I’m going to start the new Phantom’s engine. This is a historic event since Rolls-Royce seldom builds whole new vehicles from the ground up. This is particularly true of its flagship vehicle, which has undergone just eight redesigns since Sir Henry Royce first envisioned it in 1925. This may be one of the keys to preserving its unparalleled status among opulent automobiles. Although the Phantom isn’t the most costly car—its starting price is around $450,000—it is without a doubt the ultimate prestige symbol.
Compared to the 2003 VII it succeeds, the Phantom VIII is even smoother, quieter, and has a more sophisticated motor thanks to its specially designed new architecture. Additionally, it is the most technologically sophisticated product offered by the British luxury manufacturer. In addition, the design is brand-new, with an exquisitely opulent interior that includes a specially selected gallery and an elegant exterior. The vehicle I’m driving fully fulfills these expectations and adds a little bit more to make it really exceptional.
To be honest, I find the Phantom to be a bit intimidating. Just the massive, erect “plinth” radiator grille is impressive. I remember seeing a black-and-white picture of a Maharaja from India driving a specially built Phantom and pursuing an elephant. These are massive vehicles with massive personalities. I let the Spirit of Ecstasy mascot in my direct line of sight to lead me as I sit up tall behind the wheel to make up for my diminutive height and feel somewhat more in control.
Both driving and being driven are essential experiences with the Phantom. With an additional 8.6 inches of length, the extended-wheelbase vehicle is probably going to be chauffeured by the average client. On the other hand, the engineering team purposefully included a driver’s vehicle in the eighth generation Phantom. The typical age group of Rolls-Royce customers has decreased substantially in recent years, to the 40s. This indicates that a significant number of very wealthy persons in their 20s and 30s, many of whom seem to be in the US, would want some degree of autonomy when it comes to driving.
So, an entirely silent engine was developed for this Phantom with the goal of creating the quietest automobile ever made. I drive in quiet thanks to the new 6.75-liter V12 twin-turbocharged engine, which generates 563 horsepower and 664 lb-ft of torque at only 1700 rpm. The eight-speed automatic transmission can reach sixty miles per hour in as little as 5.1 seconds, and is designed to keep the engine running at less than 2500 rpm when not under load.
The new all-aluminum spaceframe platform, or what the manufacturer refers to as the “architecture of luxury,” is the brains behind the Phantom VIII. It guarantees our vehicle offers a better “magic carpet ride”—Rolls slang meaning ride stiffness, engine quiet, enough interior space, driver and passenger comfort, and ideal acoustics—by being around 30% more rigid than the one it replaces. The use of high-absorption materials, over 130kg of sound insulation, and the two layers of windows around the vehicle all contribute to the interior’s sensation of sanctuary.
Giles Taylor, creative director of Rolls-Royce, feels that the Phantom’s classic design holds the secret to its success. It has to be a manifestation of contemporary classicism, in his opinion. It all boils down to clean, restrained, but expressive lines and visuals. He describes the ideal guest as one who, even after leaving a party, makes a lasting impression. “It has to have an effortless elegance, be the epitome of effortless style, have great poise, a gentlemanly sense of fair play,” he says me.
This vehicle maintains the traditional Phantom dimensions, with an upright front and a flowing rear, as well as a short front and lengthy rear overhang. A sizable single piece of soft, hand-polished stainless steel serves as the side frame finisher, emphasizing the car’s graceful posture and protecting the broad C-pillar for privacy while facilitating an easy eye transfer to the back. “Whereas Phantom VII had some of the formality of our past cars, this Phantom has far more gesture and flow,” adds Taylor. Spiritually, we are returning to the 1930s and 1940s. We are capturing the gesture of those automobiles, not using vintage design.”
I find that the design seems easy and promotes a calm sensory experience since the images are harmonious and the surfaces are straightforward with no forced lines. My guide, the Spirit of Ecstasy, and the redesigned grille, which is carved with hand-polished stainless steel, sit a bit higher than on the previous model and now blends in with the surrounding bodywork. The back is reminiscent of the elegantly flowing patterns of vintage Phantoms. The new headlamp visual has a sophisticated laser light system and a ring of daytime driving lights that are frosted within, while the twin RR emblems are carved into the rear lights. The biggest alloy wheels on a Rolls-Royce, measuring 22 inches, provide the ideal balance.
My favorite place to be is the cabin as I sink into the plush leather chairs, take off my shoes to walk ankle deep in the pile of soft brown carpet, and choose the ideal massage from the menu. There’s a little fridge built into the back console that can hold a bottle of Champagne in case I become thirsty. Additionally, there is a chic crystal decanter and two glasses that Rolls made just for this vehicle. The rotational heating controls are a nice physical touch that provide a tactile element to an otherwise digital world. The Phantom successfully combines cutting edge technology with the reality of a traditional living room. The interior concept, which Rolls-Royce refers to as “the embrace,” is a cozy and convivial setting where technology is concealed until needed to create a clear, clutter-free area that lets the focus be on the art museum.
Here is the launch of “The gallery.” Though it seems like a straightforward notion, I think it will fundamentally disrupt the luxury market, particularly when cars become autonomous and their interiors double as homes, offices, entertainment areas, and more. The gallery, which takes up the whole width of the dashboard, offers Phantom owners the opportunity to design their own mobile exhibition and commission original artwork. It’s a platform for individual expression.
Since each buyer is encouraged to design their own unique vehicle, no two Phantoms are similar. The beginning price is thus more of an estimate since it is very improbable that you would purchase a Phantom off the shelf. The unique design team, skilled craftspeople, and now a select group of artists at the House of Rolls-Royce in Goodwood, England, will assist you in creating and curating your very own Phantom.
I realize that I’m leaving behind more than just a vehicle when I give the keys to the recipient. In the most technical sense, the Phantom is a representation of luxury. It conveys a sense of money, power, and, with the addition of the gallery, taste.