Rolls-Royce Phantom Coupe (2008) CAR review

It's time to drive the Rolls-Royce Phantom Coupe, some two years after the company threw back the covers hiding its 101EX concept. Back then, no one ever pretended that was anything but a gossamer thin disguise for the upcoming Phantom Coupe. Fast forward 24 months and the first Coupes - running a 453bhp V12 and costing nigh on £300,000 - are rolling off the Goodwood factory's immaculate production line.

It’s rather large, isn't it?

The Coupe looks big in pictures, but in the metal it’s even larger. The kind of larger than makes you walk around the car (a good ten minute stroll itself) a few times just to recalibrate your mental tape measure. Whether the Phantom’s size and style appeals to you or not, there’s no denying its imposing proportions and intelligent detailing. That brushed alloy bonnet is proving popular too, with the overwhelming majority of buyers ticking its box on the long options list. What a pity then that even when riding on 21inch alloys there’s still a large enough gap between tyre and wheel arch to make the car look under-tyred.

What’s it like on board, Cap’n?

Swing back that vast rear-hinged door and climb up and into the front seats. There’s a wonderfully simple and pared-back feeling to the cabin that almost verges on the spartan. Unlike a Maybach or a Bentley, the cabin is not confusingly shotgunned with a thousand buttons dials and controls. There’s no intimidation, just intelligently configured ergonomics – controls you need regularly are just where you’d want them, those that aren’t are secreted away.

Refreshing in a less-is-more way…

Quite. You get the feeling that pretty much every minute detail has been thought through to the nth degree. Take the umbrellas that are stowed in the front wings  - they’re Teflon coated so that they can be replaced when damp without the fabric perishing. And the elegant dash clock  - it tumbles silently away to reveal the satellite navigation screen. But after that bare bonnet, the option most drivers will enjoy is the ‘Starlight’ headlining with its 1600 LED lights. Perfect for roof-up star-gazing.

There is one glaring fault though – the trio of roof-mounted controls for opening the boot, raising the suspension (itself an odd engineering choice given the Coupe’s lofty ride height) and activating the always-necessary parking sensors is totally obscured from view from the driver’s seat.