The Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe was introduced at the 2007 North American International Auto Show in Detroit as a spiritual successor to the Corniche V. Based on the 100EX concept car and built on a platform similar to the Phantom's, the Drophead Coupe became the company's most expensive model, combining state-of-the-art technology,->ke1701 an unprecedented level of luxury and an enormous amount of customization options. The 44,000 exterior color combinations Rolls-Royce->ke74 offers for this model are just some of the many options customers can have their Drophead Coupe delivered with. Updated for the 2013 model year, the drop-top comes with a 453-horsepower, 6.75-liter V-12 engine under its hood, with a ZF, eight-speed autobox doing the shifting. The vehicle remains unchanged as we venture into 2015, but, in the familiar Rolls-Royce fashion, more and more Bespoke-built versions of the Drophead Coupe are being showcased around the world.

The latest Bespoke piece to come out of Goodwood, UK is the Maharaja Drophead Coupe, a convertible->ke144 inspired by the Golden Age of the Raja and India's affinity for the luxury marque. Although built for a customer in Dubai, this Drophead Coupe->ke141 pays homage to the relationship the company had with India's princes and Maharajas, who purchased over 840 unique Rolls-Royce vehicles over a period of five decades.

Click past the jump to read more about the Rolls-Royce Maharaja Phantom Drophead Coupe.

Exterior

As with most Bespoke Rolls-Royce models, exterior touches are subtle, but they do help the vehicle stand out. This particular example is finished in Carrara White with Emerald Green details here and there. The ultra-fine coachline -- Rolls-Royce speak for waistline -- seen on most of the company's vehicles and a stylized Peacock emblem, which is the national bird of India, disturb the sumptuous whiteness of the body with their green hue. Another peacock is visible on the Phantom's hood.

A Deep Green top covers the ultra luxurious interior and provides a striking contrast with the white-painted body. Granted, this Rolls-Royce is far from flashy, but Maharaja's have rarely ordered ostentatious exterior paints, with the focus being set on the vehicle's interior.

Interior

The interior is where this Rolls-Royce will leave its owner and passengers impressed. A high-grade wooden deck is revealed once the top is down, with yet another peacock detail sculpted halfway between the rear seats and the trunk lid. The white-and-green theme of the exterior continues into the cabin, with the Carrara White paint being replaced by the Creme Light leather covering the seats, the door panels and some of the dashboard.

The Brits went on with the same Emerald Green for the interior, a color that provides a striking contrast with the wood inserts in the dashboard and the door panels. The bright shade of green adorns the dash top, the steering wheel, the rear panel handles and the door panel's storage compartment. More peacock emblems are embroidered into the headrests, this time in Emerald Green and Cobalto Blue, while peacock feather patterns are stitched on the side and center armrests.

A bespoke Maharaja peacock clock with Jade and Cobalto Blue elements and green wool floor mats round off the exquisite cabin.

Drivetrain

Motivating this unique Maharaja drop-top is the same 6.75-liter, V-12 engine found in the regular Phantom Drophead Coupe. The use of a stock powerplant comes at no surprise, as Rolls-Royce's Bespoke division has made a habit from not meddling with what's under the hood.

That's far from bad news though, as the 453 horsepower and 531 pound-feet of torque that travel to the wheels through a ZF, eight-speed automatic are enough to push the massive convertible from naught to 60 mph in only 5.7 seconds. Top speed sits at 149 mph, an outstanding figure for a vehicle weighing nearly 5,800 pounds.

Prices

As with most Bespoke-crafted vehicles, Rolls-Royce did not disclose any pricing information for the Maharaja Phantom Drophead, and that's understandable considering this is a unique car. With the base price for this model set at around $435,000, we can only assume the owner paid in excess of the $500K to park this jewel into his driveway.

Competition

Bentley Continental GT Speed Convertible

Very few cars have what it takes to compete against the Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe, and the Continental GT Speed is one of them. The GT Speed comes in a different package, however, as it lacks the chutzpah offered by a Rolls-Royce cabin, but offers more horsepower and better performance. In addition, Bentley doesn't have a customizing program the size of Rolls-Royce's Bespoke, meaning customers can't meddle with options outside what they get from the dealership.

But if more power is what you're looking for, the GT Speed can provide plenty of it. The 6.0-liter W-12 cranks out no less than 626 horsepower and 607 pound-feet of torque, enabling the convertible to sprint from 0 to 60 mph in four seconds. That's nearly two seconds faster than the Phantom Drophead Coupe and a sprint that will put many sports cars to shame. What's more, the Bentley's top speed is far more superior at 203 mph, being one of the very few luxury cars that can surpass the 200-mph mark. A ZF, eight-speed automatic with Quickshift works together with the massive engine for those figures to happen.

The 2015 Bentley Continental GT Speed retails from $230,000, making it the more affordable of the two luxury convertibles.

Conclusion

Much like the Bugatti Veyron, each Rolls-Royce is unique. The British company has been tailoring its vehicles to customers preferences for more than a decade, building the tiny Manchester-based venture into the pinnacle of automotive luxury and opulence we all know today. The Bespoke division is mainly responsible for the incredible craftsmanship found in most modern-day Rolls-Royces, and the Maharaja Phantom Drophead Coupe comes to prove why this marque is still popular with Arab sheiks and heads of state.