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Background
BMW acquired the Rolls-Royce name in 1998, but only in 2003 could it begin building cars due to the acrimonious way in which RR and Bentley were separated, with Volkswagen taking control of the latter.
The Phantom saloon came first, followed by a LWB version and then the Drophead Coupe last year. The Phantom Coupe you see on these pages has joined the saloon and Drophead Coupe to become the third, and final, body style in the Phantom line-up.
A smaller, sportier Rolls-Royce will complement the Phantom range from 2010, creating a fourth model line. Until then, the three-strong Phantom range features this Coupe as its most driver-oriented model.
The huge, 2.6-tonne Phantom Coupe is still as far from a sports car as you’re likely to get, but it has the stiffest bodyshell of the Rolls trio and also offers the least space and comfort for passengers; it promises to be marginally firmer riding, has less space in the rear than the saloon and, unlike the Drophead Coupe convertible, denies occupants the luxury of travelling in fresh air.
Which begs the question: can a 5.5-metre-long car really offer enough extra driver appeal to make it a viable sporty alternative to the saloon or convertible?
For: Uniqueness, precise steering, beautiful interior, peerless stereo
Against: Too much wind noise, firmness of low-speed ride, limited boot space
Source and more information:
Rolls-Royce Phantom Coupe - Autocar.co.uk
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