What is it? The Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead is a new ultra-high-end, handmade, four-seat convertible that effectively replaces the long-gone Corniche. The grand car is built on an aluminum "space frame" and uses a 453-hp, 6.8-liter V12 sourced from corporate parent BMW. Reminding of some 1930s classics, two "suicide" doors are hinged at the rear to aid rear access. One of the striking style features of this car is its polished stainless steel hood and windshield surround. Another is a "picnic" tailgate that folds down like those old station wagons. When the heavily insulated, cashmere-lined soft top is lowered, an oiled teak deck covers the folded roof, giving the look of a pre-war speed boat or plush yacht. In fact, you could buy a pretty nice ocean-going yacht for the Drophead Phantom's $407,000 price tag. Despite all the aluminum, this boat is pretty porky, weighing in at nearly three tons. The Phantom Drophead is due to hit the streets, or your estate's long gravel driveway, in the summer of 2007.
What is new or notable: Aluminum underpinnings, suicide doors, boundless horsepower, and ultra-plush appointments all spell conspicuous consumption.
