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With the exception of the picnic trunk, steel hood, and A-pillar
surround all the Coupé’s panels are created from aluminum, which
delivers a substantial weight saving over steel. The large, singlepiece
front fenders are made by a process common in the aircraft
industry called super plastic forming in which the alloy is heated to
500º C and then formed, without the stress of the material that a
stamping would impart, to the required shape and size in a process
applied for the first time in the auto industry.
The 6.75L V12 produces 453 bhp/338 kW of power at 5350 rpm and
720 Nm/531 lb ft of torque at 3500 rpm. Premium fuel (91 AKI [Anti-
Knock Index] octane) is recommended but the engine can run on
regular if absolutely necessary, with a reduction in performance and
efficiency. The Coupé has the larger, 26.4 US/22 Imp. gal fuel tank
from the Phantom saloon, giving the Coupé a 25% increase over the
Drophead in range to about 400 miles.
to make the smoothest possible shifts creates a noticeable
lag between gears.
Massive brakes (14.7"/374 mm ventilated discs with twin
piston alloy calipers at the front and 14.6"/370 mm discs with
single piston calipers at the rear) make for linear braking
but truly prolonged braking will induce brake fade, accompanied
by interesting and expensive smells. In emergency
stops, anti-lock systems and Emergency Brake Assist kick in.
Standard-issue tires are big 21" Goodyear run-flats but it is
the wind, just as in the Drophead, that creates unmistakable
noise/turbulence around the A pillar at speed.
Forward visibility is good. The front corners are visible from
the driver’s seat and the car can be placed with confidence.
Rearward visibility through the small rear window makes
backing up a guessing game, although there are a rearwardlooking
camera beneath the trunk handle as well as proximity
sensors. (There is also an optional forward- or rather
sideways-looking camera mounted beneath the license plate
A pair of rectangular exhaust outlets peek out from under the
rear bumper. The fold-down bottom part of the picnic boot serves
as a seating platform and can support 330 lbs/150 kg. This also
facilitates easy loading of the trunk which has a volume of 13.9
ft 3 /395 liters, enough, so RR says, for four full sets of golf clubs.
The inherent safety of the spaceframe is enhanced by other
safety systems controlled by ISIS (Intelligent Safety and Information
System). This takes readings from sensors located throughout the
car and, in the event of an impact, makes up to 4000 calculations
a second to establish its severity, deploying safety systems as
necessary. These include intelligent braking and restraint systems,
such as Dynamic Stability Control and Dynamic Traction Control,
seatbelt pre-tensioners, and any of six airbags.
©The ©The Rolls-Royce
Rolls-Royce
Owners Owners Club, Club, Inc. Inc.
9070 THE FLYING LADY November / December 2008
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