If you believe that "the world seems a far better place when viewed from behind that famous figurine" and you can back that motto with a couple of billion dollars then you should think of adding the Rolls-Royce Phantom Coupe to your fleet. This is the turn of a new page in the illustrious history of the British marquee. Coupe is an amalgam of German engineering and English stateliness. The Coupe is the closest thing Rolls- Royce makes to a sports car: the quickest, strongest, stiffest, lowest-riding and most enlivening model to wear the Spirit of Ecstasy. This four-seat, two-door, V12-powered topless beauty is based on the massive Phantom sedan though it is shorter by 248mm.

The Coupe is weighs 2590kg making it 30 kg lighter than its sibling Phantom Drophead Coupe thanks to a substantial aluminium roof. This object of every drooling onlooker's desire has discreet yet imposing looks with the traditional Rolls-Royce streamlined grille. The Coupe also comes with an optional brushed steel bonnet which stylishly encircles the large windshield, as stylish and imposing as its occupant would be. The Coupe's cabin pampers customers with a choice of nine different colours and grades of leather upholstery and six different wood veneers which are crafted by hand in Rolls' wood shop. And if you are greedy for more then you can chose from 44,000 other exterior colours, specify your own one-off leather pattern or colour, or even select an unusual wood veneer.

This car even attracts the attention of young people. The two doors hinged at the rear come with massive chromed handles locker and doors open to reveal a lush interior. What seems like acres of hand-stitched leather and hand-rubbed wood surround you. Ingress to the rear seat is surprisingly easy, aided both by the size of the car and those rear-hinged doors. These doors are heavy so the electric closing mechanism is a saviour. To add to the Coupe's looks are the huge 21-inch run-flat e tyres, and since billionaires tend to have quirky ideas.



The cabin is trimmed in wonderfully soft leather and possibly has more chrome than in a 1959 Cadillac. It has no plastic buttons, everything is chrome finished. Step inside and you will be greeted by a thin-spoke steering wheel, classically simple gauges and a minimalist control panel. The climate controls are mounted a little low on the dash. More complex functions like the navigation system are man aged by an interface similar to BMW's iDrive system, but with climate and audio controls being separate, it's a more user-friendly setup.

Its trademark mouselike controller hides inside the centre console when not needed, while the LCD screen disappears behind the stylish analog clock. Under the bonnet, the polished steel coupe is powered by the Phantom sedan's 453bhp V12 turning a six-speed automatic which is donated by the parent firm BMW. So no complaints about the power as it is more than adequate.