2018 Rolls-Royce Phantom presented in London

The eighth generation of luxury sedan 2018 Rolls-Royce Phantom has become extremely technological, has updated its design discreetly, but above all, offers new forms of ostentation never seen before.

The house has given us some examples of the customizations that can incorporate the Phantom VIII and it is clear that they will not leave anyone indifferent. On the dashboard there is a space where the owner can literally order an original work of art. From the gold-plated 3D-printed map of an owners DNA to fine porcelain roses created in an artisan way. But the options do not stay there, the limit is the imagination of the customer and it must be recognized that some have been very creative.

The update of the 2018 Rolls-Royce Phantom is also noticeable under the hood. Its well-known 6.75-liter V12 engine has been added with twin turbos that increase its power of the 460 hp that had the previous generation, up to 571 hp. In addition, when it stops being atmospheric, its maximum torque goes from 720 Nm from 3,500 rpm, to 900 Nm from 1,700 rpm. A mechanical change that some will not like, but that is a quantitative leap for their performance: accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.3 seconds with the short body and in 5.4 seconds with the long battle variant.

Equipment of the 2018 Rolls-Royce Phantom

Something that also affects the dynamic qualities of this saloon is its new aluminum platform, which just like the engine has been developed by BMW. It is 30% stiffer than the previous one and it is light enough to compensate for all the extra weight of the new equipment that includes the 2018 Rolls-Royce Phantom.

Among them are the laser lights capable of illuminating up to 600 meters ahead of the car and the self-leveling air suspension, which thanks to a camera that maps the area, it is anticipated softening or hardening as necessary. We had the opportunity to test it in the BMW 7 Series and there is no bump that resists, the occupants hardly know.

Along with the extra comfort provided by this suspension is the satellite-aided transmission (SAT). This system uses the GPS to adapt the relationship of ZF’s 8-speed automatic transmission and chassis before taking a curve. That is, the car reduces the gears and hardens the suspension to avoid rolling before entering a curve without the driver having to do anything.

Current state of the most advanced safety technology

Other technologies that make life easier for the driver are driving aids such as autonomous cruise control that adapts to traffic, lane departure warning, obstacle detector and pedestrian frontal, object alert on the dead angle and fatigue detector. In addition, it will also feature the camera of night vision and the 360º vision, head-up display, Wifi and 12.3 inch digital dashboard.

The lightweight aluminum chassis also has to compensate for another important element for a luxury sedan: soundproofing. The weight of the set, 130 kg come from insulation materials that allow the 2018 Rolls-Royce Phantom to be 100% quieter than its predecessor at 100 km/h. To this must be added the 6 mm double-layer crystals throughout the car and the larger aluminum joints forged for a body, which serve to better absorb the noise.

Design and customization of the 2018 Phantom

As we said before, the eighth generation of the Phantom not only has luxury finishes, but also has a space for the customer to choose how to personalize their car with art. Well, that space is called “The Gallery” and other works chosen to decorate it have been an oil of the landscapes of the South Downs of England painted by the artist Lian Yangwei or an abstract design by the British artist Helen Amy Murray.

A whole style of adaptation to the customer that seems more typical of a custom made car like the Rolls-Royce Sweptail. For those who do not want anything so special, you can also fill this space with more conventional designs, made with materials such as silk, wood, metal or leather.

The rest of the design of the car does not detract at all from the name of the brand. The modifications have been quite conservative, but the grille is now bigger and better integrated into the body. The rectangular headlights have a much more modern appearance thanks to the “C” – shaped daytime running lights and laser-operated headlamps.

In general, the 2018 Phantom maintains practically the same silhouette, but all its angles have been softened to give them a more modern air, especially the rear bumper that is now integrated with the rest of the body.