Rolls-Royce sales stable through recession

ORLANDO — In this down economy — where some automakers are asking for government bailouts — you might wonder: How are companies like Rolls-Royce doing?

The answer is: Rolls-Royce sales are down, too, but only a bit.

In February 2009, the company sold 36 cars in the United States. Last February, it sold 37.

That's the sort of downturn a lot of luxury car companies could live with. Bentley sales, for example, dropped from 231 cars in February 2008 to 69 last month. Lambor- ghini sales dropped from 84 to 70, and Ferrari sales dropped from 135 to 90.

"We're doing well," said Monte Patterson, who sells Rolls-Royces at the company's Orlando dealership, called Ultimate Motor Works. With 30 dealers in America, Rolls-Royce has averaged 2.4 sales per dealer this year, and Patterson said Ultimate has long been one of the brand's top stores.

That said, it is never easy to sell a car that starts at $380,000. To help, Rolls dispatched product specialist Brian Clark to Orlando to host special test drives of the company's models for current and prospective customers of the dealership.

Despite being neither a current nor prospective customer, I was invited, too.

The top-of-the-line model is the Phantom Extended Wheel Base model (or EWB, if you want to sound like you know your Rolls models) stretched to give the rear-seat passengers — two, or in a pinch, three, should you be carpooling — extra foot room.

"This is our flagship," Clark said, speaking from the driver's seat, as I lounged in the rear, trying to decide whether to close the motorized side curtains. I had already made one mistake: As I reached to shut the door, Clark said, "No! Just press the button!" There is a button that, when held down, closes the door for you.

Clark pointed out the three types of leather used inside the car; explained how the wood trim consists of 29 layers; turned on the optional "Starlight" headliner, which has dozens of tiny fiber-optic lights peeking though the perforated leather. It does indeed look like a starlit sky.

The Phantom EWB starts at $450,000, Clark said, "but this one has a few options," including that lighted headliner. Total price: $540,000.

Rolls is now owned by BMW, and the four models — all part of the Phantom family, differing in the number of doors and overall size — are powered by the same 6.7-liter BMW-built V-12 engine, with a six-speed automatic transmission. Fuel mileage? Really, are you serious? Okay, it's an EPA-rated 11 mpg city, 18 mpg highway.

Clark and I change places, and behind the wheel of the Phantom EWB, your first thought is: This thing is huge, with an overall length of nearly 240 inches. Weight: nearly 3 tons.

Still, acceleration is brisk, and handling — thanks to an air-controlled suspension — is better than you think, and the ride is, of course, sort of like your living room sofa, if that sofa had 453 horsepower.