IT may be as big as a house but it will float like the proverbial butterfly. At 2,620kg, there is nothing sylph-like about the Rolls-Royce Phantom Coupe. It's massive and chunky styling enhances its huge proportions. But when you are behind the wheel of this two-door Rolls, it feels as nimble as a little sports car. The steering is sharp and the turning circle amazingly small. Even though it is 5.6 metres long.

Then again, the Coupe is the most dynamic model in a Rolls-Royce family that includes the Phantom and Phantom Extended Wheelbase limousines as well as the soft-top Drophead Coupe. Some of the Coupe's differences include a thicker rear anti-roll bar to reduce body roll in corners and bigger 21-inch wheels. There is also an unusual S button on the steering wheel that when pressed, changes the gear shifts characteristics to keep the revs higher for more spirited driving. You could almost call it sporty except that it is more than that.

The Coupe was conceived for comfortable long-distance driving, something to cross the continent in while making it look as effortless and stylish as possible. And it does the job superbly. The ride is firmer than in other Rolls-Royce models but the Coupe seems to glide across the road surface. If you have always wanted to sit on a flying carpet, this could be the closest you will ever get.

Yet it handles magnificently for a car its size. Approach a sweeping downhill corner at speed and the Coupe surprises you with its poise and control. Part of this is due to the extremely stiff body, said to be the most rigid among all the models.

But perhaps the most impressive aspect of the Coupe is its cabin. Apart from the lavish wood trim (which can be extended to the door frame on the Coupe) and the starlight headlining (with its thousands of tiny fibre optic bulbs to replicate a star-filled sky), there is something more striking - the silence. Sitting in a moving Coupe is like sitting in a library. You can barely hear the 6.75-litre V12 engine or the road noise at low speeds. Together with the high level of ride comfort, they contribute to Rolls-Royce's famed 'waftability'.

There is only one catch to all this excess of engineering and luxury - the price. In Singapore, the Rolls-Royce Phantom Coupe starts from $1.58 million before options such as a stainless steel bonnet, and the aforementioned door frame wood trim and starlight headlining. But for that price, you will be guaranteed to drive something that looks and feels like nothing else on the road.

SPECS

Rolls-Royce Phantom Coupe

Engine 6,749cc, V12
Transmission 6-speed automatic
Max power 453 hp @ 5,350 rpm
Max torque 720 Nm @ 3,500 rpm
0-100 kmh 5.8 secs
Top speed 250 kmh (governed)
Price from $1.58 million
Distributor Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Singapore
tel 6475-3113

This article was first published in The Business Times on Sept 20, 2008.