Rolls-Royce has used the Phantom name on full-sized luxury cars over the past century, and is the second, longest-used automobile nameplate in the world after the Chevrolet Suburban. The Phantom is a low volume, hand-built limousine, which in earlier generations was custom built to the customers desires, and sometimes extravagant whims. As automobile manufacturing became more prolific, and vehicles from other manufacturers could be built in greater numbers and at reduced prices, the Phantom remained hand-built and production of individual models only began once the order was placed. The use of the name "phantom" is a long tradition of naming models after "ghosts".
Earlier versions from Rolls-Royce consisted of the chassis and engine, then arrangements were made to customize the body and interior to whatever the buyer requested. The Phantom is popular with wealthy business people, royalty and celebrities who desire the best of everything, and want a car with exclusivity and elegance.
During the years 1931-1998 when Rolls-Royce also manufactured Bentley vehicles, the Phantom was exclusive to Rolls-Royce and the approach to opulent vehicles wasn't shared with Bentley. When Bentley was an independent automaker, they did produce on a limited basis the Bentley 8 Litre limousine. When Rolls-Royce assumed operations and ownership, the 8 Litre was discontinued. Bentley would not manufacture a limousine until 2002 when the Bentley State Limousine was presented to Elizabeth II.
The Rolls-Royce Phantom is a full-sized luxury saloon manufactured by Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. It is the eighth and current generation of the Rolls-Royce Phantom, debuting in 2017, and the second launched by Rolls-Royce under BMW ownership. It is offered in two wheelbase lengths. This is the current flagship model made by Rolls-Royce Motor Cars.
It made its public debut at a special exhibition Rolls-Royce held in London two days later on 29 July. The event, dubbed "The Great Eight Phantoms", took place at Bonhams auction house in Mayfair. The exhibition gathered a noteworthy Phantom from each generation, from Fred Astaire's Phantom I to subsequent models driven by royalty, or made famous by celebrities, including John Lennon's Romany gypsy wagon-style painted Phantom V.
The Phantom VIII's styling has been described as an evolution of the Phantom VII's as it bears most of the design features of its predecessor.
Like its predecessor, the Phantom VIII has a short front overhang and upright front end, a long bonnet and set-back passenger compartment as well as a long wheelbase and a flowing rear end. It also uses rear-opening "coach doors". For the first time on a Phantom, Rolls-Royce's trademark "Parthenon" radiator grille is integrated into the surrounding bodywork.
The Phantom is available in two wheelbase lengths. The short one is the shortest Phantom since at least 1939.
The Rolls-Royce Phantom Extended Wheelbase (EWB), or the Phantom Extended, is a special variant of the Rolls-Royce Phantom which is 220 mm (8.7 in) longer than the standard model.
The car's exterior design is identical to the original Phantom and excluding the length, every feature has been adapted from the standard model.
The car's rear passenger compartment has been enlarged and the interior features the iconic "Starlight Headliner" which uses more than 1500 fibre optics to create an impression of a night sky with stars. This was first applied on the Phantom Celestial.
The interior also features a partition between the front cockpit and the rear passenger compartment, and the rear passenger compartment has been made soundproof for privacy which is known as the "Privacy Suite" by the Rolls-Royce Motor Cars.
It is also allowed for the buyers to customize the car's interior for some extent (the "Gallery" feature lets the users customize the dashboard and other minor features).
While the original Phantom VIII costs US$450,000 upwards the Phantom Extended Wheelbase costs US$535,000 upwards making it the most expensive luxury sedan made by Rolls-Royce.
The interior is fully bespoke and personalised to the clientele like previous and current Rolls-Royce models offer. It has the BMW iDrive infotainment system with 3D camera view. They also have "The Gallery", a display section in the vehicle in the front seat veneer with experimentation of different materials and artwork to be integrated with the vehicle and all the options are limitless.
The Phantom is assembled by hand at Rolls-Royce's plant in Goodwood, West Sussex, England. Customer deliveries commenced in January 2018. According to own Statement of BMW AG, Rolls-Royce and similar institutions, this generation of automobile with combustion engine has a preview to an end until 2030, due the company only producing electric models.
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