royce Phantom - Click above for a high-res image gallery

With seemingly ever luxury automaker under the sun going after BMW's coveted balance between sport and luxury, it's a little ironic that BMW's own uber-luxury marque is the one to focus purely on cushioned comfort. But not everyone wants that out of their Rolls-Royce, or so Hamann is evidently betting. The German tuning firm has tweaked everything from Bimmer crossovers to Ferrari supercars and everything in between, but has now turned its attention to the Rolls-Royce Phantom range.

Few details are available at this point, but from what we can tell, Hamann has treated the Phantom saloon and Drophead Coupe to a set of 23" rims in case the standard 21" wheels weren't big enough, apparently ditching the self-righting emblem hubs in the process. A power boost is also said to be in the mix, bringing the 6.75-liter V12's output up from 460 horsepower to a more stately 535, and torque up from 720 newton-meters (531 lb-ft) to 835 Nm (615 lb-ft). With the electronic limiter removed, the Hamann-tuned Phantoms are said to be good for 300 km/h (187 mph), to be controlled from the plush interior via a specially-crafted sports steering wheel. Click on the thumbnails below to view in our gallery.

Gallery: Hamann Rolls-Royce Phantom

[Source: Autoblog.nl]

Hamann gives the Rolls-Royce Phantom a shot of adrenaline originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 01 Jun 2009 15:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rolls on a roll: Phantom Coupe sold out already

Chris Shunk — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 07:31:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Coupe, Performance, Geneva Motor Show, Rolls-Royce

Click for more high-res images of the Phantom Coupe

Rolls Royce has been on a roll of late, with a 25-percent increase in global production in 2007, and the gorgeous new Phantom Coupe ready to add to last year's record totals. Since the official announcement of the ultra-luxury two-door, 200 orders have already been taken, which represents all production for 2008. Even more impressive is the fact that two-thirds of the orders come from customers who have never before owned a Rolls. It doesn't hurt that the Phantom Coupe's Drophead sibling is sold out through summer 2009, which means the fixed-top Phantom has little short-term competition on the show floor.

It's hard to blame the filthy rich for sopping up Phantom Coupes so quickly. The luxury-liner's incredible contours, stunning materials, and mind-blowing suicide doors make us lie awake at night thinking of ways to become wealthy enough to one day own one. So far all we've thought of is more blogging, which means we'll have to settle for something a bit less well-heeled.

[Source: Auto News (subs. req'd)]

Gallery: Rolls-Royce Phantom Coupe

Rolls on a roll: Phantom Coupe sold out already originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 10 Mar 2008 07:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe bought at charity auction for $1.6 million

John Neff — Fri, 06 Jul 2007 18:29:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Auctions, Rolls-Royce

click above image to view more high-res pics of the Drophead Coupe from RR

Giving to charity is a good thing, no doubt, but what better incentive is there for budding philanthropists than dangling the keys to a brand new Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe in front of their compassionate eyes? One guy took the bait and dropped £800,000, or a little over $1.6 million, at the 9th Annual White Tie and Tiara Ball's charity auction for a new Drophead Coupe. His cash will go to the Elton John AIDS Foundation, while the Drophead Coupe will arrive in exchange later this summer. A new RR Phantom Drophead Coupe costs "only" £260,000, but in comparison to what the undisclosed auction winner paid, that's beginning to sound like a bargain.

[Source: Newspress]

Gallery: 2008 Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe

Continue reading Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe bought at charity auction for $1.6 million

Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe bought at charity auction for $1.6 million originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 06 Jul 2007 18:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Baby Roller will double Rolls-Royce output

Frank Filipponio — Mon, 12 Mar 2007 14:35:00 EST

Filed under: Plants/Manufacturing, Rolls-Royce

We figured the new baby Rolls might increase sales, but Rolls-Royce is saying it expects the car to double output to 1,600 units when the junior model debuts in 2010. That model's design has finally been approved according to R-R CEO Ian Robertson. As we told you earlier, the new model should be getting its own platform with a V8 and possibly the Phantom's V12 as an option. We certainly can't get up the nerve to refer to it as an entry-level Rolls, with prices expected to run between 200,000 and 300,000 euros, or about $260,000 to $400,000 currently.

It took Rolls several years to hit the 3,000 Phantom sales mark, so when Robertson says they don't intend to compete with the volume brands, we believe him. Extra production will come from adding a second shift at the Goodwood factory. While he wouldn't give any further details on the lower-priced model, Robertson did say that it will be unmistakably Rolls-Royce. He also said that the new Phantom Drophead Coupe convertible we first saw in Detroit is officially sold out through 2008. We should start seeing them on the road in August, Stateside.

[Source: Automotive News, sub. req'd]

Baby Roller will double Rolls-Royce output originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 12 Mar 2007 14:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Officially Official: 2008 Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe

Alex Nunez — Sat, 30 Dec 2006 14:54:00 EST

Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Convertible, Rolls-Royce

Click image for hi-res photo gallery

The Detroit Auto Show traditionally belongs to the domestic automakers, who pull out all the stops as they unveil some of their best and brightest new products and concepts. This year, however, the ultimate showstopper may well be located at the Rolls-Royce display. The fabled British marque (now owned by BMW, of course) has chosen Detroit to reveal the 2008 Phantom Drophead Coupé, a jaw-droppingly spectacular 4-seat convertible aimed squarely at Bentley's Azure.

The Drophead Coupé is, for all intents and purposes, a perfect production interpretation of RR's 100EX concept car, which made its debut at 2004's Geneva show. The key elements of the 100EX remain -- the thin LED headlamps, rear-opening "suicide" doors, brushed steel hood and A-pillar, and teak decking aft of the passenger compartment are all here. The V16 that powered the 100EX is replaced in the Drophead Coupé by the Phantom sedan's proven 6.75L V12., which generates 453 horsepower and 513 lb-ft of torque at 3500 rpm. That's enough to propel the 5775-pound droptop to 60 mph in approximately 5.7 seconds.

Follow the jump for more of our take, an animation of the roof mechanism, plus the official (and very long) press release and tech specs from Rolls-Royce. If you'd like to have the Drophead Coupe grace your desktop, check out our mega-gallery of over 60 hi-res photos.

[Source: Rolls-Royce]

Continue reading Officially Official: 2008 Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe

Officially Official: 2008 Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 30 Dec 2006 14:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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