Rolls Royce Phantom VIII
10-11-17, 12:15 PM
#1
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
iTrader: (20)
Rolls Royce Phantom VIII
holy magnificence 
awesome write up, pics, and video on this masterpiece.
Away from the frenetic new-car-every-week launch schedule, there’s Rolls-Royce. Despite several new Rolls models in recent years, such as the Ghost and the Wraith, the arrival of a new Phantom flagship is a very rare event - the current (Mark VII) model is 14 years old, although the Phantom name dates back 92 years and is reckoned to be the oldest production nameplate in the world.
It’s fair to say that a car such as the Phantom doesn’t age in the same way as volume models, although after a production run of 14 years it’s also fair to say that there’s room for improvement in what many people - including many of the richest, most discerning individuals you can imagine - still perceive as the best car in the world.
The importance of a new Phantom is not lost on Rolls-Royce, which prides itself on producing the benchmark of luxury products. “A new Rolls-Royce is very important for the luxury business worldwide,” opines Richard Carter, the company’s director of global communications.
While more affordable Rolls such as the Ghost and Wraith rely heavily on BMW engineering, the pinnacle of luxury as exemplified by the Phantom is based on a new, aluminium-intensive platform exclusive to Rolls-Royce that will underpin all future models, including the forthcoming SUV (although we’ve been asked not to call it that - it’s “the large Rolls”, apparently), Project Cullinan.
Head of engineering Dr Philip Koehn says that because Rolls-Royce isn’t chasing volume it could create a platform with maximum flexibility for width and length, which is handy when you’re producing cars in standard and extended wheelbase (EWB) forms.
It’s said to be 30 per cent stiffer than the MkVII (which allows the standard air suspension to work more effectively), and is largely a glued and riveted structure.
Rolls still prides itself on the hand-built qualities of its products, even on the chassis platform, citing the example of the trademark flush fit of the roof panel and rear pillar. Of course you could get robots to perform the operation, but apparently it’s best done by hand, with two craftsmen matching then securing the panels for a seamless fit.
To achieve the fabled Rolls-Royce “waft”, the suspension is all new, with larger air springs for an even more cosseting ride than the MkVII. Very soft tyres, with more give in the sidewalls and filled with foam, further improve the ride comfort.
There’s also improved side glazing, with two layers of 6mm acoustic glass with a sound-deadening layer between them.
Also new is the engine. Although it retains a traditional capacity of 6.75 litres, it now has a brace of turbochargers to boost low-rev power and, more importantly, torque. It drives the rear wheels via a ZF eight-speed automatic gearbox and, with Satellite Aided Transmission (SAT), the drivetrain can predict inclines ahead and prepare a seamless downshift or two to maintain unruffled momentum.
Its power output of 563bhp isn’t to be sniffed at, not least when one needs to press on, although with 50 per cent more torque from idle to 2,500rpm compared with its predecessor it’s set up for optimum power and torque in the customer-specific range for “wafty” progress.
You can take the luxury of the interior for granted, although the high proportion of visual and tactile treats is beguiling. Every switch is crafted from either metal, glass or finest leather.
New for Phantom VIII is a head-up display as standard, meaning fewer dials and gauges to clutter the interior. Along with all the latest driver assistance systems, there are LED lights with laser high beam, which doubles the range of high-beam penetration.
The previous Phantom had door-close assist on the rear doors only but the latest version enables occupants to close all four doors simply by pressing a switch.
As with the previous version, the rear features coach doors (aka suicide doors) for ease of access and egress.
Also retained are the round metal “eyeball” air vents throughout - none of your cheap plastic items here. Giles Taylor, Rolls-Royce’s director of design, says that buyers love them and, in customer clinics, they’re always mentioned as an essential part of the ambience.
There is more space inside than the MkVII due to pulling out the wheelbase, although the overall length is less than that of the previous model.
At 548 litres, the huge boot has sufficient space for four sets of golf clubs, apparently, just in case you’d like to invite the chauffeur to join you and two friends for a round.
Taylor says that he received the brief for this car five years ago and spent a lot of energy in getting his design team to understand the essence of Phantom but with modernity, in order to channel the great Phantoms of the past while honing a thoroughly modern Rolls. Perhaps surprisingly, he says that Rolls has the lowest buyer age profile of the BMW/Rolls/Mini group, driven mainly by the young entrepreneurs of China.
He says: “Stance is very important, the car sits on its rear wheels and works forward, lending a dynamic edge. We want more people to drive it [rather than be chauffered].”
Chrome bonnet lines from the magnificent stainless steel grille run back to the scuttle and windscreen surround to give greater emphasis to the cabin.
You might think it’s a work of art - and you’d be correct, literally, as a new feature on the facia dubbed The Gallery allows a range of optional artwork to sit behind a glass strip running the width of the facia. In time, owners will be able to commission their own artwork to fit inside, making the interior the ultimate in personalised space.
To be honest, it is difficult to assess this car objectively, such is the level of luxury and refinement. I’ve been privileged to have driven some great cars from the earliest days of motoring through to the latest supercars but the Phantom is in another level.
It is utterly effortless. There is sometimes a minuscule delay if you do something uncouth like put your foot down, then the turbochargers start to do their work - in near silence, naturally - and it simply takes off on a tsunami of torque.
There’s no shortage of excellent luxury cars but the Phantom takes refinement to a new dimension. I won’t say it’s totally quiet, as there’s a whisper of tyre noise at motorways speeds, but it’s far less noticeable than in any car I’ve either driven or been a passenger in.
That, allied to the supreme ride comfort, elevates the Phantom to the status of sanctuary. It really has to be experienced to be believed.
Until recently, Rolls-Royce was famed for not quoting anything as vulgar as power output, usually describing the Phantom’s power as sufficient or adequate. Instead of a tachometer, there’s a Power Meter to gauge how much you have in reserve. When cruising, it usually denotes at least 95 per cent available. Even injudicious use of the throttle leaves with plenty in hand.
It’s like a giant electric motor wafting you forward, with massive urge from almost zero revs, despite a weight of 2,560kg (2,610kg for the extended wheelbase version). In fact electric power would really suit this car, although Rolls-Royce is adamant that buyers remain wedded to V12s. Not even a V8 will do at this rarefied level.
Given the weight, the way it can tackle rapid changes of direction is astounding. It resists roll very well in tight corners, and there’s no unseemly squat or pitching when braking or accelerating - all thanks to the air suspension. Perhaps surprisingly, it doesn’t feel as large as it really is from driving seat, helped in part by the increased agility provided by rear-wheel steering.
It’s not driving in the traditional sense, either. The car works so well with you that all you need to do is guide or encourage it rather than steer.
Guess what? It’s even more impressive in the back. With the services of a skilled chauffeur at your disposal, there can be few finer ways to travel, although I was surprised to hear that, globally, about 50 per cent of owners choose to drive themselves.
Once you’ve decided on the best car money can buy, there remains the small matter of specifying pretty much everything. As ever with Rolls, the range of standard and bespoke options is bewildering.
Given the wherewithal to own one of these cars, that could be as challenging as deciding whether to drive or enjoy the unparallelled luxury of sitting in the back.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/cars/roll...m-viii-review/
awesome write up, pics, and video on this masterpiece.
Away from the frenetic new-car-every-week launch schedule, there’s Rolls-Royce. Despite several new Rolls models in recent years, such as the Ghost and the Wraith, the arrival of a new Phantom flagship is a very rare event - the current (Mark VII) model is 14 years old, although the Phantom name dates back 92 years and is reckoned to be the oldest production nameplate in the world.
It’s fair to say that a car such as the Phantom doesn’t age in the same way as volume models, although after a production run of 14 years it’s also fair to say that there’s room for improvement in what many people - including many of the richest, most discerning individuals you can imagine - still perceive as the best car in the world.
The importance of a new Phantom is not lost on Rolls-Royce, which prides itself on producing the benchmark of luxury products. “A new Rolls-Royce is very important for the luxury business worldwide,” opines Richard Carter, the company’s director of global communications.
While more affordable Rolls such as the Ghost and Wraith rely heavily on BMW engineering, the pinnacle of luxury as exemplified by the Phantom is based on a new, aluminium-intensive platform exclusive to Rolls-Royce that will underpin all future models, including the forthcoming SUV (although we’ve been asked not to call it that - it’s “the large Rolls”, apparently), Project Cullinan.
Head of engineering Dr Philip Koehn says that because Rolls-Royce isn’t chasing volume it could create a platform with maximum flexibility for width and length, which is handy when you’re producing cars in standard and extended wheelbase (EWB) forms.
It’s said to be 30 per cent stiffer than the MkVII (which allows the standard air suspension to work more effectively), and is largely a glued and riveted structure.
Rolls still prides itself on the hand-built qualities of its products, even on the chassis platform, citing the example of the trademark flush fit of the roof panel and rear pillar. Of course you could get robots to perform the operation, but apparently it’s best done by hand, with two craftsmen matching then securing the panels for a seamless fit.
To achieve the fabled Rolls-Royce “waft”, the suspension is all new, with larger air springs for an even more cosseting ride than the MkVII. Very soft tyres, with more give in the sidewalls and filled with foam, further improve the ride comfort.
There’s also improved side glazing, with two layers of 6mm acoustic glass with a sound-deadening layer between them.
Also new is the engine. Although it retains a traditional capacity of 6.75 litres, it now has a brace of turbochargers to boost low-rev power and, more importantly, torque. It drives the rear wheels via a ZF eight-speed automatic gearbox and, with Satellite Aided Transmission (SAT), the drivetrain can predict inclines ahead and prepare a seamless downshift or two to maintain unruffled momentum.
Its power output of 563bhp isn’t to be sniffed at, not least when one needs to press on, although with 50 per cent more torque from idle to 2,500rpm compared with its predecessor it’s set up for optimum power and torque in the customer-specific range for “wafty” progress.
You can take the luxury of the interior for granted, although the high proportion of visual and tactile treats is beguiling. Every switch is crafted from either metal, glass or finest leather.
New for Phantom VIII is a head-up display as standard, meaning fewer dials and gauges to clutter the interior. Along with all the latest driver assistance systems, there are LED lights with laser high beam, which doubles the range of high-beam penetration.
The previous Phantom had door-close assist on the rear doors only but the latest version enables occupants to close all four doors simply by pressing a switch.
As with the previous version, the rear features coach doors (aka suicide doors) for ease of access and egress.
Also retained are the round metal “eyeball” air vents throughout - none of your cheap plastic items here. Giles Taylor, Rolls-Royce’s director of design, says that buyers love them and, in customer clinics, they’re always mentioned as an essential part of the ambience.
There is more space inside than the MkVII due to pulling out the wheelbase, although the overall length is less than that of the previous model.
At 548 litres, the huge boot has sufficient space for four sets of golf clubs, apparently, just in case you’d like to invite the chauffeur to join you and two friends for a round.
Taylor says that he received the brief for this car five years ago and spent a lot of energy in getting his design team to understand the essence of Phantom but with modernity, in order to channel the great Phantoms of the past while honing a thoroughly modern Rolls. Perhaps surprisingly, he says that Rolls has the lowest buyer age profile of the BMW/Rolls/Mini group, driven mainly by the young entrepreneurs of China.
He says: “Stance is very important, the car sits on its rear wheels and works forward, lending a dynamic edge. We want more people to drive it [rather than be chauffered].”
Chrome bonnet lines from the magnificent stainless steel grille run back to the scuttle and windscreen surround to give greater emphasis to the cabin.
You might think it’s a work of art - and you’d be correct, literally, as a new feature on the facia dubbed The Gallery allows a range of optional artwork to sit behind a glass strip running the width of the facia. In time, owners will be able to commission their own artwork to fit inside, making the interior the ultimate in personalised space.
To be honest, it is difficult to assess this car objectively, such is the level of luxury and refinement. I’ve been privileged to have driven some great cars from the earliest days of motoring through to the latest supercars but the Phantom is in another level.
It is utterly effortless. There is sometimes a minuscule delay if you do something uncouth like put your foot down, then the turbochargers start to do their work - in near silence, naturally - and it simply takes off on a tsunami of torque.
There’s no shortage of excellent luxury cars but the Phantom takes refinement to a new dimension. I won’t say it’s totally quiet, as there’s a whisper of tyre noise at motorways speeds, but it’s far less noticeable than in any car I’ve either driven or been a passenger in.
That, allied to the supreme ride comfort, elevates the Phantom to the status of sanctuary. It really has to be experienced to be believed.
Until recently, Rolls-Royce was famed for not quoting anything as vulgar as power output, usually describing the Phantom’s power as sufficient or adequate. Instead of a tachometer, there’s a Power Meter to gauge how much you have in reserve. When cruising, it usually denotes at least 95 per cent available. Even injudicious use of the throttle leaves with plenty in hand.
It’s like a giant electric motor wafting you forward, with massive urge from almost zero revs, despite a weight of 2,560kg (2,610kg for the extended wheelbase version). In fact electric power would really suit this car, although Rolls-Royce is adamant that buyers remain wedded to V12s. Not even a V8 will do at this rarefied level.
Given the weight, the way it can tackle rapid changes of direction is astounding. It resists roll very well in tight corners, and there’s no unseemly squat or pitching when braking or accelerating - all thanks to the air suspension. Perhaps surprisingly, it doesn’t feel as large as it really is from driving seat, helped in part by the increased agility provided by rear-wheel steering.
It’s not driving in the traditional sense, either. The car works so well with you that all you need to do is guide or encourage it rather than steer.
Guess what? It’s even more impressive in the back. With the services of a skilled chauffeur at your disposal, there can be few finer ways to travel, although I was surprised to hear that, globally, about 50 per cent of owners choose to drive themselves.
Once you’ve decided on the best car money can buy, there remains the small matter of specifying pretty much everything. As ever with Rolls, the range of standard and bespoke options is bewildering.
Given the wherewithal to own one of these cars, that could be as challenging as deciding whether to drive or enjoy the unparallelled luxury of sitting in the back.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/cars/roll...m-viii-review/
10-11-17, 01:04 PM
#2
Lexus Fanatic
Nice post. 
This car actually LOOKS like what is...a four-door sedan. No Humpback-whale roofline or gremlin-sized trunk-lid. Looks like even tall people should be able to get in and out of the rear with no problems.....most RRs are probably chauffeur-driven anyway, with the actual owner in the back seat.
One tradition that RR used to have (besides a hand-built assembly process in any color or two-tone you wanted) was a simply "adequate" spec on the engine HP and torque...it left somewhat of a mystique as to what the actual figures were. I'd like to see them bring that back....if my memory is correct, that tradition went out when Vickers sold the company off.
This car actually LOOKS like what is...a four-door sedan. No Humpback-whale roofline or gremlin-sized trunk-lid. Looks like even tall people should be able to get in and out of the rear with no problems.....most RRs are probably chauffeur-driven anyway, with the actual owner in the back seat.
One tradition that RR used to have (besides a hand-built assembly process in any color or two-tone you wanted) was a simply "adequate" spec on the engine HP and torque...it left somewhat of a mystique as to what the actual figures were. I'd like to see them bring that back....if my memory is correct, that tradition went out when Vickers sold the company off.
Last edited by mmarshall; 10-11-17 at 01:11 PM.
10-11-17, 03:10 PM
#3
He says: “Stance is very important, the car sits on its rear wheels and works forward, lending a dynamic edge. We want more people to drive it [rather than be chauffered].”
Since RR and Bentley build some of the most chauffeurable vehicles, I'm surprised they don't lead/partner with the forefront of autonomous technology. If I can get the car to drive itself I won't need to pay someone to drive me. Tesla has Autopilot, Rolls-Royce should have CHAUFFEUR. Maybe I'm a few years ahead of them
10-11-17, 04:44 PM
#4
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
iTrader: (20)
i believe in the article it also said many younger rich people in china have been buying them and they like to drive them.
but yeah, autonomous tech must be coming to them...
but yeah, autonomous tech must be coming to them...
10-11-17, 05:31 PM
#6
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
iTrader: (20)
i'd really love to go for a ride or drive in one of them one day.
10-11-17, 06:41 PM
#7
Lexus Fanatic
I had a chance, years ago, to drive one of the old classic RRs...1957 Silver Cloud, a white one just like this, a British right-hand drive model. My Flight Instructor (who I am still personal friends with after all these years) moonlighted for a limo firm...that car belonged to the firm's owner. Since I was used to driving (and flying) in the left seat, it was a weird sensation driving it from the right seat....like flying an airplane from the right seat.
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10-11-17, 07:52 PM
#9
Lexus Fanatic
10-12-17, 08:36 AM
#12
Yup that is exactly how it is in person. Very low mileage it was a corporate car for a large company before going in to storage for a very long time. It's a classic car so insurance is generally cheap. I just got the policy for $443 for the whole year. Not bad!
10-12-17, 12:18 PM
#13
I wish Toyota could style their new Century like this Phantom VIII...
10-12-17, 04:12 PM
#14
Lexus Fanatic
For a Rolls? You bet that's not bad...especially if you don't have huge deductibles.
10-12-17, 05:03 PM
#15
The car draws ones attention! I'm not up on my RR models like I probably should be but I was at a Porsche sponsored track day at Lime Rock a few weeks ago and one of the participants rolled up in this....
in this....