The Rolls Royce Phantom
By Staff Writer, écoute moi
Peace, quiet, comfort, silence, royal, abrupt and unapologetic – a rejection of rules, that’s the Rolls Royce Phantom.
Phantom, first introduced in 1925, is the brand’s halo vehicle, the 115-year-old heritage car. Its contemporary form is an indicator of the direction Rolls-Royce vehicles will move into during the coming years. It’s also the most expensive vehicle in the line-up. The most obvious aspects of this luxuriant design are its grand proportions that taper neatly into sculptural form.
It’s a massive vehicle, lighter than its predecessor, but it still weighs in at 5,862 pounds, due to the use of lighter-weight materials like aluminium. But it’s far from stodgy. The vehicle comes with a 6.75 litre twin-turbocharged V12 engine and produces 563 horsepower. It moves from 0-100 kilometre per hour in 5.3 seconds with the help of seamless 8-speed, satellite-aided transmission. The EWB is around eight inches longer than the standard Phantom, and prices start from upwards of $500,000.
As you enter, the first thing that comes to mind is as lovely as the Phantom is to drive, it’s far, far better to experience from one of the plush rear chairs. The chauffeur presses a flush-mounted button on the outside door handle, and the rear-hinged coach door closes electronically. As well as cutting all visual ties with the cockpit, the Privacy Suite also blots out sound. A frequency-specific compound stops anyone in the front of the vehicle eavesdropping on conversations, while a fully integrated intercom allows communication between driver and passengers.
The Rolls Royce Phantom
Pressing a button allows the passengers to speak to the driver instantly, while the driver can “call” the rear cabin should he or she wish to communicate with passengers. Those in the rear cabin can then choose whether to accept or reject the driver’s call.
Additionally, a large aperture controlled by the rear passenger allows documents or other objects to be passed between the front and rear cabins. The hatch is controlled solely by the rear passenger and it’s discreetly illuminated so passengers can see what is being passed through.
The Privacy Suite also benefits from a bespoke theatre system, which includes two 12-inch monitors. These can display data from the on-board infotainment system, or from a mobile device plugged in with HDMI connectivity.
The Rolls Royce Phantom
Controls for the infotainment system are at your fingertips. The seats recline. They’re heated. They lightly massage. There are specific cup holders for normal beverages and separate ones for the hand-crafted champagne flutes that are chilling in the refrigerator behind you. The thick, leather headliner twinkles above with a starlight pattern. You take off your shoes and run your feet through the thick carpets. You are totally engulfed in the most luxurious experience available on the road today.
The idea with any Rolls-Royce is that you’re more relaxed when you get out than when you got in. In the back of the new Phantom, you can feel your heart rate lowering by the second. This is hands down the most comfortable vehicle while in motion. The ticking of the clock should be the only thing you hear. The quietest Rolls‑Royce ever created the perfect foundation to create your own noise.
So select your preference – silence or celebration?