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Car of the Month - August 2017
Rolls-Royce Phantom Coupé Series II, 2012, #UX76027

Most presumably annals from a not too distant future will list this model with a alternative designation. The Phantom Coupé Series II hat been launched in 2012 as the successor of the Rolls-Royce Phantom Coupé which had been produced between 2008 and 2012. The manufacturer had declared the latter as Rolls-Royce Phantom Coupé Series I to achieve a clear separation from the massively up-dated and face-lifted new model. It is but fair to quote William Shakespeare: "What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet". As regards the 4-door variant the model names "Rolls-Royce Phantom Series I" as well as "Rolls-Royce Phantom Series II" were substituted from 2016/2017 onward by the new designation "Rolls-Royce Phantom VII". No need to read coffee grounds to predict that before long the 2-door variants will be re-christened as per the new schema: "Phantom VII Coupé".

The production figure of the original Rolls-Royce Phantom Coupé (= Rolls-Royce Phantom Coupé Series I) had been a mere 551; these were made between 2008 and 2012. As regards the Rolls-Royce Phantom Coupé Series II it wouldn’t be realistic to expect a considerably higher number before production will be terminated. The timeline is obvious: In July 2017 first pre-series models of the Rolls-Royce Phantom VIII gave their debut and the manufacturer informed that from 2018 onward deliveries would start. – And the new "big" Rolls-Royce Phantom VIII would be offered with standard wheelbase and with extended wheelbase, too. The clear answer to enquiries on 2-door variants was none such were planned, neither as convertible nor as coupe.

   
Such a decision was instantly understandable from an economic point of view as Rolls-Royce with their models Roll-Royce Wraith offered a 2-door fastback coupe and with their model Rolls-Royce Dawn a 2-door convertible. These were close relatives of the "Baby Rolls", i.e. the 4-door Rolls-Royce Ghost Saloon which did complete the portfolio. – Inevitably it would have ignited in-house competition if the "big" 4-door Rolls-Royce Phantom VIII had had 2-door brethren.

Hence there will be but a really small number of Rolls-Royce Phantom Coupés from Serie I and II. That can be said, too, of the sister model with collapsible hood (although in absolute figures more had been produced of these). It is speculation if in hindsight once there will be comments dictated by sadness that it had been merely an episode from the history of Rolls-Royce when orders for a Rolls-Royce Phantom Coupé Series II had been accepted. It is pure speculation, too, whether or not for future market conditions entirely different models will be tailored: