Last week, as part of a big, boring business statement, BMW chiefs happened to mention - in passing, almost - that Rolls-Royce is building a new two-door coupe based on the 101EX concept we saw in 2006.

We reckoned this was worth a bit more than a throwaway line on a corporate release, so we've done a bit of digging and found out some more on the as-yet-unnamed coupe.

The four-seater promises to be a sharper drive than the rest of the Rolls family. Utilising the same all-aluminium construction as the Phantom, the coupe will be slightly shorter and feature a sharper suspension and chassis set-up.

The Phant's 6.75-litre V12 will remain, however, still putting out 453bhp and 531lb ft of torque. Expect a 0-60mph time of nigh-on five seconds.

It'll still be more of a wafter than a thrasher though, according to Rolls designer Ian Cameron. "Whilst never overtly sports, Rolls-Royce is a brand that has always offered owners a powerful and refined drive combined with, as Sir Henry Royce described it, a bit of fizz," he says.

That bit of fizz won't come cheap. A Rolls spokesman told us that the coupe will be priced between the current Phantom and Drophead Coupe, which means it'll weigh in somewhere between £260,000 and £300,000 after taxes.

We're also assured that the styling will remain true to the 101EX, which you can see in the photos on the right. With the coupe due to launch in the second half of 2008, you've got a year to make your fortune if you fancy buying one.

Time to call Ocean Finance...

Rolls-Royce today announced it will showcase the new Phantom Coupe at the Geneva Motor Show next month. The new car follows in the footsteps of the new Drophead Coupe, which is a convertible version of the Phantom.

The large driver-oriented grand tourer is powered by the company's 6.75-liter V12 that produces 453 horsepower, 531 pound-feet of torque and has segment-leading fuel economy. A 25 percent increase in fuel capacity, compared to the Drophead Coupe, adds significant driving range.

At the core of the Phantom Coupe is an aluminum chassis. The lightweight unibody structure is hand made, requiring over 430 feet of welding.

"Rolls-Royce has always been about pace, performance and style," Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Chief Designer, Ian Cameron, said. "The dynamic drive of the Phantom has always come as a surprise to customers and the Coupé takes it one step further."

The Phantom Coupe features rear-hinged coach doors which add considerably to the ease of access to the rear seats as well as to the overall aesthetics. According to the automaker, they also aid the overall stiffness of the body as the rear hinged doors allow for an uninterrupted A-pillar helping to make this the most torsionally rigid Rolls-Royce ever. A brushed steel finish of A-pillar and hood, as seen first on 100EX Concept, is also available for the Coupe.

High Roller
By Ken Gross, Contributor
Date posted: 07-01-2008



Wafting down a poplar-lined French motorway at 100 mph, the 2009 Rolls-Royce Phantom Coupe's unique Power Reserve meter informs you that fully 90 percent of the 6.7-liter V12's 453 horsepower is still available, should you need it to whisk past a dawdler.

There's virtually no audible engine noise. The crisp, speed-sensitive rack-and-pinion steering is perfectly on-center. The seat is comfortably deep and plush, yet supportive. And an XXL-sized 26.4-gallon fuel tank means a cruising range of 400 miles.

The fact that it takes about $125 these days to fill that big tank Stateside is likely of little concern. (It costs 150 euros — over $300 — in France!) After all, you've already spent $400,000 to be seated behind this immense, leather-wrapped steering wheel.

The 2009 Rolls-Royce Phantom is the most personal sporting coupe one can own. You choose your coupe's exterior color from among 44,000 possible selections. You specify an interior trim from one of six luscious veneers like Rosewood, Elm Cluster or Mahogany Flare (Piano Black is soooooo boring, darling). You select interior upholstery from eight sumptuous leather options. ("We only use bull hides," Andrew Monahan, the leather shop foreman declares. "Their leather is not stretched.") You even choose between a conventional painted hood or one in gleaming stainless steel.

And that's just the start.

Have It Your Way
Ordering a bespoke automobile as you would a custom-tailored Saville Row suit remains a way of life with Rolls-Royce, as it has for decades. You still can personally select many key, handmade elements of your 2009 Rolls-Royce Phantom Coupe. If you want to specify a special color, type of leather or rare wood, Rolls-Royce is happy to comply. Rolls-Royce doesn't make many motorcars, so the ones it does make are created slowly and most often to an individual order. The assembly line moves just seven times each day.

Rolls-Royce set a sales record last year with 1,010 units sold (557 Phantoms, 200 extended-wheelbase limousines and 253 dropheads). That's about one-tenth of Bentley's current volume, so if you're looking for serious exclusivity, then you want a Phantom saloon (in either regular or extended wheelbase), a Phantom Drophead (Britspeak for convertible) or especially the new Phantom Coupe.

Rolls-Royce has a long history of desirable grand touring automobiles that harks back to the Rolls-Royce Phantom II Continental in the early 1930s. Usually built on a shorter wheelbase, these sporty coupes, cabriolets and close-coupled sedans were fitted with a tall axle ratio for high speeds and generally carried lighter coachwork (in aluminum or fabric) to encourage fast touring. Today, the born-again Rolls-Royce works ensconced in spacious, environmentally friendly (400,000 trees have been planted nearby) digs in Goodwood, England, and is meticulously assembling its huge cars by hand, while an assembly line is being readied for a new, smaller Rolls in 2010.

Meanwhile, the 2009 Rolls-Royce Phantom Coupe — derived from the 101EX concept car unveiled at the 2006 Geneva Auto Show — is just entering production, and it's quite different from the bigger Phantoms that have been built since BMW bought Rolls-Royce in 1998.

Better Buy Stock in Reynolds
Based on the Phantom sedan, the Coupe shares the same all-aluminum space frame that's built in boxed sections and painstakingly hand-welded to 0.0004-inch tolerances. The Coupe's wheelbase is 9.8 inches shorter than the sedan, and the suspension has anti-dive and anti-lift geometry. The springs and rear dampers are stiffer, and a thicker rear antiroll bar tunes out some of the understeer.

Meanwhile there's more boost for the speed-sensitive, power-assisted rack-and-pinion, and the sensation is heightened by a thick-rim sport steering wheel. The brakes are massive (with 14.7-inch rotors and twin-piston calipers in front, plus 14.6-inch rotors in the rear with single-piston calipers), and they haul this big baby down smartly and repeatedly without fading. Goodyear run-flat tires on 21-inch cast-aluminum wheels (there are two forged wheel options) eliminate the weight of a spare, yet this short-wheelbase coupe still weighs 5,798 pounds, the same as a Phantom sedan and even 22 pounds more than the convertible.

The 48-valve, 6.7-liter V12 — set well back in the chassis for a desirable 49 percent front/51 percent rear weight distribution — delivers 453 hp at 5,350 rpm and 531 pound-feet of torque at 3,500 rpm and gets this heavyweight car to 60 mph in 5.6 seconds. This engine also develops some 75 percent of its power at just 1,000 rpm, accounting for the turbinelike smoothness that's long been associated with Rolls-Royce cars. Depress a discreet sport button on the steering wheel and the transmission holds gears longer and quickens kickdown, while throttle response is more aggressive, too.

A Matter of Style
Chief designer Ian Cameron has done a fine job of differentiating and updating this handsome hardtop. Up front, the contemporary Rolls-Royce grille seems even more massive, perhaps because the Coupe's rectangular LED parking lights have been reduced in size and the circular headlamps have been enlarged to recall the proportions of old. The heavy A-pillars, high waistline and bluff corners would appear even more gigantic were it not for a sculpted reveal that arcs gently from front to rear, accented by the extended front door handle and kissed with an elegant swirl behind the front wheel opening that's reminiscent of a 1930s fender line.

The Coupe's enormous rear-hinged "suicide" doors produce a graceful, uninterrupted line at the A-pillar, aiding torsional rigidity and also adding immeasurably to this car's mystique. It does take a bit of practice to slither smoothly inside and maneuver around that big steering wheel. You discover the drill is to first sit gracefully, then swivel your legs around together through about 45 degrees in a fluid, regal arc.

More importantly, the wide, forward-facing coach doors facilitate an elegant egress, especially for a lady in a long dress. The doors can be closed via a pushbutton that's discreetly hidden in the front quarter light. The rear seat is fine for a short trip to the opera, but you wouldn't want to be there for hours.

Roadworthy
The Phantom Coupe is surprisingly sporty for its size. Passing maneuvers on the old, tree-lined two-lane thoroughfares of Bonaparte's France are a snap. The Coupe scuttles around the vehicle in front of you and is back in line before you can mutter, "God save the Queen." The brakes are like the proverbial giant hand.

Asked for more speed, the V12 revs quickly, and a hint of a powerful trill breaks its usual impassive silence. Hammer this car into a tight turn, and yes, you'll get some tire squeal and body roll, but the Coupe will grip the tarmac and carry on.

That said, it's not designed for tight twisties. A typical Coupe buyer owns a Ferrari or another exotic in his fleet for that purpose. Long sweepers, arrow-straight byways or the Alps? Bring 'em on. This car puts the "Grand" in Grand Touring. It's all about the journey, and when that's completed, it announces regally: "You have arrived."

If You Have To Ask...
Although the price of the 2009 Rolls-Royce Phantom Coupe has not yet been announced, it's thought to be in the vicinity of $400,000. That's a staggering sum for most people, but wealthy Rolls-Royce owners possess multiples of everything: stately homes, private clubs and cars of all types, so they are accustomed to what they perceive as being the best.

And when you buy this car, the whole process is all about selecting the best. You're getting hand-matched wood veneers, matched leather hides and cashmere blends selected by acknowledged experts. "Our leather actually breathes," coos Andrew Monahan in his leather shop. "It has particular warmth to it."

If you want to personalize your car with embroidery or marquetry, Rolls-Royce will do it cheerfully. No color choice is beyond consideration. "We make each car the way the customer wants," says Tom Purves, now CEO after years as BMW's chief executive in North America. Each car is polished for five hours and driven on the road for an hour before being cocooned for delivery.

Judging from stares and waves of passersby, there's nothing subtle about the 2009 Rolls-Royce Phantom Coupe. That's what you're paying for.

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars has unveiled the latest addition to the Phantom family, the Phantom Coupé, for the first time in the Middle East. Stylish and agile, the Coupé is the most driver-orientated car in the current range.

Materials used in the Phantom Coupé have been carefully selected to fuse form with function. The design and engineering team married cutting-edge technology with a stylish, muscular body, to form a car which is noticeably more dynamic, whilst still offering incredible comfort.

“Outstanding engineering, drivability and exclusivity are fundamentals to every Rolls-Royce car”, said Peter Schoppmann, Regional Director for the Middle East, at the official Middle East premiere in Abu Dhabi and continued “The Coupé has been designed and engineered to be the most dynamic interpretation of our values.”

At the core of the Phantom Coupé is an advanced aluminium chassis. Lightweight and exceptionally strong, it impacts positively on ride comfort, handling and safety. Designed to cover great distances effortlessly, the Coupé’s power is provided by the 6.75-litre V12 that produces 453 bhp, 720 Nm of torque and has segment-leading fuel economy.

The interior can be illuminated by an optional starlight headliner, more than 1,600 fibre-optics give the impression of a star-filled night sky.

The Phantom Coupe is a Rolls-Royce for a true driving enthusiast and a sublime choice for a transcontinental trip. The Coupé’s pace, performance and style guarantees both passenger and driver will emerge fresh and at ease – even after a full day of driving.

With the four-door Phantom, the Extended Wheelbase model, the convertible Phantom Drophead Coupé and the new Phantom Coupé the model line-up of Rolls-Royce consists of four models. Rolls-Royce has shown impressive growth in 2008, with strong demand for Phantom four-door coupled with significant interest in the Phantom Drophead Coupé following its Middle East launch in September 2007.

The first Coupés are being handed over these days to customers throughout the region.

Rolls-Royce Motors Cars proudly presents a very special Phantom Drophead Coupé, hand-built by craftspeople at the home of Rolls-Royce in Goodwood, England. The highly bespoke model was designed to capture the essence of a perfect weekend get-away, offering drivers and their passengers the ultimate luxurious and relaxing experience in roof-down motoring.

As well as bespoke luggage, the Masterpiece London 2011 Drophead Coupé features a one-off Asprey jewellery box, housed discretely in the glove compartment. Designed for rings, cufflinks and earrings, it presents stylish and secure storage for these essential valuables before drivers and their passengers sink back into sumptuous leather seats, set the roof down and head out of town.

The model was created for Masterpiece London 2011 and hosts a suite of additional bespoke design details, including teak decking, engraved tread plates and Spirit of Ecstasy with inscription that marks the centenary of the world’s most famous bonnet icon.

The Masterpiece London 2011 Drophead Coupé is also the first Rolls-Royce to be presented in Mazarine Blue, a bespoke finish that joins a palette of 44,000 shades already available to clients ordering Phantom models. This eye-catching colour takes inspiration from the Mazarine Blue butterfly, a whimsical creature at home in continental Europe, which can still occasionally be seen wafting by in the South of England.

The luxurious natural-grain leather interior comes in Seashell with Navy Blue contrast for floor and door panels with embroidered R-R logos finished in headrests. With roof down, the car reveals its yacht-inspired teak decking, with mother-of-pearl inlays throughout cross-banded Santos Palissander wood veneers. White instrument dials, rotary controllers and clock finished in mother-of-pearl complete the design.

“We are delighted to present this outstanding Rolls-Royce at Masterpiece London 2011,” said Torsten Müller-Ötvös, CEO Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. “Craftsmanship and attention to detail shine through in features developed at Goodwood and in partnership with Asprey. It’s a model that demonstrates the breadth of our bespoke offering, where the only limit to what we can deliver is a client’s imagination.”

Asprey Jewellery Case

The Asprey jewellery case, which fits neatly into the passenger glove compartment, took two working days to finish, using a hide of softest grade-one suede cut into 15 separate pieces.

Its central earring holder is detachable and can be interchanged for use with clip earrings or stud styles. There are also two additional sections for elegant cufflinks, and a separate compartment for the owner’s most precious rings. An embossed silver foil Asprey stamp finishes this stunning one-off feature.

Bespoke Luggage

Designed in Goodwood, the bespoke luggage set can be found nestled neatly in the picnic boot of the Masterpiece London 2011 Drophead Coupé. The leather used to craft this bespoke set of four cases is of the highest quality and employs a traditional approach in its creation.

Hides were carefully selected for the firmness and grain structure then tanned in pits, a slow artisanal way of producing hard-wearing yet supple leather – and a process that takes four months to complete. The result is beautiful; a substantial material, in deep Navy Blue, that is also resistant to hard wear. Moreover the leather has a distinctive and intense aroma of vegetable tannins that come from the mix of bark, wood and berries used to stabilise and pigment the hides.

Masterpiece London 2011

Masterpiece London 2011 is held in the South Grounds of the Royal Hospital, Chelsea, this unique Rolls-Royce is available for preview from Friday 29 June 2011. The fair runs from Saturday 30 June – Friday 5 July 2011. For further details please visit www.masterpiecefair.com

In the first half of the 20th century, Sir Henry Royce famously urged his employees to strive for perfection in all that they did – and “to take the best that exists and make it better”. Today Rolls-Royce Motor Cars continues to embrace the finest principles of its founding father by proudly presenting Phantom Series II at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show.

Reflecting the new world in which we live, this pinnacle family of cars – including Phantom Saloon, Phantom Drophead Coupé and Phantom Coupé – have been thoughtfully updated with contemporary yet timeless design enhancements that frame the introduction of cutting-edge technologies which significantly improve the car’s drive-train, ease-of-use and connectivity.

“From launch in 2003, the Rolls-Royce Phantom established itself as the benchmark in automotive luxury, a reputation it has held ever since,” said Torsten Müller-Ötvös, CEO of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. “These cars are timeless in their appeal, but technology moves rapidly and we cannot afford to stand still.

“Today I am delighted to present Phantom Series II, a family of models that feature significant improvements in design, drive-train and technology. As a consequence of these changes, we will continue to present with pride the best motor cars in the world, which re-confirm Rolls-Royce’s position at the very pinnacle of the ultra-luxury goods marketplace.”

New LED lighting

Rolls-Royce Director of Design, Ian Cameron, likens the evolution of Phantom Series II design to a “familiar theme, lit in a different way”. And Phantom’s striking new front-end, with re-styled bumpers and rectangular light apertures, perhaps best encapsulates the essence of the significant changes that lie beneath.

Rolls-Royce is the first to include full LED headlamps as standard on a production car. As well as delivering a characteristic whiter light, augmenting safety and preventing driver tiredness, these allow for the introduction of new technologies that better control lighting.

Curve light functionality, for example, uses electronically-controlled reflectors to focus headlamp beams in the direction of travel, providing greater illumination of the road ahead when cornering. Adaptive headlamps change the cone of light projected onto a road – effortlessly of course – in response to different driving speeds.

Effortless as standard

Every part of the Phantom experience should be effortless, so new driver assistance technologies and a modern user interface with re-designed multi-media controller have been introduced for Phantom Series II. The new satellite navigation system has been fully updated with functions that include 3D maps with landscape topography, guided tours and enhanced points of interest, as well as composite route planning.

Information, maps and video content are presented on Phantom’s larger 8.8 inch control centre display, a feature underlined by eight programmable bookmarks presenting access to key functions at a driver’s fingertips. Front, rear and top-view camera systems further augment ease of manoeuvring. When reverse parking, for example, rear path prediction automatically deploys on the screen.

Waftability and sublime ride

The word waftability has long been part of the Rolls-Royce lexicon, with models past and present being renowned for their magnificent ride experience. Phantom Series II reinforces the company’s reputation for both.

A new 8-speed automatic gearbox and rear differential enhance already exemplary driving dynamics perfectly complementing the V12 direct injection engine. Fuel consumption improves by 10 per cent on the combined cycle and CO2 emissions fall from 388 to 347 g/km as a consequence.

History

Rolls-Royce Phantom Series I was launched on 1 January 2003, following a five-year development phase, under new ownership of the BMW Group. In addition to bringing a flagship Rolls-Royce to life, the company also built its state-of-the-art headquarters and production site on the historic Goodwood estate, in the heart of the English countryside. This unprecedented achievement was all the more impressive for a brand that shouldered a weight of expectation that came with the famous Rolls-Royce name and Spirit of Ecstasy as its mascot of excellence.

In 2005, Rolls-Royce launched Extended Wheelbase to complement Phantom Saloon. This was followed by the launch of unforgettable open-top motoring courtesy of Phantom Drophead Coupé in 2007 and the ultimate grand tourer – Phantom Coupé – which was launched in 2008.

New family members have added to Phantom’s considerable appeal and position as a luxury good without equal.

“From launch in 2003, the Rolls-Royce Phantom quickly established a reputation at the very pinnacle of automotive excellence, a reputation that has been reinforced by the introduction of outstanding model derivatives like the Phantom Drophead Coupé and Phantom Coupé.

These beautiful cars are timeless in their appeal, but in the modern world technology moves rapidly and Rolls-Royce cannot afford to stand still. So we have embraced that famous maxim of our founding forefather Sir Henry Royce who, a century ago, encouraged his teams to take the best that exists and to make it better.

Today Rolls-Royce proudly presents Phantom Series II a family of ultra-luxurious cars that have been thoughtfully updated with the introduction of cutting-edge technologies, enhancements to an already peerless drivetrain and improvements in connectivity that reflect the new world in which we live. As a consequence, I am confident that Rolls-Royce will continue to present, with pride, the very best motor cars in the world for many years to come.”

Torsten Müller-Ötvös, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars CEO, March 2012

Making a modern masterpiece:

The launch of the Rolls-Royce Phantom on 1 January 2003 was much more than the reveal of a new ultra-luxury car; it signalled the 21st Century renaissance of the world’s most famous luxury automobile brand and the first glimpse of a masterpiece that quickly established itself at the pinnacle of automotive excellence.

For the preceding five years, under BMW Group ownership and in the absence of publicity, designers, engineers and skilled production staff had overseen the birth of a flagship Rolls-Royce motor car and state-of-the-art production facility on the Goodwood Estate in Southern England. Without parallel in the car industry, the achievement was all the more astonishing for a brand which shouldered the weight of historic ups (and occasional downs) and for which expectations for the future were rightly high.

From launch, the Rolls-Royce Phantom proved itself a worthy recipient of the famous Spirit of Ecstasy figurine. From Pantheon grille to long rear overhang, the design was clearly a Rolls-Royce. Every angle revealed a bold yet elegant car with road presence that was second to none.

For such an imposing car, Phantom surprised drivers with its agility and precision in motion while its ride was described by the company at the time as ‘designed to lower the pulse’. The magnificently sublime ride, famed through model generations, had returned and waftability re-affirmed itself in the company lexicon.

At the car’s core lay a ground-breaking, lightweight aluminium space-frame with power supplied by a sophisticated, direct-injection V12 engine, married to a six-speed auto gearbox. And complementing this excellence in engineering was Phantom’s beautiful interior, presenting hand-stitched sumptuous leathers, fine veneers and exquisite detailing, a combination that marked the car as something uniquely special.

New Phantom variants were added, starting with Phantom Extended Wheelbase in 2005. In 2007, Phantom Drophead Coupé revealed the ultimate in luxurious open-top motoring, while Phantom Coupé, Rolls-Royce’s sophisticated grand tourer, joined the family in 2008. All were warmly received.

A new world – Phantom Series II in summary

Today, Rolls-Royce presents Phantom Series II, a family of pinnacle cars that have been thoughtfully updated with the introduction of cutting-edge technology, enhancements to an already peerless drive-train and improvements in connectivity that reflect the changing world in which we live.

Phantom’s striking and modern front end best encapsulates the essence of changes that lie beneath, with re-styled bumpers and rectangular light apertures that frame full-LED light clusters. These allow the integration of new technologies like curve light functionality, where headlamp beams are reflected in the direction of travel to provide greater illumination of the road ahead when cornering. And adaptive headlamps, where light patterns change automatically and - of course - effortlessly in response to different driving speeds.

Phantom’s already sublime drive-train has also been enhanced. The addition of a new 8-speed automatic gearbox and rear differential perfectly complement the V12 direct injection engine, improving exemplary dynamics, as well as the famous Rolls-Royce promise of a magic carpet ride. Fuel consumption improves by 10 percent on the combined cycle and CO2 emissions fall from 385 to 347g/km as a consequence (388 to 349 for Phantom Extended Wheelbase).

Effortless is a word that perhaps best epitomises the Phantom experience, both for drivers and their passengers. So an improved user interface, as well as the addition of new driver assistance technologies, have been built on the foundation of a new electronics’ platform for Phantom Series II. The satellite navigation system, for example, has been fully updated with functions that include 3D map display with landscape topography, guided tours, as well as enhanced points of interest and composite route planning.

Audio visual content, satellite navigation maps and driver information is presented on Phantom’s new 8.8 inch control centre display, underlined by eight programmable bookmarks in chrome for optimum convenience in selecting key functions. Front, rear and top-view camera systems, further augment Phantom’s ease of use particularly when driving in tight urban environments. When reverse parking for example, rear path prediction automatically deploys on-screen.

These significant changes add further substance to a reputation Phantom has proudly built since launch of the signature Rolls-Royce back in 2003. It is a new world. But it’s a world in which the Rolls-Royce Phantom family will occupy a pinnacle position for many years to come.

Design:

“We should think of Phantom design as a piece of popular, classical music. Over time this has the possibility of different interpretations without losing the essential melody that we know so well.” Ian Cameron – Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Director of Design

Like a piece of inspirational music, the Rolls-Royce Phantom continues to delight an audience. Familiar melodies - classic design cues that can be traced through the model generations - are brought to life by an orchestra of craftspeople working at the Home of Rolls-Royce in Goodwood, where attention to the finest detail delights in every car.

Familiar themes begin with the famous Spirit of Ecstasy, proudly adorning each model’s Pantheon grille leaning into the wind with fluttering gown, while in side profile all Phantom family members present a long rear over-hang and classic two-to-one wheel to body height.

The thin-rimmed steering-wheel is reminiscent of elegantly engineered multifunction helms of the Phantom II and III, while further cues in the form of bulls-eye air vents and organ-stop plungers further hint at past masterpieces.

But 21st Century design cues also delight owners, as well as those for whom a glimpse of a Rolls-Royce is a rare moment to be treasured. The interlocked double-R Rolls-Royce monogram in the hubcaps, for example, which remain upright at all times. And coach doors with soft close function, which house Teflon-coated umbrellas to provide the grandest form of disembarkation from any motor car, whatever the weather.

Nearly ten years from launch, the design team responsible for creating a modern masterpiece remain at Rolls-Royce. And for Director of Design Ian Cameron, updating a 21st Century classic would start with one priority: a harmonious, timeless design to embrace state-of-the-art technological improvements.

Phantom Coupé and Drophead Coupé now come with a single piece grille surround, presenting a smoother, more contemporary front end that arch into sculpted front wings, while Phantom saloon features a new rear bumper incorporating a polished stainless steel highlight.

Interior

Simplicity of design and the very finest materials contribute to the timeless architecture of any Phantom, where touch points are exclusively wood, chrome and leather and where feet can easily be lost in deep, lambswool rugs.

Arguably the best place to experience Phantom’s luxury is from the rear seat of Phantom Saloon where passengers - elevated by 18 mm - are presented with an inspirational view down the long sweep of the bonnet and onto the Spirit of Ecstasy. A reduction in the number of seat flutes in front and rear, from five to three, gives a more modern complement to the car’s sumptuous natural grain leather and flutes are also added to Drophead Coupé and Coupé seats for Phantom Series II.

An oasis of calm, Rolls-Royce interiors are the perfect environment in which to relax and unwind in welcoming silence. But they can also be a centre for entertainment. Phantom Saloon’s theatre configuration adds two monitors within veneered picnic tables for rear seat passengers which are linked to a multi-media player, mounted in a compartment at the rear of the centre console. The inclusion of AV connectors, a six-DVD changer housed in the lower glove box and USB port in the centre console, means occupants can view separate content wherever they may be seated, front or rear.

The LOGIC7TM surround sound system by Harman can create a truly cinematic experience on any journey. Seven individual sound signals are processed specifically for the car and its interior conditions using a combination of speakers that include subwoofers housed within resonance chambers in the space created by Phantom’s double floor. A nine-channel amplifier delivers supreme clarity, clearly placing musical instruments, sound effects and dialogue at different depths giving the impression of sitting in row one or 20 of a concert.

At the touch of a button, Phantom’s elegant analogue clock flips to reveal a new control centre display. The screen has increased in size from 6.5 to 8.8 inches with enhanced pixel density providing a more refined image, as well as split-menu display for more intuitive access to different functions.

A stylish new chrome controller, discreetly hidden within the centre console and rear-centre arm rests when not in use, is flanked by function keys such as menu, telephone and navigation to allow easier access to infotainment functions.

Eight functional bookmarks are now included beneath the monitor. These can be programmed to present desired information at the touch of a chrome key, for example the preferred orientation for satellite navigation maps, to present favourite television channels, pre-set radio stations or to access Phantom’s telephone menu.

All Phantom family cars now benefit from improved interfaces and interaction with wireless technology. Finding a restaurant, booking a table, then being guided to its location, for example, comes courtesy of the improved functionality and inter-connectivity of Phantom’s new satellite navigation system. Further enhancements to navigation functions include guided tours: at the Home of Rolls-Royce, which is situated next to the historic town of Chichester in England, drivers may choose to select a 45 minute tour taking in Roman Britain.

For Phantom Series II the telephone cradle has been replaced by a standard fit smart phone cradle which connects directly into the car antennae. The centre recess now also includes USB, Aux-in and 12V power sockets. Additionally, music can be copied directly onto the car’s hard-drive, thanks to the addition of a USB port in the glove compartment.

“Lit in a different way” – new LED light technology

Rolls-Royce has a long history of technological firsts and is now the first car manufacturer to offer full LED headlamps as standard for Phantom models. As well as drawing less power from the engine, the characteristic whiter light provides a clearer view of the road ahead, helping prevent tiredness for drivers during long journeys on dark roads.

New light clusters comprise four compartments surrounded and finished with a polished, stainless steel bezel. Continuously lit, an elegant bar runs through the centre forming Phantom’s LED daytime running lamps. LEDS in the top two pockets form dipped lights while full beam illuminates LEDs in the lower two. A separate, rectangular indicator strip sits below the headlamps.

LEDs present the opportunity for technologies that better manage the way light is projected, including curve light functionality and adaptive headlamps. The first uses electronically-controlled reflectors in upper and lower headlamp pockets, to improve the sweep of illumination when cornering. More of the road in the direction of travel can be seen as reflectors rotate by up to 15° in direct response to steering wheel turns.

Adaptive headlamps automatically change beam patterns according to driving conditions. Light is dispersed more widely for driving speeds below 50km/h to enable better views of cyclists and pedestrians. Between 50 and 120km/h the light cone extends and is skewed towards the near side to reveal potential hazards on a driver’s side of the road, while for motorway driving at speeds in excess of 120km/h, the beam has a longer range and is more intense. Where windscreen wipers have been operating for more than two minutes in poor weather, dipped beams are automatically illuminated.

The convenient activation of headlight adaption is a further benefit, now being accessed directly via the rotary controller, rather than a switch located under the bonnet. This allows headlight settings to be switched between right-hand and left-hand drive markets, for example when driving from the UK to France, increasing comfort for those used to crossing borders.

Camera system:

Everything about owning and driving Phantom models should be effortless, including manoeuvring in tight urban environments. Today, a new camera system is offered as standard for all Phantom Series II. Cameras are positioned in five locations, two in the curves of the front bumper, two on the underside of each wing mirror and one in the trunk lid.

These combine to present a fish-eye view at blind junctions or to provide ground images with obstacle recognition and reverse path prediction when parking This automatically deploys on the control centre display when reverse gear is selected and highlights the optimum reversing trajectory as well as the location of obstacles, helping prevent scuffs and alloy damage preserving the high value of a client’s investment – and the inherent beauty of the car.

Additionally, all Phantom models carry six buttons that sit either side of the centre console’s functional bookmarks; the button to the furthest on the right takes drivers immediately to a split image revealing objects at either side at the front of the car.

Engineering excellence:

Originally conceived by the Rolls-Royce engineering team, an advanced aluminium spaceframe retains its position at Phantom’s core, serving as the foundation for the car’s extraordinary driving prowess. Strong, lightweight and as rigid as a Formula 1 car, the spaceframe has been further reinforced, with the addition of brace bars that enable a dynamic package to be offered as an option for Phantom Saloon for the first time.

Epitomising the Rolls-Royce marriage of cutting-edge technology with fine craftsmanship, each spaceframe is entirely hand-welded, then finished as if it were a precision instrument. Every morning, skilled welders perform a 300mm test to check for atmospheric effects on the material with which they will work. More than 200 box sections of cast aluminium extrusion are then formed to create the frame, which is checked for accuracy to within a millimetre by laser. Finally, the largest computer-guided machining platform in the auto industry sets to work on the complete structure, milling critical points with pinpoint precision.

Precision might also be the best word to describe the manner in which Phantom drivers place their cars through corners. But, of course, handling cannot come at the expense of the famous Rolls-Royce magic carpet ride. Fortunately, thanks to its double insulated floor, the spaceframe only augments inner tranquillity helping eliminate noise, vibration and harshness.

Its inherent safety benefits are also enhanced by other systems controlled by Phantom’s ISIS (Intelligent Safety and Information System). This takes readings from sensors located throughout the car and, in the event of an impact, makes up to 4,000 calculations a second to establish its severity, deploying safety systems as necessary. These include intelligent braking and restraint systems such as Dynamic Stability Control, Dynamic Traction Control and seat belt pre-tensioners.

Complementing Phantom’s reassuring safety features are changes to front door side pockets. These are now slightly smaller, due to the addition of a crash pad, for more even distribution of forces in a 30° side-impact test.

Drive-train and suspension:

“For my team this was a question of what we could do to improve a drive-train that we believed was close to perfection, both in terms of its dynamic performance and outstanding ride characteristics,” – Helmut Riedl, Director of Engineering

At its heart, every Phantom family car hosts a hand-assembled, naturally aspirated 6.75 litre V12 engine. This sophisticated direct-injection petrol engine develops 531lb ft of torque (720Nm) more than three quarters of which is available at 1,000 rpm. The torque curve remains largely flat between 1,000 and 3,000 rpm - an important prerequisite for effortless city driving - and moves occupants from 0 to 60 in 5.7 seconds and onto an electronically limited top speed of 149mph (155mph for Phantom Coupé) where market conditions allow.

Phantom’s power reserve gauge is another of those trademark Rolls-Royce design cues that always raises a smile. In operation, it casually reveals the enormous power potential at a driver’s disposal should he or she require it. But, in most circumstances, Phantom’s performance is simply a matter of seamless, effortless progress.

For Phantom Series II, Rolls-Royce has improved the drive-train by incorporating a new 8-speed auto ZF-gearbox for all variants. This is electronically controlled to manage the extraordinary power delivered by the V12 power plant. The longer ratio in the new rear differential compensates shorter ratios in some gears of the new 8-speed gearbox, maintaining the same engine speed to augment ‘waftability’, while improving fuel economy.

The result is powerful serenity. Effortless gear changes come as a consequence of a better match of gear to engine speed, improving efficiency from power generation to where it is needed at the wheels. Fuel economy improves by 10 percent on the combined cycle and CO2 emissions fall from 385 to 347g/km as a result.

Double-wishbone front suspension complements the drive-train, featuring optimised mounts to minimise vibrations through the steering wheel, while multi-link rear suspension complete with anti-lift and anti-dive technology aids stability under heavy acceleration and braking.

Spring dampeners and anti-roll bars maintain comfort without loss of agility while self-levelling air struts compensate for different loads within the car, making continual adjustments as the weight of fuel decreases, giving drivers the ability to place the car through turns with absolute precision and passengers a ride of supreme comfort.

Craftsmanship:

It takes 60 pairs of hands and more than 450 hours to design, construct and craft each Rolls-Royce motor car. At the Home of Rolls-Royce in Goodwood there are around 1,000 employees, including craftspeople working in wood and leather shops, making the world’s finest cars. And just two robots in the paint shop to provide a seamless quality of finish. Only the finest materials are used and these are painstakingly prepared so their inherent beauty is displayed to best effect.

Paint:

Rolls-Royce continues the grand tradition started centuries ago by the coach-building industry: at least five layers of paint and clear lacquer coating are applied to each Phantom, seven if the car is two-tone. Between each layer technicians sand the body by hand. Following application of a final coat, the body is meticulously hand polished for five hours to achieve the glassy lustre normally associated with a grand piano. Through the Bespoke programme, any chosen paint colour can be specified. Initially, this could be chosen by the client through the Phantom iPad App, capturing the colour of a favourite tie or lipstick for example and applying it to their virtual car. In keeping with Rolls-Royce traditions single or double coach-lines can also be applied - by hand of course. Each five metre line takes three hours to apply using only the finest squirrel and ox hair brushes.

Wood:

Wooden features blend the skills of cabinet makers and boat builders with modern technology. Depending on specification, up to 43 wooden parts are used in every Phantom, each constructed from up to 28 layers of wood. These are interspersed with thin sheets of aluminium for strength and to prevent splintering in an impact. Multiple layers are pressed, bent and hand-finished before craftsmen cut and apply matched veneers, which are subsequently detailed, lacquered, hand polished and highlighted. All veneers come from one log and these are carefully selected and laid out so that the grain detailing is mirrored across the interior of each car.

Inspired by J-class yachts of the 1930s , the beautiful teak-decking in Phantom Drophead Coupé is a fine example of the marriage between Rolls-Royce traditions and the best in engineering. Teak is used because of its hardy properties and resistance to moisture and decay, but special techniques have been developed to preserve the appearance of a fresh, unprocessed finish, the aim being a final deck that closely resembled natural timber. Each deck, comprised of more than 30 wooden pieces, features precisely machined grooves and is protected by a specially formulated blend of oils. As with all woods and veneers used by Rolls-Royce, it is sourced by a team of specialists.

Leather:

Only the finest hand-selected hides from Alpine bulls are used by Rolls-Royce. The healthy environment and open meadows without thorn or barbed wire result in far fewer natural marks. The leather is drum pigmented to allow the durable Rolls-Royce leather to retain its famous soft and supple feel, giving a rich, uniform colour while maintaining the natural feel, softness and grain. Each of the 450 leather parts that comprise an interior is cut by laser before being hand sewn by the artisans in the company’s own workshop.

Bespoke:

Rolls-Royce customers expect their cars to be as unique as their own fingerprint and the Bespoke service delivers on these high expectations. More than eight in ten Rolls-Royce Phantom models delivered globally to clients in 2011 included some element of bespoke design from individual paint colours, veneer inlays, tread plates and coach lines, to the most flamboyant and individual of whole vehicle designs.

In 2011 for example, Rolls-Royce designed a car for a Middle Eastern customer that incorporated an intricate and beautiful falcon motif within the headrests. Taking 40 hours of embroidery and using 11 different threads, the design featured 21,000 stitches.

Perhaps one of the most delightful and popular of Rolls-Royce bespoke features is the starlight headliner, which integrates more than 1,600 tiny fibre optic lights which are hand-woven into the leather roof lining to create a beautiful starry sky within a Rolls-Royce Phantom Saloon or Phantom Coupé.

Phantom Series II changes –at a glance:

Phantom’s striking and modern front end best encapsulates the essence of changes that lie beneath:

• A modern front face, featuring rectangular LED headlamp clusters, indicator strip and new front bumper design
• The first car manufacturer to offer full LED headlamps as standard, incorporating curve light functionality and adaptive headlamps for enhanced road illumination
• New single piece grille surround for Phantom Drophead Coupé and Phantom Coupé; colour coded grille surround offered as an option
• Three new wheel finishes available across the range
• Redesigned rear bumper for Phantom Saloon incorporating polished stainless steel highlight and new seat flute design across the ragne

Sublime and effortless: enhanced assistance, connectivity and infotainment systems:

• Fully updated satellite navigation system featuring 3D map display and landscape topography, satellite view, guided tours, enhanced points of interest and composite route planning function
• Larger control centre display and eight functional bookmarks in chrome for easy selection of key functions
• New chrome rotary controller, flanked by function keys including menu, navigation and telephone
• Enhanced assistance provided by camera system, featuring top view, automatic rear path prediction and split-front view
• Smart phone cradle, 12V and USB port in centre console; abundant hard drive for storing music accessible via additional glove compartment USB port

Excellence in engineering and pinnacle performance:

• New 8-speed automatic gearbox and rear differential, complement peerless direct injection V12 engine improving performance and serene Phantom ride experience
• Fuel consumption improves by 10 percent across the range; CO2 emissions down from 385 to 347g/km
• Enhancements to Phantom’s lightweight aluminium spaceframe, including the addition of brace bars for optional Phantom Saloon dynamic package featuring stiffer suspension, visible exhausts, thicker steering wheel, alternative gearbox tuning and linear braking characteristics
• Front door side pockets now slightly smaller, due to the addition of a crash pad, for more even distribution of forces in a 30° side-impact pole tests.

Heritage – where we began:

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars was formed in 1904, following the historic meeting of the aristocrat Charles Stewart Rolls and Henry Royce in Manchester, England. These extraordinary individuals hailed from different backgrounds, but shared many traits. Most significantly, both were visionaries and passionate engineers.

Henry Royce had established his reputation as a successful electrical engineer and businessman, prior to turning his skills to car making at the turn of the century. Charles Rolls, a pioneer in the exciting new fields of automotive and aviation, shared Royce’s hands-on approach to nuts, bolts and moving parts.

By the time the men met, Royce had begun a car manufacturing operation in Manchester. Rolls, meanwhile, was retailing cars from a showroom in central London. Both were on record professing dissatisfaction with the quality of imported models upon which their respective operations were originally based.

The meeting in Manchester - of men and of minds - established exclusive rights for Rolls to sell the British-built, and magnificently engineered Royce motor cars through his London showroom. Rolls-Royce was born.

Sir Henry Royce was a stickler for perfection. Compromise was not acceptable in any part of the manufacturing process. He believed in creating only the finest cars and if this meant expensive raw materials, labour-intensive craftsmanship and time-consuming quality control then so be it.

The output stands as testament to his vision: beautifully engineered early-20th Century automobiles, peerless in their quality, with attention to detail underlining a reputation for excellence. Famously, Sir Henry Royce lived his professional life by the following maxim - and expected all those who worked for him to embrace it too:

Strive for perfection in everything you do.

More than 60 years after his death, these words became the starting point in the development of a new Rolls-Royce for the 21st Century. When unveiled in 2003, just five years after its inception, the Rolls-Royce Phantom quickly proved itself worthy of Sir Henry Royce’s noble words, establishing itself as the benchmark by which all luxury cars would be judged.

Over the next decade, under careful stewardship of the BMW Group, Rolls-Royce re-affirmed its position as the world’s pinnacle luxury car maker. Today it operates with a network of nearly 100 dealers worldwide and reports significant sales growth. It is profitable and expanding in new markets such as South America. The Phantom family has grown to four models and in 2009 a new model line – Ghost – was launched to global acclaim.

The name Rolls-Royce is once more synonymous with excellence, built on the finest principles of Sir Henry Royce, realised through his partnership with Charles Rolls. Hand-built Phantom and Ghost cars combine the spirit of their illustrious forebears with ground-breaking technology and visionary engineering techniques, but with hand-craftsmanship and attention to detail at the core of every car’s promise to its owner.

Today, visitors to the new Home of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars in Goodwood, West Sussex are still greeted by Sir Henry’s memorable words: Strive for Perfection in Everything You Do. But a second, famous maxim also draws attention: Take the best that exists and make it better; when it does not exist design it.

The Rolls-Royce Phantom is lauded as the best car in the ultra-luxury segment. However, in a world where technology moves rapidly, Rolls-Royce cannot stand still. Today, the company is embracing that second famous maxim and applying it to Phantom family - Phantom Saloon, Phantom Extended Wheelbase, Phantom Drophead Coupé and Phantom Coupé.

Phantom Series II presents significant changes and new technological advances for each model in the Phantom family. So that Rolls-Royce can continue to present with pride the very best motor car in the world – the ultimate luxury good that just got a little better.