Rolls-Royce Phantom: The Epitome of Luxury

Rolls-Royce is a company like no other. It is one of the most widely-recognized, prestigious, and powerful nameplates in the world. The Phantom is the flagship of this uber-luxury British carmaker's fleet, making its debut with the Series I way back in 1925. Today, the Rolls-Royce Phantom is in its eighth generation, continuing to chauffeur the extremely affluent and the top one percent.

Built upon the aptly named "Architecture of Luxury" platform, the latest Phantom is still constructed at RR's Goodwood plant in England. After BMW officially took over the reins in 1998, the eighth-gen incarnation of this F-segment car is the second model to emerge from the Rolls-Royce production line.

Innovative Features and Competition

With the launch of the all-new Phantom, Rolls-Royce has incorporated some of the most revolutionary and cutting-edge manufacturing techniques in the car industry. The latest model boasts a more rigid body than its predecessor, along with a completely revamped suspension setup and chassis control systems. Rolls-Royce offers the new Phantom in Standard Wheelbase (SWB) and Extended Wheelbase (EWB) avatars. Its direct competition mainly includes the Bentley Mulsanne, but the RR Phantom could also be compared to the Mercedes Maybach.

Exterior

The new Rolls-Royce Phantom retains its massive, land-yacht presence and stance, despite numerous updates. The EWB version measures an impressive 5.982 meters in length, 2.018 meters in width, 1.656 meters in height, with a remarkable 3.772-meter long wheelbase. The front features one of the most expansive hoods in the industry, a trademark stainless-steel grille, the evocative ‘Spirit of Ecstasy’ hood ornament, rectangular headlamps, and a thick bumper with neatly-integrated air-intake channels and chrome décor.

The vast side profile encompasses the Phantom's gargantuan alloy wheels, weighted center caps, huge ‘suicide’ rear doors, thick rear pillars, and a gently sloping roofline. The classy back end gets unique ultra-modern LED tail lamps, a thick chrome bar on the trunk lid, and a neat-looking bumper with flush, twin exhaust tips. It's challenging to express just how sophisticated and regal the Phantom looks in person. Oh, did I mention how huge this automobile is?

Interior

If the exterior of the Rolls-Royce Phantom makes you want to step inside, the interior will make you want to live there permanently. The interior of the new Phantom is absolutely breathtaking and astonishingly comfortable. The cabin, especially in the EWB version, offers ample space to stretch out almost infinitely.

Each centimeter of this interior feels meticulously crafted with the best materials available. Rolls-Royce has also added extra sound-proofing, making the new Phantom 10 percent quieter than its predecessor.

As for features and equipment, there are numerous to list, including:

• Adaptive Laserlight headlamps
• Adaptive cruise control
• Active air suspension
• Power-closing doors
• Ambient mood lighting
• Temperature-controlled and massaging leather seats
• Mini fridge
• ‘Star light’ roof
• Multi-zone climate control
• Night vision
• Surround-view cameras
• Heads-up display

Engine and Performance

The new Rolls-Royce Phantom is powered by a 6.75-liter V12 engine, delivering 571 hp and 900 Nm of torque. An 8-speed automatic transmission sends power to the rear wheels, enabling this 2.6-ton luxury behemoth to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in just 5.4 seconds, with a top speed restricted to 250 km/h.

Verdict

In the UAE, the Rolls-Royce Phantom is priced at AED 2,250,000 (Standard Wheelbase) and AED 2,450,000 (Extended Wheelbase). Additional options can quickly inflate that price tag significantly.