Rolls-Royce has introduced its eight-generation Phantom at a red carpet launch event today in London. The British luxury automaker gave its flagship model an update after 14 years. The previous, seventh-generation Phantom was launched in 2003, which was the first model introduced after BMW took the ownership of the iconic brand. The Phantom VIII has been in development for six years and is an all-new model with an all-aluminum spaceframe chassis for the first time, which is set to underpin all of the company’s future models. Roll-Royce claims that this new architecture is lighter and stiffer than before. The new model arrives with quite a few neat tricks technological tricks up its sleeve.
The luxury penthouse suite on wheels is powered by a 6.75-liter twin-turbo V12 that churns out 563 horsepower and 664 lb-ft of torque. The power is put down to the tarmac through the rear wheels with the help of a ZF eight-speed transmission. The gearbox is linked to the car’s GPS to optimize shift points based on where you’re going. Rolls-Royce also notes that the Phantom VIII is the quietest car in the world, which has been achieved with the help of 286 pounds of sound deadening material lining the cabin. It’s not only the quietest, but the rides like a flying carpet thanks to the new self-leveling air suspension that uses a camera to “proactively” make ride adjustments up to 62 mph.
Inside the car, the cabin is as amazing as one can imagine. Rolls-Royce says the interior is designed to “embrace” its occupants with the nicest leather, wood, and metal available. The car’s dashboard, which Rolls-Royce is now calling the “gallery,” is literally a price of artwork which customers and commission according to their taste. Peter Schwarzenbauer, Rolls-Royce chairman and BMW board member said: “we’re quite happy to have this wonderful brand and develop it in future. This is not just launching a car, but setting a new standard for luxury overall”. The pricing is yet to be announced, but according to speculations it might be priced around $450,000 (£340,000) when it goes on sale in late 2017.
