Rolls Royce Motor Cars has seen its 2008 sales increase by 20 per cent. Last year the luxury car manufacturer retailed 1212 cars compared to 1010 the previous year.

This marks the fifth consecutive annual sales increase since the company was launched in 2003.

Continued interest in the Phantom Drophead Coupé and, in particular, the introduction of the Phantom Coupé in the summer of 2008 saw Rolls-Royce attract new buyers, boosting retails to record levels.

Rolls Royce have created a special edition Phantom as part of their Bespoke Collection showcasing their extensive customization program. The Phantom Sapphire takes its name from the bodywork’s unique shade of Milori Sapphire which is a unique shade of navy blue.

The interior comes in a choice of two colour combinations either navy blue with seashell highlights or seashell with navy blue highlights, the the walnut burr veneer featuring inlaid diamond pattern marquetry.

A two-bottle cool box located beneath the rear lounge seat incorporates a drinks holder milled from a single billet of aluminium, which when not in use, can be concealed in the facia of the cool box.

Cristiano Ronaldo – the man who brought you such comments as “The possibilities of me going to Real Madrid are great,” and “I’ve said a million times that I’d love to play in Spain” – has celebrated his decision to stay at Manchester United by splashing out on a £350,000 ($700,000) Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe.

The Portuguese midfielder bought the Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe from Doncaster-based luxury car dealer Liquid 45. He gave instructions for it to be “fully loaded,” a trade term for all the added extras.

Cristiano, 23, also owns an Aston Martin, a BMW 6 Series, a Bentley Continental and a Ferrari. As a matter of fact, the Phantom will replace his £140,000 Bentley Continental.

This Rolls Royce Phantom Coupe is reported to be owned by the Sultan of Brunei’s family.

The Sultan has a sizable private fortune derived from his total control over the national economy’s finances and the appropriation of the state’s sizeable oil revenues to bankroll his extravagant lifestyle.

The Sultan’s fortunes, in line with oil prices, have fluctuated since an estimated high of $55.63 billion in 1997, which made him the richest man in the world at the time.

Automotive News reports that Pininfarina is working on a new privately-commissioned one-off based on the Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe.
Coachbuilding for individual clients is becoming an important part of Pininfarina’s business, as automakers worldwide are outsourcing to independent carrozzerias less than they used to

Ordered by an as-yet unnamed collector, the vehicle will bear the name Hyperion from ancient Greek mythology. Built from a Phantom Drophead Coupé, the Hyperion seems to be much shorter than the production model. Although the front fascia seems to be similar to the Phantom, the car sports a host of new character lines aft of the A-pillars.

Pininfarina claims the Hyperion is inspired by pre-war Rolls-Royces; while the lines do help connect the car to its history, many of the same lines recall more modern vehicles. The kink just below the window line, rising up as it hits the rear fender, evokes memories of the Silver Wraith and Silver Cloud, both products of the 1950s.

Other details on the Rolls Royce Drophead Coupe special haven’t yet emerged, but expect to see the Hyperion in full at the Pebble Beach Concourse d’Elegance that opens on August 17.

At the 2008 Geneva show, Rolls-Royce will formally announce the Phantom Coupe. This comes over a year after the Phantom Drophead Coupe was launched.

The fixed-head Phantom is expected to be much like its convertible precursor. The same 6.75-liter V-12 sits under the long hood, making a familiar 453 hp and 532 lb-ft of torque.

The Coupe can be equipped with the starlight headliner seen on the 101EX concept (below) and also available in the four-door Phantom.