Dream machine

THE Detroit Auto Show traditionally belongs to the US domestic automakers, which pull out all the stops as they unveil some of their best and brightest new products and concepts.

This year, however, industry pundits say that the ultimate showstopper may well be located at the Rolls-Royce display. The fabled British marquee (now owned by BMW, of course) has chosen Detroit to reveal the 2008 Phantom Drophead CoupŽ, a four-seat convertible aimed squarely at Bentley's Azure.

Last night was the media 'photo night' and today the industry preview. Ordinary folk will be able to mingle with the motors on Saturday until January 27.

The Drophead CoupŽ 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 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 CoupŽ by the Phantom sedan's proven 6.75L V12., which generates 453 horsepower and 513 lb-ft of torque at 3,500 rpm.

That's enough to propel the 5,775-pound droptop to 60 mph in approximately 5.7 seconds.

As one would expect, the cost of entry is substantial. Adding the Phantom Drophead CoupŽ to one's personal fleet will cost $407,000 (BD153,000) plus any additional options. But what an addition it'll make.

The car's hand-welded aluminum spaceframe is constructed at a BMW facility in Germany and is wrapped in all-new body panels -_nothing is shared with the big-brother sedan.

The suicide doors allow the A-pillar to run uninterrupted to the floor, increasing the body's stiffness. Overall, the convertible's lines are more rounded and smooth, giving it a classically sporting look that still retains the Phantom sedan's imposing presence.

Nautical influences drove some of the decisions made with regard to the car's interior.

During its development, the team headed to Southampton to inspect a J-class yacht undergoing restoration. Since the Drophead CoupŽ is an open-top car, it would need to be able to handle the elements, and a yacht, with its constant exposure to water, seemed like a good place to do some research.

As such, smooth, easily-wipeable seating surfaces are used (no perforated leather here), as well as carpet/floormat materials that are resistant to moisture.

And let's not forget the teak decking on the hard tonneau - that's the most obvious nautical influence of all.

Occupants sit in a sea of leather, wood and chrome, and when the weather's less than perfect, a cashmere-lined five-layer roof protects them from the elements.

Rolls-Royce says that this is the largest fabric roof used on a modern convertible - a bragging right that could be challenged if Mercedes decides to bring out a production version of its ocean Drive concept.

We'd be remiss if we didn't mention the car's boot, or "picnic boot" as Rolls-Royce calls it, which has a split opening.

In addition to the traditional trunklid, there's a folding tailgate which acts as a bench capable of supporting 330 lbs.

Big, bold, and sublime, the Phantom Drophead CoupŽ is Rolls-Royce's top car. Yes, the company maintains that the Phantom sedan is the standard-bearer, but this is better - much better, according to Alex Nunez of autoblog.com - appealing to the romantic in all of us in a way the sedan never will. The gauntlet has been thrown down in the ultraluxury segment.