2018 Rolls-Royce Phantom

With the quietest cabin in the history of passenger cars, Phantom is a testimonial of Rolls Royce's commitment to engine power, cabin comfort, and overall quality. For ages, Rolls Royce comes with a long list of features that gives its rivals a run for their money in every parameter possible.

The 2018 Rolls Royce Phantom offers just a single trim currently. It is offered with a rear-wheel-drive setup, powered by a 6.8-liter V12 engine which is mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission. The V12 is tuned to deliver 563 horsepower at 5000 rpm and 664 lb-ft of torque at 1700 rpm.

Trim	Rolls Royce Phantom
MSRP	$420,325
Key Features	4-Corner Auto-Leveling Suspension
	Hydraulic Power-Assist Speed-Sensing Steering
	Radio: AM/FM voice, Bluetooth compatibility, 13 speakers and 2 subwoofers and steering wheel-mounted remote audio controls
	420w Premium Amplifier
	Digital Signal Processor
	Dual Zone Front And Rear Automatic Air Conditioning
	Remote Keyless Entry w/Integrated Key Transmitter, 2 Door
	Curb/Courtesy, Illuminated Entry, and Panic Button
	Day-Night Auto-Dimming Rearview Mirror

The Phantom VIII comes standard with a hydraulic power-assist speed-sensing steering, an infotainment system with a 420W amplifier, and a compass amongst other things.

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The Phantom is offered only in a single trim option but Rolls Royce offers a plethora of customization options that are practically endless and will help you to make your Phantom unique among the rest.

Phantom has been engineered to deliver its massive 563 horsepower as quietly as possible. Even flooring the throttle wouldn't result in harshness from the engine or unpleasant cabin noise. The Phantom’s peak torque kicks in at only 1700 rpm. Whenever you put your foot down, this V12 has the potential for brisk acceleration.

All that power is impressive but the way it is channeled to the wheels is clever engineering. The ZF Transmission is linked to satellite navigation, and it selects a gear according to the terrain ahead. The standard 8-speed automatic shifts gears to keep the engine revs lower than 2500 rpm. This results in ultra-smooth gear shifts.

Models	Rolls Royce Phantom	Bentley Mulsanne	Mercedes Maybach S650
MSRP	$420,325	$304,670	$198,700
Engine	6.8L V12 Turbocharged	6.75L V8 Turbocharged	6.0L V12 BiTurbo
Transmission	8-speed automatic	8-speed shiftable automatic	7-speed automatic
Horsepower	563 hp @ 5000	505 hp @ 4000 rpm	621 hp @ 4800 rpm
Torque	664 lb-ft @ 1700	752 lb.-ft. @ 1750 rpm	738 lb-ft @ 2300 rpm

Phantom has the biggest engine amongst its rivals but on paper, the Bentley Mulsanne and the Mercedes Maybach have a clear advantage in torque figures. Furthermore,the Mercedes Maybach's V12 is tuned to produce a mammoth 621 hp too.

Acceleration

The Phantom is not acclaimed for its acceleration prowess and neither does it come from a brethren of sports cars. It is a different beast altogether.

And when pitted against cars from its segment, the Phantom manages to hold its ground firmly with modest figures.

Models	Rolls Royce Phantom	Bentley Mulsanne	Mercedes Maybach S650
0-60 MPH	5.0 sec	5.8 sec	4.7 sec
Quarter mile	12.8	13.1sec	13.1 sec
Engine	6.8L V12	6.7L	6.0L Bi-Turbo V12
Emission (Tons/yr of CO2 Emissions @ 15K mi/year)	12.6	12.6	11.1

The new 2018 Phantom VIII covers 0-60 mph in 5.0 sec (It is quicker than Phantom VII's 5.5 seconds 0-60 mph), which is slower than Mercedes Maybach's 4.7-second time required for the naught to 60 mph run. The Bentley Mulsanne takes its own sweet time to accelerate though it’s not exactly a slouch either. It covers the 0-60mph run in under 5.8 seconds.

Ride and Handling

The Rolls Royce cars are known for the brand’s signature “Magic Carpet” ride. The curb weight of 5,644 lbs rests upon air springs and aided by active damper technology that provides an extremely stable and composed ride at all speeds. This setup provides outstanding body control and makes the Phantom gobble up potholes and bumps like a hungry shark.

However, the real essence of a Rolls Royce Phantom is the cabin, excellent levels of insulation make sure that road noise doesn't bother the passengers. Similarly, the 8-speed automatic transmission shifts gear with silence and precision. Even on bad road surfaces, the cabin maintains its usual calmness.

Braking

In this segment, the Phantom has performed better than expected. The brake pedal is firm and gives good feedback while the sharpness is well contained to maintain the composure of the car under panic braking situations.

While braking the heft of the car is certainly felt but the brakes do an amazing job of halting the car quickly. Due to the unavailability of 60-0 braking data, the braking performance remains untested though.

Model	Rolls Royce Phantom	Bentley Mulsanne	Mercedes Maybach S650
Brake Front (in.)	14.7	15.4	15.4
Brake Rear (in.)	N/A	14.4	14.4
Curb Weight (lbs.)	5,644	5,017	5,296
60-0 MPH (ft.)	N/A	114	114

Both the Mulsanne and the Maybach S650 have an equal stopping distance but the Mulsanne is a bit on the lighter side. Ultra luxury vehicles such as the ones on the list are not particularly agile but handles almost everything quite decently.

With a huge V12 motor it is quite expected that the new Phantom would have a knack for drinking more than usual and the high curb weight further adds to it. The Rolls Royce Phantom gives a combined mpg of 14. 

Model	Rolls Royce Phantom	Bentley Mulsanne	Mercedes Maybach S650
MPG (city)	12	16	13
MPG (highway)	19	25	21
MPG (combined)	14	19	16

The Rolls Royce's gasoline thirsty engine makes way for lower efficiency. The Bentley offers the best fuel economy of 19 mpg combined and is closely followed by the Mercedes Maybach.

The interior of the new Phantom feels very traditional, with an abundance of wood and leather along with old-fashioned rotary heating controls rather than digital displays like many modern luxury cars.

It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that the Phantom Experienced begins at the rear seats. The seats offer a 10-way adjustment feature, and even offer different massage functions. Accommodating four people in the cabin is not an issue with the Phantom.

Model	Rolls Royce Phantom	Bentley Mulsanne	Mercedes Maybach S650
Passenger capacity	5	5	5
Front (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)	N/A	42.3/59.7/41.4	39.7/59.7/41.4
Second (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)	N/A	37.9/58.7/40.0	39.2/-/59.1

The Bentley Mulsanne isn’t too far behind the Phantom and so is the Maybach S650. But what sets the Phantom apart is the brand’s unlimited options for customizations that can make an individual Phantom completely unique on the planet too.

Interior Features

The interior features include:

• Front Massage Seats
• Bucket Front Seats
• 10-Way Power Driver Seat 10-Way Power Passenger Seat
• Full Folding Bench Front Facing Rear Seat
• Mobile Hotspot Internet Access
• Picnic Table
• Compass
• Distance Pacing
• Dual Zone Front And Rear Automatic Air Conditioning
• Driver Foot Rest
• Fade-To-Off Interior Lighting
• Refrigerated/Cooled Box Located In The Glovebox
• Front Center Armrest with Storage
• Rear Center Armrest

Infotainment

The Phantoms Infotainment system resembles the BMW's iDrive system. The system is offered with a 7-inch high-resolution display. The system is enclosed within a hard glass panel.

The Phantom also gets a 13 speaker audio system with a 420w amplifier as standard equipment for its infotainment system.

Its features include:

• Radio with Seek-Scan
• External Memory Control and Internal Memory
• 420w Premium Amplifier
• Automatic Equalizer
• Audio Theft Deterrent
• Digital Signal Processor
• Wireless Streaming
• 2 LCD Monitors In The Front

Cargo Capacity

The 2018 Rolls Royce Phantom offers 19 cu-ft of cargo space. The cargo space on offer is the segment best by a huge number and minimal loading lip helps you to easily fit your luggage.

Model	Rolls Royce Phantom	Bentley Mulsanne	Mercedes Maybach S650
Cargo Volume (ft.3)	19.0	12.3	12.3

Both the Mulsanne and the Maybach S650 have similar boot capacity that gives the Phantom an edge over them. That being said, both the rivals can accommodate a decent amount of luggage for four passengers out on a weekend trip.

The 2018 Phantom is the first car to be designed around Rolls Royce’s new aluminum space frame platform. This platform is better known as the Architecture of Luxury. Apart from gaining a lot more curves and a radial grille on the front. The exterior design has remained unchanged. The new version also comes in a snazzy two-tone paint scheme.

The Phantom is the longest sedan in this segment and weighs 5,644 lbs. The Phantom has been made with the utmost care for luxury. The angry-looking front grille and a long stance give it a distinct road presence.

Model	Rolls Royce Phantom	Bentley Mulsanne	Mercedes Maybach S650
Curb weight (lbs.)	5,644	5,017	5,296
Length(in)	227.2	214.7	214.7
Width(in)	79.4	83.9	75.0
Height(in)	64.8	58.7	58.7
Ground clearance (in)	6.4	5.6	5.2
Wheelbase (in)	139.8	132.5	132.6
Track width (in) F/R	N/A	64.3/64.2	64.3/64.2

The generous dimensions provide the space for the Phantom's cabin. The cabin is a desirable space that boasts of segment-best room and comfort. The Phantom offers a ground clearance of 6.4 inches. The Mercedes Maybach S650 offers the lowest at 5.2 inches.

Exterior Features

Some of the exterior features include:

• Wheels: 22" Part Polished 13 Spoke Forged Alloy
• Clearcoat Paint
• Stainless Steel Door Handles
• Light Tinted Glass
• Stainless Steel Grille
• Suicide Rear Doors
• Perimeter/Approach Lights
• Programmable Projector Beam

The IIHS and the NHTSA have not yet rated the Rolls Royce Phantom. Yet the car’s superb build quality and extreme attention to detail ensures that you’ll be cocooned in case anything goes wrong on the road. The Phantom is also equipped with almost all the latest and advanced safety aids that helps to keep both the car and its occupants safe.

Safety Features

Phantom is equipped with a galore of standard safety feature like:

• Rolls-Royce Assist Emergency S.O.S
• Lane Departure Warning
• Forward Collision
• Front And Rear Parking Sensors
• Outboard Front Lap And Shoulder Safety Belts: Rear Center 3 Point, Height Adjusters, and Pretensioners
• Airbag Occupancy Sensor
• Driver And Passenger Side Airbag Head Extension, Driver And Passenger Knee Airbag
• Curtain 1st And 2nd Row Airbags

Bentley Mulsanne vs Rolls Royce Phantom

The Mulsanne is priced at $310,395 for the base variant. The Bentley's V8 puts down pure 752 lb-ft of earth-shattering torque. These are segment-best torque figures. But when it comes to cabin fit and finish - The Phantom is a work of art.

The Bentley's tire gets its share of absorption foam and the cabin also gets good insulation material. But the cabin insulation is nowhere near the Phantom's 287 lbs. sound insulation material fitment.

Mercedes-Maybach S650 vs Rolls Royce Phantom

The Maybach's V12 BiTurbo engine is tuned to produce 621 hp @ 4800 rpm and this is accompanied by a healthy 738 lb-ft @ 2300 rpm of torque. On paper, these are the best performance figures in this segment. And, with a sticker price of $198,700, the Maybach is a great entry-level offering in the luxury sedan segment.

It is difficult to ignore Maybach's price to performance ratio but only performance cannot be held against the Rolls Royce Phantom. The car buyers in this segment are looking for something more than performance.

The Phantom's design isn't flashy, the exhaust note is not snazzy. The design is clean, devoid of excessive lines, the paint scheme is soothing and the Phantom runs awfully quiet. The almost silent V12 engine has abundant power on tap. The 8-speed transmission is programmed for efficient gear shifts. Even for Phantom's bulky size, the V12 engine is capable of effortless acceleration. The Rolls Royce Phantom is a luxury chariot only a few can afford. So if you’re looking for a vehicle to up your status quo and most importantly, to travel in a soothingly silent environment, then your quest for luxury will end with the 2018 Phantom.