So, as impressive at gravity defying as the Coupe's fine performance is, trying to make a battleship emulate a destroyer seems out of context. Thus, I was quite happy to leave the Sport button out of the equation the rest of the time.

It is my considered opinion that, while even the big four-door Phantom is more agile than its apparent bulk would have you believe, sporty driving implies a mindset involving closer engagement with the external world.

This is a marketing-led dichotomy that runs counter to the Rolls-Royce DNA, which is inherently about class, breeding, style and detachment from the masses. At this level, deportment is everything.

Tranquility and insulation from the hustle and bustle of a hectic world is what a Rolls-Royce does best, and the Phantom Coupe is simply another take on this theme. While it can indeed be rewardingly driven with more spirit than its brethren, ultimately, the Coupe's sportiness is more a trait to be perceived by onlookers than one to be exploited by the owner.