Words: Jonathan Wells
We’ve been waiting over a decade for the newest iteration of Rolls-Royce’s iconic saloon and finally, late last week, the Phantom was unveiled – via a live stream, just to show that the heritage carmaker are keeping up with the times.
But even under the bonnet and inside the cabin, this nod to the future and progressive technology is fully embraced. With everything from a head-up display to laser headlights, this is a car that means business. In fact, there are so many secrets and features hidden away within the ghostly design of this latest Phantom that it’s hard to keep track. However, we think we’ve covered everything, so read on.
As will most luxury saloons, the focus here is on comfort. An ‘all-new’ – which seems to be Rolls-Royce’s buzzword for this latest release – all-aluminium space frame architecture is both lighter and stiffer than the previous iteration, by 30 per cent, no less. As a result, this leads to a whole new level of comfort, and what the carmaker calls its ‘Magic Carpet Ride’.
Outside, the pantheon grille remains the heart of the design, but has been tweaked slightly and, unlike all previous models, sees the grille itself integrated into the surrounding bodywork. As a result, the car looks cleaner and sleeker – with all lines flowing to this iconic central design feature.
At the back, we see a more raked design, and a subtle scallop on the rear roof. There is a tapered tail on this latest model, also, which again affords the Phantom smoother lines. Cleverly, the boot lid finisher in stainless steel also evokes the grille at the front, giving the whole car more of a unified feel.
This Phantom, as a whole, has a much more futuristic feel than the older models. Rolls-Royce claim this is for the driver’s clarity behind the wheel, but we suspect they’re not too upset about the chic aesthetic perks that come hand-in-hand with refining design.
12.3 inch TFT displays with LED backlighting now communicate all driver information from within chrome surrounds, a bespoke analogue clock sits pride of place in the dash, and a four-camera system with Panoramic View. And it doesn’t end there.
If you’re lucky enough to get behind the wheel of this machine, you’ll also enjoy wireless Apple CarPlay integration, night vision, a WiFi hotspot for up to ten devices, and an uninterrupted swathe of toughened glass that runs the length of the dashboard and can be used to display art.
The eighth Phantom boasts an ‘all-new’ 6.75 litre, twin-turbo V12, which delivers 563 horsepower and will take you from 0-60mph in 5.3 seconds. And, as this is kept smooth using Rolls-Royce’s latest generation of self-levelling air suspension – which makes millions of calculations every second – it’s both swift and smooth.
And, finally, the satellite-aided transmission deserves a mention, if not simply for its sheer ingenuity. With technology that originated in BMWs, this nifty piece of kit pre-selects gears based both on the general behaviour of the driver, but also on your geographical location to make your ride smoother.
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