Make way for the Phantom convertible

It is the Rolls Royce’s first convertible in five years and now it is in India. CNBC-TV18 takes us through a quick tour of the Rolls Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe.

It might be the company's first convertible in five years. But it has still got the Titanic proportions of a Rolls Royce.

The Drophead Coupe is just a little less than 19 feet long, weighs a mammoth 2.5 tonne. But Rolls Royce says the equally huge 6,750 cc engine can take this car to 100 km per hour in less than six seconds.

And for those who are willing to spend upwards of Rs 3.1 crore for this car, the company also throws in two custom built umbrellas that fit into the front door panels. But apart from the bells and whistles, this car has a lot riding on it.

The Rolls Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe is an extremely important car in the evolution of Rolls Royce as a company because when this car was first launched, the idea was to try and attract a younger clientele to Rolls Royce. It seems to have worked because half of the people who have booked this car are first time owners.

“The brand was not something that people would consider in the past. But in the last five years, people have seen Rolls Royce as a car of this century and for the years to come. It is appealing to people who are younger and younger,” said Colin Kelly, Regional Director-APAC, Rolls Royce.

The appeal has been so great that Rolls Royce is full up this year and in fact can’t deliver any cars until August. The company says it expects to sell about 2-4 dropheads annually in India in the coming few years.