By Christopher A. Sawyer
The Virtual Driver

(August 7, 2017) The eighth generation Rolls-Royce Phantom — the second generation under BMW ownership — has been unveiled. Built on a new, unique to Rolls-Royce aluminum spaceframe that can be sized for the requirements of any new model, the new Phantom is built on what Rolls-Royce calls an “Architecture of Luxury” optimized for varied but small-volume production. 

According to Philip Koehn, director of Engineering, “The Architecture of Luxury will carry every future Rolls-Royce, not just the New Phantom. Project Cullinan (the forthcoming R-R SUV) and eventually the next Ghost, Wraith, Dawn will ride on this architecture, as well as future coachbuild projects.”

About 30% more rigid than the outgoing chassis, the new spaceframe features a new double-wishbone front and five-link rear suspension coupled to the latest generation self-leveling air ride system. It continually adjusts the electronically controlled dampers, and uses a windshield-mounted stereo camera system to read the road surface ahead and pre-adjust the suspension at speeds up to 62 mph.

A 48-volt electrical architecture has been fitted, and it allows the use of active anti-roll bars and electrically actuated rear-wheel steering. The former disengages the anti-roll bars when they are not needed to enhance the ride, and actively engages them when and as much as needed to combat body roll. The latter uses an electric motor mounted on the rear suspension subframe to steer the rear wheels out-of-phase at low speeds to reduce the Phantom’s turning circle, and in-phase at higher speeds for greater stability.

The new architecture has nearly 300 pounds of sound insulation throughout, the largest cast-aluminum joints ever used in a body-in-white, and 0.24-in. double-glazed widows to control sound. Engineers specified double skin alloy on parts of the floor and bulkhead, inserting dense foam and felt between the skins to eliminate noise. High sound absorption layers were added to the headliner, doors and trunk, and working with Continental resulted in “Silent Seal” tires that feature a foam layer inside the tire that reduces road noise by 9 dB.



The V12 has the same 6.75-liter displacement as its predecessor, but that’s the only similarity. This new power unit features twin turbos and produces 563 hp and 664 lb.-ft. of torque that is available from 1,800 rpm. Top speed is limited to 155 mph, and 62 mph can be reached from a dead stop in just 5.3 seconds. The V12 is mated to a ZF eight-speed Satellite Aided Transmission (SAT) that uses information from the navigation unit to prepare the transmission for changes in the road ahead.

A list of the Phantom’s onboard assistance systems includes: Alertness Assistant, a four-camera system with Panoramic View, all-round visibility including helicopter view, Night Vision and Vision Assist, Active Cruise Control, collision warning, pedestrian warning, cross-traffic warning, lane departure and lane change warning, an industry leading 7.0 x 3.0-in. high-resolution head-up display, WiFi hotspot, and the latest navigation and entertainment systems.

For the first time ever, the trademark Rolls grille is not a separate item, but is integrated into the front bodywork and tilted back slightly. It sits in a raised section that flows back to encompass the passenger compartment, then narrows again as it flows down to the rear bumper. (The rear aspect has strong overtones of the Phantom V.) This provides a natural break for two-tone paint schemes. Oddly — and quite jarringly — the windows are trimmed with hand-polished stainless steel, then outlined by a surprisingly thick brightwork piece that frames the entire side window opening.

Also, the bright trim around the rear window only extends long the top and side, leaving the lower edge to be hidden by the upper edge of the trunk. Another strip of stainless steel brightwork covers the same sections of the windshield.

The Phantom has the largest Starlight headliner ever used in a Rolls-Royce, which is perforated by hundreds of individual fiber optic filaments that, when lit by the LED light source, mimic the night sky. The company says the armrests were inspired by J-Class yachts, and the sweep of wood across the back of the front seats was influenced by the Eames Lounge Chair.

These panels hide the fold-down rear tables and monitors, the latter of which are electrically deployed and retracted. In addition, the rear center console features a drink cabinet with whiskey glasses and decanter, champagne flutes and a cool box.

Each piece of switchgear is made from metal, and there are heated surfaces throughout the cabin that work in conjunction with the heated seats. These include the front door armrests, front center console lid, lower C-pillar, rear side armrests, and rear center armrest. Apparently, being rich means never having to be cold.

Even more outrageous is “The Gallery.” This is an uninterrupted piece of hardened glass that sweeps across the instrument panel, and includes the gauges as well as the area ahead of the front seat passenger. The gauges are trimmed in chrome, and a 12.3-in. TFT color display with LED backlighting renders the faces for the analog-look digital gauges, as well as displaying a host of other information. The analog clock — a Rolls-Royce staple — is also housed within the Gallery, and finished to match the material used in this area.

To keep the landscape in front of the passenger from being a dead space, Roll-Royce designers turned it into an area where hand-made works of art can be displayed. Customers will be able to choose an artist or designer to work with the company to create an individual piece that fills this area. A number of works already have been commissioned by Rolls-Royce, and these include an oil painting inspired by the South Downs of England in Autumn by renowned Chinese fine artist Liang Yuanwei, a gold-plated 3D-printed map of an owners DNA created by Thorsten Franck, a hand-made stem of the finest porcelain roses handmade by renowned porcelain manufacturer Nymphenberg and an abstract design in silk by young British artist Helen Amy Murray.

Prices have not been announced for the Gen. Eight Phantom, but — as has always been the case — if you have to ask, you probably can’t afford one. Executives admit the new car will be significantly more expensive than the outgoing model, with prices in excess of $500,000 expected. Also, the 2019 Phantom will be just a four-door sedan this time around, with coupe and convertible duties taken up by the next generation Wraith and Dawn.

The Virtual Driver