Power & might

The latest - and last - Rolls-Royce Phantom is here. CEO Middle East is seduced by majesty in motion.

A 400km test route between Geneva and Lyon could have been largely made up of fast, smooth dual carriageways and motorways. Arguably, that kind of cross-country charge would have played to the strengths of the third and final incarnation of the Phantom, a model range that has spectacularly revived the Rolls-Royce marque.

Since 2003, sales of cars with a 'Spirit of Ecstasy' atop the grille have more than trebled, hitting 1010 Phantoms in 2007 - 253 of those being last year's launch, the Drophead Coupé.

But the new fixed-roof Coupé offers the 'sportiest' Phantom yet - and so the cars at the press launch saw service mostly on single carriageways, weaving their way up, down and all around hilly parts of Eastern France on ever-narrowing roads. Which, of course, bears no resemblance to how the Coupés will be employed once they go on sale here in this month.

The Coupé will surely be bought by slightly younger Phantom Saloon owners, who've found that the colossal carriage is actually not a bad steer. Or by some discreet dignitaries for whom the gorgeous Drophead is perhaps just a little too extrovert.

The Coupé is smaller than the Saloon: 225mm shorter, 40mm lower and a measly 3mm narrower. That still makes it nearly as long and wide as the Cadillac Escalade ESV - and while the Caddy will seat at least eight, the Rolls is designed for four.

Having said that, taller passengers will find rear head and legroom somewhat confined for such an opulent chariot, though the curved ‘sofa' in the rear ‘lounge' is certainly a cosy and inviting place - particularly with the optional starlight ceiling shimmering above.

So the Coupé will potentially join its bigger brother in the million-dollar stable as the self-drive daily commuter. It will glide about town most imposingly, occasionally stretching its formidable range by stringing a couple of cities together.

The top speed has been de-restricted a little to allow 250kph, but at the 120kph legal limit, the V12 utilises under 10% of its potential - love that ‘power reserve' meter in the instrument panel!

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