Three months after the new Rolls-Royce Phantom was
unveiled to the world, the eighth-generation model has landed in Malaysia. The
ultra-exclusive luxury barge made its debut here in massive Extended Wheelbase
(EWB) form, which has only been shown in selected markets so far.
Touted as “The Best Car in the World,” the new
Phantom is built on an all-new aluminium spaceframe that is 30% stiffer than
before. The Architecure of Luxury, as it is called, will underpin every new
Roller from the upcoming Cullinan SUV to the replacements for the smaller
Ghost, Wraith and Dawn – banishing the current Ghost‘s stretched BMW 7 Series
platform from existence.
Under the skin sits new double wishbone front and
five-link rear suspension, with the latest-generation self-levelling air
suspension that reacts to body and wheel information, steering inputs and
camera information; there’s also a Flagbearer system that uses a stereo camera
to adjust the suspension proactively at speeds of up to 100 km/h. Rear-wheel
steering has also been introduced to aid agility and manoeuvrability.
Motive power is served by a new 6.75 litre
twin-turbo V12 that pushed out 563 hp at 5,000 rpm and a towering 900 Nm of
torque from just 1,700 rpm. The ZF eight-speed automatic transmission comes
equipped with the Satellite Aided Transmission (SAT) system, which adjusts the
shift map using navigation data.
With all that is new underneath, the design needed
to be completely reworked to match, and Rolls-Royce has done exactly that. The
front end is dominated as ever by the stainless steel Pantheon grille, but it’s
less upright and flows into the bonnet for a cleaner and more streamlined look.
The trapezoidal headlights feature a ring of daytime driving lighting and
laser-powered lamps that provide a range of over 600 metres.
Along the sides, the Phantom retains its signature
2:1 proportions, with a long bonnet, short front and long rear overhangs, an
upright front and a flowing rear. The front fender line now fades aft of the
door handles to add a sense of dynamism, with the rear end supported by a
single line that runs into the bonnet instead.
The C-shaped window line finisher is the single
largest piece of hand-polished stainless steel on a car, while another strip of
stainless steel along the flanks marks the EWB model out from the “standard”
variant. The tapered rear end is finished off with jewel-like tail lights, a
large stainless steel finisher and a stainless steel rear windscreen frame.
Superformed aluminium surfaces ensure fewer shutlines.
Although the new Phantom is still a massive car,
it’s actually slightly shorter than the outgoing model – it measures 5,762 mm
long (-72 mm), 2,018 mm wide (+29 mm) and 1,646 mm tall (+13 mm), with a 3,552
mm wheelbase (-19 mm). The EWB model has a 220 mm longer wheelbase and is also
10 mm taller.
There are coach doors with a rear
self-closing function to beckon you inside, but now the fronts can be closed
automatically as well, with the push of a button. Once ensconced, you’ll find a
cabin that features all the accoutrements that you can expect from a Phantom,
but one that has been made bang up to date.
Rolls-Royce has made a big brouhaha about The
Gallery, a blank space behind a single pane of toughened glass, on which
customers can display bespoke works of art. Joining it are a 12.3-inch digital
instrument display made to look like analogue dials, an analogue clock and a
central infotainment screen that can be stowed away when not in use, enabling
those in front to admire the aforementioned artwork.
The front seats have also been redesigned with
wraparound rear wooden panelling reminiscent of the iconic Eames Lounge Chair,
hiding a pair of picnic tables and rear Theatre Monitors. The fibre
optic-illuminated Starlight Headliner is the largest ever fitted to a
Rolls-Royce.
Moving to the rear, the seats are angled towards
each other to ease conversation. Customers can choose between four layouts –
the standard lounge seating, individual seats with either a retractable or
fixed centre console and a new sleeping seat. The fixed console has been
redesigned, incorporating a drinks cabinet with whisky glasses and decanter,
champagne flutes and coolbox.
A new electrical harness, the largest component ever
produced by the BMW Group, enables the fitment of new driver assistance
systems, including an Alertness Assistant, 360-degree Panoramic View, Night
Vision, Vision Assist, Active Cruise Control, collision warning, pedestrian
warning, cross-traffic warning and lane departure and lane change warning.
Other features include a head-up display and a WiFi hotspot.
So, how much does the
new Rolls-Royce Phantom cost? Well, you know what they say about people who
ask, but just for your reference, the starting price for the standard wheelbase
model is RM 2.2 million, before taxes. The EWB? Try a whopping RM 2.5 million.