Rolls-Royce Launches Phantom VIII In India

Rolls-Royce introduced the eighth-gen Phantom in India yesterday with prices starting from Rs 9.5 crore for the Standard Wheelbase and Rs 11.35 crore (ex-showroom) for the Extended Wheelbase edition. The eight-gen Phantom replaces the older version which ploughed on for 16 years. It is based on the luxury carmaker’s new aluminium spaceframe platform which the carmaker likes to call ‘Architecture of Luxury’. This new platform will underpin all future Rolls-Royce models, including the upcoming Cullinan SUV.

Rolls-Royce says that the new platform has made the new Phantom 30 per cent more rigid than its predecessor. In terms of dimensions, it is 77mm shorter, 29mm wider and 8mm taller than the outgoing model. It also says the Phantom has received “great enhancements in technology, drivetrain, suspension and driver assistance systems to produce a peerless ‘magic carpet ride’.”

The styling of the eighth-gen Phantom is an evolution of the car it replaces. It continues to look imposing with its sheer size and the large 24-slat chrome grille, which continues to feature the iconic ‘Spirit of Ecstacy’ bonnet ornament that can be retracted with the push of a button. At the front, it gets slim LED projector headlamps with LED DRLs while LED tail lamps at the rear complete the exterior lighting package. The iconic suicide doors continue to stand out along with the new dual-tone paint scheme.

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State-of-the-art chassis control system, air suspension on all four corners, 130kg of sound insulation, double-laminated glass and dual-skin alloys across the bulkhead ensure the Phantom’s cabin continues to be the quietest and comfortable in any car ever produced. Other highlights on the inside are the digital instrument console and the rather large infotainment display borrowed from BMW. The dashboard also sports a ‘Gallery’, which is a glass-encased space placed between the infotainment system and the front passenger side AC vent. The carmaker says this space can be used to display colour preference or even your family crest! We bet a lot of Maharajas would love this feature.

Like every Roller before it, the Phantom too gets various customisation options to make each car unique. Customers can choose from 44,000 exterior colour options and, if none of them catches their fancy, even ring up a team of ‘Bespoke’ designers to get what she/he desires.

The Rolls-Royce Phantom VIII is powered by an all-new 6.75-litre, twin-turbocharged V12 engine that produces 571PS of power and 900Nm of peak torque. The luxo barge completes the 0-100kmph in 5.4 seconds, which is very impressive considering the sheer size of the car. In India, the new Phantom is being offered with a four-year service package along with regional warranty and 24-hour roadside support.