Rolls Royce Phantom Coupe in India test drive

The BMW owned company, Rolls Royce India have quietly made their debut alongside BMW in late 2004. This doesn’t mean that they haven’t done any sales. Infact in the upper echelons of the super luxury car segment, Rolls Royce India have made deep inroads with the company out classing Maybach and even Bentley Motors to emerge on the top of the heap. So when you get an invitation from the king of luxury car makers, you cannot think of any reasons to skip the invite. So off we at Indiandrives went for a test drive. The bone of contention was the new car, the Rolls Royce Phantom Coupe in India.

Looks

Just like any other Rolls Royce car. Well, I am not embarrassed to say that I really cannot distinguish which Rolls Royce model is coming my way unless I read the declaration at the back. Not surprisingly, none of my colleagues were adept in guessing the model as well. That big grille with vertical slats along with the RR logo on top and the Spirit of Ecstacy on the bonnet is bound to tickle any one’s fantasies. The head lamps are enclosed in their own rectangular pods and feature daytime running LEDs. The air dam is a subtle affair

The 21 inch rims complement the look of the Rolls Royce Phantom Coupe in India We are been told that about 25 cms have been chopped off from the wheelbase of this car. Looking at it, at least I felt that nothing has been chopped because at 5.6 meters, the car still looks quite big. The rear portion even in the least doesn’t show the coupe like sloping roof line. It has triangular tail lamps and a bland boot. Nothing exceptional in the design overall here. Oh yes, those twin tail pipes do sound as if they mean business.

Interiors

Now, each and every Rolls Royce is hand made with the finest quality leather as well as bull hide and the Rolls Royce Phantom Coupe in India is no different. The first thing that you would notice is the huge doors and they are the suicide doors. Yes, the suicide doors are back in fashion and precisely 50 years after they were first introduced to the world on a production car. They open and close at the press of a button. There are only two doors since this is a coupe version and more like a driver’s car rather than be a chauffer driven one.

The steering wheel deserves a special mention for the fact that it still looks age old and has 3 spokes. This steering wheel is actually more fulsome to hold but then its operation is very easy. Under the armrest, you will find the electric seat adjustment lever. BMW’s ownership shows because in the name of electronic gizmos, the boring old 1st generation Idrive system is present. The cabin looks antique but then the cabin’s overall feel is that of high quality. And when we say high quality, it means the best that can be. The front seats are what one would describe as butt tickling and super comfy. The rear passengers on the contrary would be highly inconvenienced due to the fact that access to the rear is through the front and one has to move aside the front seats and then clamber in the back. But then after that, it isn’t so uncomfortable. There is a panaromic sunroof as well and the ceiling of this car is headlined with millions of LED lights embedded in it. This gives the effect of a milky way. Didn’t we mention opulence at its best?

The boot space however is disappointing with the fact that there is only 525 liters of boot space to play around with in such a big car. But then that is enough to travel across continents in style and oomph.

Handling and ride quality

You don’t expect a Rolls Royce to handle, would you? But then based on the BMW 7 series platform, this car can corner but not in the same manner as the BMW would. But then surprises are part of the package. The Rolls Royce Phantom Coupe in India does handle quite well. The suspension of this car is fully airmatic but then it has got a sports button to toughen up the chassis. The car can ditch its heels and go exactly to the direction that it is been pointed at. The suspension also seems to be set up on the sporty side but then it makes do with a good ride quality as well. This is actually a trademark of Rolls Royce India and they have been making cars which have a magic carpet ride quality to them.

That said, the low speed ride can be a bit irritating due to the fact that the car lets you know what is going on underneath. Once the speeds rise up, those minor irritants are just dispatched off with aplomb. The hint of body roll which is present while taking fast turns is quickly brought into control by the ever present ESP system.

Engine, performance and fuel efficiency

The engine breathing under the long and sinuous hood of the Rolls Royce Phantom Coupe in India is the 6.75 liter V12 petrol engine. This engines is also available with the top of the line BMW 7 series. It makes 460 Bhp of peak power at 5350 rpm whereas the torque is an amazing 720 Nm at 3,500 rpm. This car is no slouch when it comes to the performance department as well. It can race from 0-100 kmph in 5.4 seconds and go all the way to its electronically limited top speed of 250 kmph. The eight speed auto transmission is also chucked from the BMW 7 series. The best part is that there is no tachometer in a Rolls Royce and all that is there is a power reserve meter. While cruising at 130 kmph, the car shows that one is only using 10% of the car’s available power.

It is the sheer effortlessness with which the engine makes power that is commendable. The pace at which it would gobble up continents is beyond comparison. Brakes are usual carbon fiber ceramic ones front and rear. These are assisted by the vast array of BMW electronics which halt this porky luxury coupe in a safe and sedate manner. Safety is well tended for in any Rolls Royce and the Rolls Royce Phantom Coupe in India is no different. It has a full complement of 6 air bags, BMW reinforced body structure and many others. Fuel efficiency is what most of the Rolls owners would be least concerned about however just for the sake, it is 5.7 kmpl in the city and 7.2 kmpl on the highway. If you are buying a Rolls Royce, you obviously would be owning two or three oil wells.

Verdict

Rolls Royce India may be quietly carrying out its operations in India however then here and there such PR exercises do help in building up an already big brand name. Usually such big companies refrain from having any brand ambassador due to the fact that they are already well entrenched in the world automotive business. But then the Coupe model i.e the Rolls Royce Phantom Coupe in India is one hell of a style statement. It has the style, suitably smaller footprint yet bigger on interior space, hell of a cabin and a very powerful mile munching capacity engine. The Rolls Royce Phantom Coupe price in India is Rs 4 crores on, Mumbai.