Elite Traveler July-August 2018

Rolls-Royce Phantom VIII BEST CAR IN WHICH TO BE CHAUFFEURED Deep pile lamb’s-wool floor rugs with power footrests that raise parts of the floor for more ergonomic seating, hundreds of fiber-optic pin lights that transform the roof into a constellation of one’s choosing, 287lbs of sound-insulation material, double- glazed windows, tires containing noise-absorbing foam, a clip-in decanter. The bespoke list can, and if Rolls-Royce has anything to say about it, will go on. In its eighth iteration, the Phantom, and its maker by extension, is a space where the word “no” is rarely uttered. Although the silhouette, regal stance, front-end “Pantheon grille” and long, flat hood continue on from the VII, the aluminum space frame platform, officially named “Architecture of Luxury,” is all new. Sporty shifting and cornering are largely irrelevant, as is sudden acceleration. There are no roars or rumbles here; in fact, there seems to be a lack of starting or stopping. The Phantom, rather, simply moves. Price Standard from $450,000. Extended wheelbase from $530,000. Engine 6.75-liter twin-turbocharged V12 Power 563 hp

Fred Astaire’s customized 1927 Phantom I continues to influence the British brand, from its focus on rear-seat comfort to Art Deco–inspired detailing to a trunk built to accommodate a seriously decadent amount of luggage

As the fastest and most powerful Bentley in its near-century of coachbuilding, the 2018 Continental Supersports Convertible is remarkable for more than just its 0-to-60 mph (at 3.7 seconds). A sequel to the Supersports Coupe, produced solely in 2017, the convertible has two doors and four actual, not kid-sized, seats. Heavy at 5,412lbs (roughly the same curb weight as a Chevrolet Tahoe), the Supersports Convertible possesses the ride quality of a sedan: smooth and effortless, but with an aggressive underbelly of power. That’s thanks to the twin-turbocharged engine and a rear-wheel-biased torque vectoring system that was first introduced on the Continental GT3-R. The result is immediate and unrelenting power that doesn’t lag, as is all too common with engine chargers, be they twin-turbo or super. Open-air motoring is always an option in the Supersports Convertible, as Bentley adroitly crafted a neck warmer to keep the chill at bay during the shoulder seasons. Although some may consider this a small detail, it’s the kind of feature that piques interest and promises daily top-down driving. Price from $322,600 Engine 6.0-liter twin-turbochargedW12 Power 700 hp Bentley Continental Supersports Convertible BEST SPORTS CAR TRAPPED IN A LUXURY SEDAN

Bentley doesn’t take the Supersports moniker lightly; only twice before has the nameplate appeared, first in the 1920s, then in 2009