Members of the local media were introduced this morning to the Phantom Drophead Coupe, the latest luxury car from Rolls-Royce.

The two-door, four-seat, fabric-top convertible was unveiled by Mr Colin Kelly, Regional Director of Rolls-Royce, and Mr Karsono Kwee, Executive Chairman of Eurokars Group of Companies, at the scenic Villa Raintree Spa overlooking Singapore's southern coast.

Fresh from the Goodwood factory in the UK, the 'Jubilee Silver' convertible with its deep red fabric roof will be making its way around Asia, whetting the appetite of customers who have already placed orders, potential owners who have yet to make up their minds, as well as those who can only afford to admire this hand-crafted automobile from a distance.

Trans Eurokars, the local dealer for the Rolls-Royce marque, has already received six orders for this million-dollar automobile in Singapore.

"Suicide doors"

FEATURES

The Drophead Coupe is powered by the same 6.75 litre V12 engine as the Phantom, and will propel its 2,620kg frame from 0 - 100 km/hr in 5.7 seconds.

Inspired by classic J-class racing yachts of the 1930s, the car's nautical influence is apparent from the hand-finished teak-wood rear decking, which the luxury marque claims will weather the hot and wet tropics.

Apart from the collapsible roof, perhaps the most striking feature are the "suicide doors" that open in the reverse direction compared to conventional doors, allowing rear-seated passengers to climb elegantly into their seats, rather than fall clumsily onto them.

And if the large aluminium doors prove too heavy afterward, all one needs is to press and hold a button for the doors to be shut via an electrical motor, and with much aplomb.

Rolls-Royce calls the 315 litres of rear stowage space a 'picnic boot', and it splits open in two separate parts. The tailgate portion proves sturdy enough to serve as outdoor seating for two with room to spare for a picnic basket, and hence the name. Golfers should be happy with the whopping 315 litres of space, which translates to about 3 golf bags.

Other opulent features include the crash-tested, teflon-coated umbrellas that come fitted into both door frames. Apparently these brollies have been so well-engineered that fungus and mildew will not grow on them even when the stowed away wet.

BREAK THE BANK

In case you're wondering how you can get your very own Drophead Coupe, expect to pay around $1.8 million for one in Singapore, after COE and road tax.

But even if you have the cash to splash, the entire inventory from the Phantom Drophead Coupe production line for 2007 has been snapped up, so you would be lucky to secure one of only 200 dropheads that will be made in 2008.