The Rolls-Royce Phantom VIII is a luxury saloon car manufactured by Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. It is the eighth and current generation of Rolls-Royce Phantom, and the second launched by Rolls-Royce under BMW ownership. It is offered in two wheelbase lengths.
It debuted in July 2017.
Video Rolls-Royce Phantom VIII
Launch
The Phantom was unveiled by live-stream on July 27, 2017.
It made its public debut at a special exhibition Rolls-Royce held in London two days later on July 29. The event, dubbed "The Great Eight Phantoms", took place at Bonhams auction house in Mayfair. The exhibition gathered a noteworthy Phantom from each generation, from Fred Astaire's Phantom I to subsequent models driven by royalty, or made famous by celebrities, including John Lennon's psychedelic-painted Phantom V.
Maps Rolls-Royce Phantom VIII
Design
The Phantom VIII's styling has been described as an evolution of the Phantom VII's.
Like its predecessor, the Phantom VIII has a short front overhang and upright front end, a long bonnet and set-back passenger compartment as well as a long wheelbase and a flowing rear end. It also uses rear suicide doors, which Rolls-Royce label "coach doors". For the first time on a Phantom, Rolls-Royce's trademark "Parthenon" radiator grille is integrated into the surrounding bodywork.
The Phantom is available in two wheelbase lengths. The Phantom Extended Wheelbase (EWB) is 220 millimetres (8.7 in) longer than the standard model.
Specifications
Platform
The Phantom uses an aluminium spaceframe chassis; this is a version of Rolls-Royce's modular "Architecture of Luxury" platform. The Phantom is the first to car be based on this new platform, which will later be used by the Cullinan SUV and other future Rolls-Royce models.
Suspension and steering
The Phantom is fitted with self-levelling air springs and electronically-controlled dampers front and rear. It uses a double wishbone front axle and a 5-link rear axle. It is also equipped with active anti-roll bars.
The suspension system is linked to a stereo camera mounted behind the windscreen. This scans the road ahead and preconfigures the spring and damper rates, and the anti-roll bars, so as to improve ride quality. The system, dubbed the "Flagbearer" by Rolls-Royce, operates at speeds of up to 100 km/h (62 mph).
The Phantom is the first Rolls-Royce to be fitted with four-wheel steering. The system turns the rear wheels counter to the front wheels through a maximum of 3° at speeds lower than 60 km/h (37 mph) to improve manoeuvrability. Between 60 and 80 km/h (37 and 50 mph) the rear wheels do not steer at all. At speeds above 80 km/h the rear wheels turn in the same direction as the front wheels through a maximum of 1° to increase high-speed stability.
The Phantom uses "Silent-Seal" tyres which Rolls-Royce co-developed with Continental. These use a layer of foam inside the tyre to reduce tyre cavity noise, which lowers sound levels in the cabin by up to 9 decibels.
Powertrain
The Phantom is exclusively available with a twin-turbocharged 6.75-litre V12 engine. This is a variant of BMW's N74 called the N74B68 which is unique to the Phantom.
ZF's 8HP 8-speed automatic transmission is the sole gearbox option. This is linked to a GPS receiver which analyses the car's location and speed to optimise shift timing.
Equipment
The technology of the Phantom VIII represents a significant step forward over that of the VII and brings it in line with other contemporary luxury cars. It is fitted with the following;
- Night vision
- Active cruise control
- Head-up display
- WiFi hotspot
- Laser headlights with high-beam range of more than 600 metres
Reception
The Phantom has been very well received by automotive journalists, with many outlets considering it to be the best luxury car on sale.
The Phantom's refinement came in for particularly high praise, with Matt Prior in Autocar labelling it "utterly exceptional" and Mike Duff in Car and Driver describing it as "freakishly quiet".
Ride quality was adjudged to be similarly good; Gavin Green in Car remarked that the Phantom's ride comfort is "a cut above anything on the road" and Angus MacKenzie in Motor Trend said "the ride is truly magical".
The Phantom's interior also came in for praise: it was variously described as "utterly exemplary", "wonderful" and "spectacular".
In light of its weight and size, magazines considered the Phantom's driving dynamics to be impressive: reviewers praised the car's surprising dynamism and agility, light and precise steering, and excellent brake pedal feel.
The Phantom was named Top Gear's 2017 "Luxury Car of the Year".
Production and sales
The Phantom is assembled at Rolls-Royce's plant in Goodwood, West Sussex.
Customer deliveries commenced in January 2018.
Special Editions
The Gentleman's Tourer
A standard wheelbase model, The Gentleman's Tourer harks back to the Phantom II Continental saloon of the 1930s. These were considered owner/driver cars for Grand Touring across continents. The car features a 'Cascade Steel Gallery' with dashboard trim finished in ruthenium.
A Moment in Time
An extended wheelbase model, A Moment in Time features a machined and hand-polished aluminium gallery. It is based on photographs of a swath of silk being pulled through water which was then modelled in clay.
References
External links
- Official webpage
- Rolls-Royce Motor Cars PressClub
- "Great Phantoms" microsite
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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