German Car Forum

OMG I love it. Absolutely sick.

And of course, the usual BMW 'haters' start about how much more beautiful and better that freaking VAG Bentley
It's a natural thing to do I guess...

It's quite easy, don't you find? Beautiful, if you disagree you are a BMW hater...

Sorry, I prefer the Brooklands. And I am no BMW hater. I just find this is a rather lazy work of puting a hardtop on a DHC, that's all. Even an obvious cut on the A-pillar/windscreen which I find not less than shocking.

haha its ugly..im sorry..it is...
a coupe is supposed to be elegant and sexy not fat like a rhino

Press Release

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars will unveil its new Phantom Coupé at the 78th International Geneva Motor Show on Tuesday, 4 March 2008. Production of the new car will start at Goodwood in the summer of 2008.

The Coupé is the most driver-orientated model in the Phantom line. A number of subtle but significant modifications have been made that change its character. It is noticeably more dynamic, whilst still offering incredible levels of comfort.

Marrying cutting-edge technology with a beautifully proportioned, muscular body that exudes power and style, it incorporates timeless Rolls-Royce design cues in an utterly contemporary manner.

Designed to cover great distances effortlessly, the Coupé is the perfect choice for a transcontinental trip. Power is provided by the Phantom’s 6.75-litre V12 that produces 453 bhp, 720 Nm of torque and has segment-leading fuel economy. A 25 per cent increase in fuel capacity, compared to the Drophead Coupé, adds significant driving range. Agile, fast, long-legged and virtually silent, the Phantom Coupé allows both driver and passengers to emerge unruffled, even after an all-day run.

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Chief Designer, Ian Cameron, said “Rolls-Royce has always been about pace, performance and style. For the Coupé design we gave the quintessential Rolls-Royce design a dynamic twist. This adds a sense of drama to the outstanding engineering and drivability that are fundamentals of Rolls-Royce cars. The dynamic drive of the Phantom has always come as a surprise to customers and the Coupé takes it one step further.”

The Phantom Coupé features rear-hinged coach doors which add considerably to the ease of access to the rear lounge seats as well as to the overall aesthetics. Crucially, they aid the overall stiffness of the body as the rear hinged doors allow for an uninterrupted A-pillar helping to make this the most torsionally rigid Rolls-Royce ever. A brushed steel finish of A-pillar and bonnet, as seen for the first time on 100EX, is also available for the Coupé.

At the rear is a spacious picnic boot. A split tail compartment that opens in two parts, gives easy access to 395 litres of space. The lower tailgate also provides a comfortable seating platform for two adults when lowered.

At the core of the Phantom Coupé is an advanced aluminium chassis, perhaps the single most significant component in delivering the marque’s legendary refinement. Lightweight and exceptionally strong, it impacts positively on ride comfort, handling and safety. Hand made, it requires over 130 meters of welding to create each body.

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Chairman and Chief Executive, Ian Robertson, said, “The Coupé has been designed and engineered to be the most dynamic interpretation of our values. Our 2007 sales figures illustrate how successful the entire model range has been with an increase of 25 per cent over the previous year.”

[Source: Rolls-Royce Motor Cars via WCF]

Just not attractive at all. Looks like some type of 2-door truck.

M

LOL Marcus, did Eni put you on some kind of Phantom Coupe hate mode? j/k

Nope, just find all the nonsense (excuses), corporate rhetoric, doublespeak about design and all this about how anyone who likes the Bentley to be lacking, hilarious. Someone what of a shame too.

M

But does basically just adding a metal roof to the Drophead make it lose all of its attractiveness and look like a truck?

To me it does. It is a cut and paste job, just like the 4-door Aston-Martin. At least the Brooklands looks all of one piece. The Rolls Coupe with those doors and the same a-pillar treatment as the sedan looks looks a mess in the pics so far. The Drophead version looks so much better.

I find it really funny that we have to get all deep into design to defend this thing, yet all they did was simply add a fixed roof to the convertible. How "sophisticated" is that? Nothing could be simpler, yet we have to be able to understand the heights of design in order the "total vehicle", what a crock.

M

I agree with Merc1.

They fitted a massive hardtop on the DHC, and it just doesn't suit it, it doesn't flow, it's heavy and the whole design lacks cohesiveness and harmony.

The DHC looks very good, the Coupe doesn't.

A rhino-car (Artist said that I think). Even the colour is of a rhino... means even the Beemer boys know it's a rhino. A rhino sure has presence, but it's not elegant...Not to my eyes at least.

However, some people here likes rhino, if they have a white/blue propeller on the face...

Well, like I said in the other thread I would take the Brooklands over this but I don't really think this is an ugly car in any way or completely different in looks compared to Drophead. Then again I love the Continental series Bentleys that some of you hate so much. LOL

Yes the Continental causes "violent outbursts" with some members here.

M

I see people talking about elegance here, since when is the Phantom-series elegant? Or did you think Rolls put that grille on the cars to make them look elegant? These cars are pompous, in your face big, lots of power, luxury, money, that's their purpous. Rolls is back, they make the best cars in the world and are right so in showing it. This new coupé screams presence. This will stand out, not be some VAG derevate. It says get out of the way, what IMO a true Rolls should say.

I think you just summed up the reasons why I don't like the Rolls. I know this is a stupid thing to say, but for me the Rolls is more about showing off, whereas the Bentley is about enjoying yourself.

@ Merc1 & coolraoul

Check the 101EX Concept by RR - showcasing Phantom coupe. The "added" roof has been very visible already at that time. And it's intentional.

Phantom Coupe has been planned to be a Drophead with fixed roof (literally) from the very beginning. I don't know why are you acting to be so surprised now.

I can tell you the folks (potential customers) were amazed by the 100EX when shown at Geneva 2006 autoshow. Especially the Arab sheiks liked the starry headliner, and the Russians (and the Chinese as well) expressed expectation such car would be offered soon - as they considered Drophead not to be very appropriate for their markets. Especially the Russians: due to cold winters & some safety concerns (canvas roof).

The car is being eagerly awaited but many customers, and some of them can't wait to enlarge the Phantom collection.

I guess (for some) it's hard to appreciate a great (and special) automotive design if driving cars like Toyota, Kia, or something American (excl. 300C, Cadillacs, and the retro stuff).

And btw, what's wrong with rhinos? You hate rhinos? R U a Rhino-hater? Having Rhinofobia perhaps?



*******

Regarding the debate who will be able to buy these cars ... Of course RR most important customers will get some privileges. The others will have to form a line. Except the American customers who buy RR directly from dealer allocations - therefore not have to wait for delivery much, but therefore they aren't able to customize the car like other customers around the world do.

Well Rolls used to be extremely elegant.
The Phantom is not. But do you see a better competitor in this class? I don't, the Arnage is too small and understated for that. Only the very rare LWB Arnage could rivalize with the Rolls, but you don't see any on the road.

Whereas for this Coupe, you have the Brooklands. And it shows the Rolls how to do the job.

Big grille, okay. The DHC has it too, doesn't it?

What you say, it that the Rolls is a Kenworth.
Well, it wasn't the case. And it is not the case with the DHC. The DHC is maybe not suptremely elegant, but it is beautiful, cohesive, harmonious. I like it a lot.

This Coupe is a joke, imo. How can you sell a coupe with a roof cutted on the windscreen and broking the whole lines of the car? A Coupe that you can buy in a two-tone colour obviously taken from a Convertible and that makes you appear as someone who had not the cash to take the DHC?

This roof is an aftertought. And it is very obvious.
It is not Rolls that I don't like here, because I somehow like the DHC. It is the way they did not integrate the roof in that car, the way it looks like a Convertible with fixed roof.

And the fact that against that, you have the superb, gorgeous Brooklands. Which is a real Coupe, not a copy-pasted Convertible without roof mechanism, and with a heavy hard-top ruining its lines.

LOL I was just going to say Peterbuilt, but a Kenworth will do.

M

Well EnI...

It's not because some rich people buy a Rolls because of the enormous grille that I will fall in love with it.

The same people also buy pink Maybach. Does it mean it is brilliant to have a pink Maybach?

Do you appreciate to see your oh so wonderful Rolls with 28" chrome wheels and 12 subwoofers? Some clients do it.

You can tell me what you want. This Coupe does not look half as good as the Brooklands for me. Even if a sultan buys a Coupe, because he has nothing else to do in its life than owning10 Phantoms and 50 Ferraris and 40 Lamborghinis, I won't like it.

I have nothing against rhinos. I like them, but not for their elegance. if you asked me, what kind of animal is beautiful, elegant and refined, I surely wouldn't answer it is the rhino.

I you asked me what is in your face, vulgar, aggressive, heavy and makes a Panzer look quite cute, I would maybe say it is the rhino.

But I think everything was said on this subject..I prefer the Brooklands, you the Coupe. I hope we both will be able to own one of these one day...

The problem is that took no effort and it looks it, half done IMO of course. No one here is saying that it wasnt intentional, that is matterless. That it doesn't work is the point. Then to go into all this deep muck about design and what not to explain a grafted on roofed convertible to coupe is pretty absurd IMO.

Anyway yeah the Rolls guy at Detroit told me that 50 Cent has to wait 1 year for his (Drophead Coupe) because he isn't on this list, but Puffy got his right away. According to this guy 50 ordered his Drophead with not only the stainless steel hood, but also the flip up cover for the convertible top!

You don't have to explain why and who the car appeals and appeals to, we get that. Yet on the other hand those same buyers (buyers of ridiculously priced cars) obviously find Bentleys to be fetching also, so does this same group have tase or what? Anyway none of this excuses the car's "design" for me. It is the least favorite Rolls in my book. It looks like a trucklet.

M

As I said many times: design traditionalists still have hard times to recognized the beauty, aesthetics & the value of many modern (postmodern) designs (incl. architecture). The time ran them over.


Regarding the rappers: yes, you can order the customized RR if you are willing to wait, but in US market dealers usually have them "on the lot".

And btw ... In all the recent years I have seen much more Bentleys being used in rap videos ... Not to mention PH drives a Bentley.

Doublespeak for an unattractive car EnI.






This Bentley murders it! Old world irrelevance and all.


M

Again, please, what is modern/post modern in the Coupe?

Are you trying to say the DHC is boring old-fashion luxury and the Coupe super-modern prowess?

Is it super-modern to mess up a car with an inelegant hardtop?

I am no fan of your modern and vulgar Rolls, but I am able to recognize a beautiful car when I see one, don't try to make me appear as an old-fashioned average Joe that knows nothing about cars, please.

I don't say these modern Rolls are awful, I say this Coupe is messed-up. The DHC is beautiful, the Coupe isn't.

They both are post-modern marketing BS, aren't they? But one is beautiful the other not.

I think the car looks great. Very strong and proud. The interior is a stand out classic! I do however have one quible with the exterior and that is the placement and design of one exterior line. I think this line detracts from the overall look of this vehicle. I don't like it, however it is not strong enough to detract from the holistic approval I have for this vehicle. The "other" lucky half will love this car and why shouldn't they. It's a Rolls Royce after all!!!

This is the line I am refering to. Whats your thoughts on this?

Its the side profile the ruins it for me. It is simply unattractive. That side line isn't the problem. Its the roof, a-pillar treatment and cab-backwards look.

M