Phantom Rolls-Royce unveils new Phantom Coupé

[EnI]

@ 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.

 

[coolraoul]

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.

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.

 

[Merc1]

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

M

 

[coolraoul]

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...

 

[Merc1]

@ 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.

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

 

[EnI]

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.

 

[Merc1]

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.

Doublespeak for an unattractive car EnI.






This Bentley murders it! Old world irrelevance and all.


M

 

[coolraoul]

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.

 

[CorpusCallosum]

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?

 

[Merc1]

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

 

[Centurion]

What I don't like is that the car isn't uncompromised. The pipes are out of character and the car lacks unity in design. If you ask me the roof looks like it has been taken off a caravan. Like Marcus has mentioned it's merely a coupe made cheaply out of the DHC.

 

[Merc1]

The funny thing is that Bentley says they did the same thing in making the Brooklands from the Azure, yet it works so much better on the Bentley. They even explain how many welds and man hours it takes to add the roof. Yet, the Bentley doesn't look "grafted" on or like and afterthought. There is design, technique and capability all in Roll-Royce's face.

That door handle is in the wrong place on this Rolls Coupe also. Just nasty.


M

 

[coolraoul]

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?

The line you mentionned is my only problem with the DHC. It is curved, and I don't like it. Looks like the car was a banana.

I understand why it is there, to enlighten the profile, give a bit dynamic in it. Less rigid.

It may works IRL, with the monstruous size of the car you can't see in pics. But in the pics I think it is too curved. IRL, surely a different story.

On the other side, you have the same kind of line in the BMW 1-Series, and I hate it...

 

[CorpusCallosum]

I want to see this car in black with the aluminium hood! I also think that the press photos are ridicously poor for a car with the caliber of a Rolls Royce. BMW need to get a new press release team. Out of the big three (Merc and Audi), BMW consistently have the worse press photos.

Rolls Royce should have perfect press photos. That is what they market there cars as, perfect. These photos certainly are not perfect. I hope we get more, better photos soon!

 

[Merc1]

To be fair I'll reserve final judgement until I see it in person, but it ain't looking that good right now.

M

 

[Centurion]

On the contrary I've always fancied how the DHC looks with the roof up. There's something about a coloured roof canvas which makes it work well together with British luxury cars.

 

[Merc1]

Yeah that is the strange part, the Drop looks good top up or down. Puzzling.

M

 

[CorpusCallosum]

How silly of me not to notice this. I see the biggest problem. The side profile has no coupe shape or form. It looks like a sedan that has had the rear door removed. The coupes folding roof has a more slanted, "coupe like shape'. The actual coupe has a very flat and uninspiring roofline. Where is the coupe shape Rolls Royce? Even the window line is lacking the clasic coupe shape!

 

[Merc1]

Bingo. There it is. Rolls shouldn't feel bad because Aston-Martin did the exact same thing, yet the opposite by adding 2 doors to the Ripade. Neither "design" works IMO.

M

 

[Merc1]

On the contrary I've always fancied how the DHC looks with the roof up. There's something about a coloured roof canvas which makes it work well together with British luxury cars.

Yep and Bentley, Rolls and Jaguar always have the most varied color selection for their cloth tops. There is a certain sensual appeal to a cloth roof that a folding hardtop can't ever capture. I don't ever remember seeing a brown or green top offered on a modern day MB, BMW or Audi drop.

M