Join us for a ‘magic carpet ride’ in Rolls-Royce’s eighth-generation, all-new Phantom
A price tag of US$644,000 ensures the ultimate in privacy with a 3D art installation, champagne chiller, drinks cabinet, picnic table and lamb’s wool carpet, writes Benjamin Zhang
Rolls-Royce has become a byword for automotive opulence over the years. As the pinnacle of road-going luxury, the Phantom is Rolls-Royce’s long-serving flagship. For the first time in 15 years, there’s an all-new generation Phantom. In fact, it’s the eighth generation in the nameplate that dates back to 1925.
The Rolls-Royce Phantom will be available in two body styles, the standard wheelbase and the extended wheelbase which adds eight extra inches in length. In case you’re wondering, the extended wheelbase Phantom is 19.5 feet long.
Under the bonnet is a new 563 horsepower, 6.75 litre, twin-turbocharged V12 engine. Rolls says our extra-long Phantom can hit 60mph in just 5.2 seconds. The standard Phantom is about 0.2 seconds faster. Both versions have a top speed of 155mph.
We were impressed by the new Phantom driving dynamics thanks to its new four-wheel-steering system. It’s not exactly nimble, but far more fleet of foot than you would expect from a vehicle of its size. However, the real place to be is in the back where you can stretch out and get a feel for the serenity and smoothness of its passenger experience. It’s what Rolls-Royce calls the “magic carpet ride”.
The standard wheelbase Phantom starts at about US$450,000. But our test car is an extended wheelbase model that is eight inches longer than the standard Phantom and starts at US$530,000. With bespoke optional extras, our black-and-emerald-green Roller costs nearly US$644,000.
Here’s a closer look at the coolest tech and luxury features on the Rolls-Royce Phantom:
We have the chance to experience the Phantom on the streets of New York City.
Behind the wheel, the first thing you notice is the heads-up display and a digital instrument cluster designed to mimic old-school Rolls-Royce analogue gauges. The driver also has access to adaptive cruise control, collision warning, pedestrian warning as well as lane departure and lane change warning.
