Our test drive started when we arrived at the airport in Rome. An amiable young lady greeted us at the gate, holding a small sign with the letters "RR". There was no need to ask: the whole world knows what the initials RR stand for and it was no surprise that within twenty minutes a dozen or so complete strangers had abandoned what they were doing and were heading towards the "RR" in eager anticipation. Bad luck - this gig was for journalists with invitations only!

The drive to the hotel, around 170 kilometres distance, was in a Phantom Extended Wheelbase. Not many cars can match this vehicle for elegance and comfort, not to mention style.

Our first meeting with the new Rolls-Royce was on Italian soil, but with true British discretion. Fully dressed and without even an iota of showmanship, precisely as one would expect the first appearance of a car with such an impeccable British heritage. We had gained our first tactile and visual impression from a distance; now it was time to take a closer look at the latest offering from Goodwood - but with all due respect and civility, of course!

Exterior values / design:

It is immediately clear that this new model features a few small changes in comparison to the saloon. The view out of the windscreen is of the spectacular bonnet. Brushed stainless steel forms a gleaming landing strip for the figurehead: the Spirit of Ecstasy, known as Emily to her friends. One is reminded slightly of a yacht, a comparison which is reinforced when we walk around to the rear of the car. A superb teak deck for the largest soft-top ever made, which the company likes to refer to as a sail - although the vast horsepower under the bonnet should suffice to eliminate the need for any other source of energy. The spiritual proximity to the maritime world is tangible, with only ingress and egress differing slightly. Unlike stepping onto a yacht from a jetty or quay, passengers in the Drophead Coupé get into the car through two spectacular coach-style, rear-hinged doors. A step up in the world? Yes, without a doubt!

Xaver Franz, Head of Production in Goodwood, is justifiably proud of his new product: "We could have created a nice convertible if we'd simply removed the roof of the Phantom. This, however, is a completely new dimension. One thousand three hundred completely new components, aluminium wings and the frame, which we make in Dingolfing, make the Drophead Coupé the most stable convertible in the world."

We're more than happy to believe this and look forward to our very first drive in the new car. The Rolls-Royce spokesman, Graham Biggs, explains that the car was tested on the worst possible roads; the results of these endurance tests flowed back into the design of the chassis and body. Even the rear-view mirror performed its duty without trembling, a British stiff-upper lip regardless of the circumstances. These are precisely the kind of details that Rolls-Royce passengers will appreciate.

Have a nice drive!

It's eight in the morning; breakfast is in the process of being digested and it's time to choose a colour. A quick glance through the window is sufficient: blue is definitely the colour of choice for today. Sunscreen is handed round, the roadbook is ready and it's time to cast off. The first 1.5 kilometres between the hotel and road pose no challenge to the Rolls-Royce. Tuscan flora to the right and left, the ground crunches softly and genteelly beneath the burden of 2.6 tonnes of high-class car. The first two minutes are given over to getting accustomed to the new environment. The dashboard, instruments and seat position are not new, but are still somehow unfamiliar. Only a week ago we were happily piloting a Porsche 911. Nobody can say that the intrepid team at Exclusive Life shy from trying new things.

The new Rolls-Royce fits like a pair of John Lobb bespoke shoes. The cover is neatly stowed away behind us and the flying lady is enjoying the view with us. 453 bhp, combined with a transmission that works smoothly and discreetly, whisk us effortlessly along the Tuscan roads. The engine is smooth and impressively silent, the need to drive swiftly hardly noticeable. The suspension does its job so well that you almost find yourself making a mental note to nominate the Italian road workers for a special prize for their work. The potholes and cracks are still there - it's just that we can't feel them.

Changeover: we take our first break and swap drivers. The backseat beckons and the convertible reacts to the first curves with gentle undulations. Long load cycle changes are not good for any loose items that happen to lying around, such as the camera, notebook or sunglasses. Above 80 mph, the world around us makes itself noticeable in form of strong winds. And while speedy sprints may impress those we're overtaking, they should be announced well in advance. First, because the Rolls-Royce is, by nature, a dignified car, and second, because the passengers in the rear could suddenly find themselves without their headgear. We know from previous experience with the saloon just what 453 bhp feels like, so we decide to stay on the right side of the law - and do our bit for the environment - by reining in this magnificent car.

After around 250 kilometres we return to the hotel. Company spokesman Graham Biggs and Frank Tiemann register our feedback and inform us that the new Rolls-Royce Drophead Coupé has gained quite a few new friends: 200 cars have been ordered with downpayments made. Looks like we're going to have to wait a few months. Ah well, perhaps by then the parking situation in our neighbourhood will have improved!