Rolls-Royce has revealed its eight-generation Phantom luxury saloon, which promises to deliver unprecedented quality when it comes to ride comfort and interior luxury. Launch date and pricing will be confirmed on a later date.
Arriving well over ten years since the seventh-generation Phantom made its debut, the new model is only the second Phantom to be built since Rolls-Royce came under BMW ownership. It has reportedly been in development for six years and is built on an all-new bespoke platform which will be used for every other new Rolls-Royce launched for the foreseeable future.
The new Phantom is lighter but also 30 per cent more rigid and features like self-levelling air suspension, a double-wishbone front axle and four-wheel steering should help enhance the driving experience.
Also benefitting the drive is a new piece of technology called Flagbearer, which uses a stereo camera system integrated into the windscreen to scan the road ahead and adjust the suspension accordingly at speeds of up to 62mph.
Powering the new Phantom is a brand-new 6.75-litre V12 petrol unit featuring two turbochargers. It develops 563bhp and 900Nm of torque and power is sent through an eight-speed automatic gearbox. The 0-62mph sprint can be covered by the new Phantom in just 5.3 seconds.
As with previous Phantoms, the interior stands out in terms of luxury. Inside the new model comes with a centre console that features a drinks cabinet with whiskey glasses, champagne flutes and a coolbox. The dashboard replaces the slab of wood used in previous Phantoms in favour of a large window pane. Around here, there’s a 12.3-inch TFT screen which displays driving information including sat-nav instructions and driver assistance data.
Other highlights of the new Phantom’s interior includes heated seats, armrests, picnic tables and TV screens which can be hidden away, a panoramic view parking system and active cruise control.
While the new Phantom is already a long and spacious saloon, customers will be able to choose a longer wheelbase version which is stretched by 200mm. In its standard guise, legroom is unchanged compared to the previous Phantom but headroom is improved.
