What Is It?
2004 Rolls-Royce Phantom
What's Special About It?
The Phantom is the first Rolls-Royce designed entirely under the new stewardship of parent company BMW. Much care was taken by the new owners to maintain the British marque's traditional styling and imposing road presence and the result looks to have hit its mark. The Phantom stretches over 19 feet long and weighs in at a hefty 5,577 pounds. The bolt upright grille tosses aside the economy of aerodynamics in favor of a fascia that screams, "Get out of my way, you worthless peasants!" The giant C-pillar that rises just behind the rear doors not only gives the car a powerful profile it shields the rear passengers from the prying eyes of other motorists. Monstrous 22-inch wheels and tires add to the Phantom's over-the-top dimensions while self-righting wheel emblems assure that you'll never be mistaken for some lowly Maybach.
The traditional styling deftly hides the high-tech structure underneath. An aluminum spaceframe provides the backbone while a mix of composite and aluminum is used for the body panels. Power is derived from a BMW-engineered V12 displacing a substantial 6.7 liters. Power output is rated at 453 horses and 531 pound-feet of torque — more than enough to get you to the yacht club on time for the next sloop christening.
The interior is awash in hand-shaped wood accents and the finest leathers, all of which can be personally selected by the owner of course. There's also the latest in on-board technology like satellite navigation and a 15-speaker audio system but it's all blended well enough into the overall design that none of it detracts from the elegance of the more traditional cabin accoutrements.
Why Should You Care?
With an expected sticker price well into the $300,000s, the introduction of the Phantom isn't likely to yield much of an effect on the general populace. Those who revere the aristocratic styling of previous Rolls-Royce models will find this latest version most pleasing, but anyone hoping for a truly inspiring design will have to look elsewhere. — Ed Hellwig
2004 Rolls-Royce Phantom
What's Special About It?
The Phantom is the first Rolls-Royce designed entirely under the new stewardship of parent company BMW. Much care was taken by the new owners to maintain the British marque's traditional styling and imposing road presence and the result looks to have hit its mark. The Phantom stretches over 19 feet long and weighs in at a hefty 5,577 pounds. The bolt upright grille tosses aside the economy of aerodynamics in favor of a fascia that screams, "Get out of my way, you worthless peasants!" The giant C-pillar that rises just behind the rear doors not only gives the car a powerful profile it shields the rear passengers from the prying eyes of other motorists. Monstrous 22-inch wheels and tires add to the Phantom's over-the-top dimensions while self-righting wheel emblems assure that you'll never be mistaken for some lowly Maybach.
The traditional styling deftly hides the high-tech structure underneath. An aluminum spaceframe provides the backbone while a mix of composite and aluminum is used for the body panels. Power is derived from a BMW-engineered V12 displacing a substantial 6.7 liters. Power output is rated at 453 horses and 531 pound-feet of torque — more than enough to get you to the yacht club on time for the next sloop christening.
The interior is awash in hand-shaped wood accents and the finest leathers, all of which can be personally selected by the owner of course. There's also the latest in on-board technology like satellite navigation and a 15-speaker audio system but it's all blended well enough into the overall design that none of it detracts from the elegance of the more traditional cabin accoutrements.
Why Should You Care?
With an expected sticker price well into the $300,000s, the introduction of the Phantom isn't likely to yield much of an effect on the general populace. Those who revere the aristocratic styling of previous Rolls-Royce models will find this latest version most pleasing, but anyone hoping for a truly inspiring design will have to look elsewhere. — Ed Hellwig
Add A Comment »