2018 Rolls Royce Phantom VIII unveiled in London, is the largest, grandest, most expensive and most luxurious sedan in the world.
Wraps have been taken off the 2018 Rolls-Royce Phantom VIII in London and it’s time the world’s uber rich businessmen, sports stars and film stars take note of this. Rolls-Royce has finally given an update to its flagship after a long haul of 14 years and just going by the looks of it, we feel it’s worth the wait.
The Phantom in its eighth generation is the largest, grandest, most expensive and the most luxurious Rolls-Royce sedan ever made. On the exteriors, the new Phantom bears a new evolutionary design language with flat surfaces and an impressive stance. However, the overall look of the new Phantom is similar to what we’ve seen on the previous Phantom VII but with subtle changes.
Most of the differences are at the front and the rear end. The 24-slat grille is now larger than ever and you also get split LED headlamps with LED DRLs. While the side profile is reminiscent of the previous generation Phantom, Rolls-Royce has given the tail section of the new Phantom VIII a large tail-light setup with tiny double-RR badges etched in them and a swooping boot with the signature two-tone theme.
Sitting on all new bespoke platform that will also underpin future Rolls-Royce vehicles, the 2018 Phantom VIII comes in regular as well as long wheelbase versions. If it’s Rolls Royce we’re talking about, why aren’t we talking about the interior yet? Well here we go…
First things first, the Phantom VIII is now technologically advanced too (unlike the previous generation Phantom). It now features a completely digital gauge cluster that has umpteen customisation options. In fact that’s the beauty of every Rolls-Royce car, anything and everything can be customised. It gets a huge touchscreen infotainment system that uses BMW’s basic user interface but Rolls-Royce has tweaked it to suit the Phantom specifically. On offer is a wooden dashboard (again customisable) but customers can also opt for a glass casing on the dashboard panel in which one can install whatever he or she wants inside along the dash, behind the glass. It is basically like a viewing gallery. The signature starlit roof liner is offered standard on the new Phantom.
The gallery also adorns the analogue clock whose sound will be the loudest you can hear inside the cabin of the new Phantom. Yes! Absolutely no engine noise or tyre noise creeps into the cabin of the new Phantom. This is achieved thanks to sound absorbing materials layered inside the headliner, trunk and doors, massive cast aluminum joints in the body of the car cut the noise, double skin alloy laid on areas within the floor and bulkhead of the frame of the car and special ‘silent-seal’ tyres that have foam inside to minimise road noise. Rolls-Royce claims that the new Phantom is the ‘most silent motor car in the world’ with 6 mm of two-layered glazing on every window surface around the car.
The 2018 Rolls-Royce Phantom VIII comes with a variety of rear seat options, from the standard lounge seats to the individual seats with arm rests and fixed centre console and the newly introduced sleeping seats where the rear seat folds fully flat. The fixed centre console contains a drinks cabinet with whisky glasses and decanter, champagne flutes and a cool box. The doors too electronically shut on the touch of a button.
The new Phantom also surpasses the Wraith in terms of technology, the camera system includes panoramic and helicopter views, a night vision camera, a 7-inch heads-up display, lane departure warning and cross traffic warning.
Powering this mammoth of a car is a 6.75-litre V12 twin-turbocharged engine that produces 563 HP of power and 900 Nm of torque. This motor comes matched to an 8-speed ZF automatic gearbox, channelling power to the rear wheels. Rolls-Royce will bring the eighth generation Phantom to India soon, via the CBU route. Expect prices to start upwards of Rs. 6 crores with a long waiting period. Your turn Mercedes-Maybach?
2018 Rolls Royce Phantom
– Rolls-Royce has unveiled the eighth generation Phantom in London
– The Phantom is the ultimate form of automotive transportation to announce one’s arrival
– Rolls-Royce claims that the new Phantom is the ‘most silent motor car in the world’
– The new Phantom is powered by a 563 HP 6.75-litre V12 twin-turbocharged engine
