2014 Rolls-Royce Phantom | new car review
- 2014 Rolls-Royce Phantom
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Review Summary:
Rolls-Royce is a brand that is synonymous with luxury, and with the Phantom taking its place as the flagship model in the brand’s line-up, it serves as the epitome of opulence in the motoring realm. While some may argue that the Bentley Mulsanne is a worthy competitor to the Phantom, the 2,670 kgs of magnificence is, quite simply, in a league of its own.
Pros
The Rolls-Royce Phantom has earned its reputation as the epitome of luxury in the automotive world.
Cons
Logically, the Bentley Mulsanne makes more sense as it is cheaper and more powerful.
Looks
Constructed majorly out of aluminium, the 2014 Rolls-Royce Phantom is a beauty that pays homage to its ancestors with its iconic grille and various other design elements. While 44,000 choices of colours are available to buyers, body styles are limited to just four; the measly 5,842mm short wheelbase variant, the 6,092mm extended wheelbase version, the 5,612mm Coupe and 5,612mm Drophead Coupe.
Feels
With a plethora of features and virtually any type of leather and wood on offer, unlimited possibilities to make your Phantom, truly yours, is something that comes as standard. Welcomed into the cabin with rear coach doors, a low sill height and a flat floor, royalty merely step gracefully into the car, as opposed to climbing in. Illuminated by 800 optic fibres positioned by hand to create the impression of a romantic night sky, the Starlight Headliner is just one of many things that make a Rolls-Royce, a Rolls-Royce.
Engineering
In addition to cameras scattered around the exterior of the Phantom and a rotary controller that equips the driver with controls at their fingertips, the picnic tables integrated into the front seatbacks, conceal a hidden treasure for rear seat passengers. 12” screens not only allow passengers to watch TV or a DVD, but allow them to send certain information to the driver as well.
What’s on offer?
To propel the 2014 Rolls-Royce Phantom to a 100 km/h in 5.9 seconds, the 6.75 litre V12 unit delivers 453 horsepower at 5,350 RPM and 720 Nm of torque at 3,500 RPM. Shooting power through an 8 speed automatic transmission, the Phantom ditches a traditional tachometer for a power reserve dial, which shows the driver how much of the engine’s power is not being used and is available for use. Differentiating the Coupe’s from their full-length counterparts, is an ‘S’ button that holds gears longer to improve the rate of acceleration and a specially tuned suspension that allows for a more spirited drive.
Summing it…
Owning a Rolls-Royce is one of many ways to tell the world that you’ve made it, and if it’s the Phantom, that you’ve made it big. While the logical crowd would rush to get their hands on the more powerful and economical Bentley Mulsanne, only those in search for uber luxury know and understand the inexplicable feeling of a Rolls-Royce.
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