Rolls-Royce Phantom (BMW)

Rolls-Royce Phantom

Manufacturer	Rolls-Royce
Parent company	BMW Group
Production	2003-present
Assembly	Goodwood, Chichester, W Sussex, UK
Predecessor	Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph
Class	Full-size luxury car
Body style(s)	4-door saloon
Layout	FR layout
Engine(s)	6.75 L V12 453 hp (338 kW)
Transmission(s)	6-speed automatic
Wheelbase	140.6 in (3571 mm)
Length	229.7 in (5834 mm)
Width	78.3 in (1989 mm)
Height	64.3 in (1633 mm)
Curb weight	2485 kg (5478 lb)
Related	Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupé
Designer	Marek Djordjevic Ian Cameron

The Rolls-Royce Phantom is a British saloon automobile made by Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, in the United Kingdom. It was launched in 2003. The Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupé, based on the 2003 Phantom, is the most recent addition to the Rolls-Royce brand.

It has a 6.75 L, 48-valve, V12 engine that produces 453 hp (338 kW) and 531 lb·ft (720 N·m) of torque. The engine is derived from BMW's existing N73 V12 powerplant.

It is 1.63 m (63 in) tall, 1.99 m (74.8 in) wide, 5.83 m (228 in) long, and weighs 2485 kg (5478 lb). The body of the car is built on an aluminium space frame and the Phantom can accelerate to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 5.7 s. It has a six-speed automatic transmission and double wishbone suspension.

An extended wheelbase Phantom was presented in March 2005 at the Geneva Motor Show, which is 250 mm (9.8 in) longer than the standard Phantom. It is currently referred to as the Phantom Extended Wheelbase (or EWB).

Design

A Rolls-Royce Phantom owned by the Sultan of Kedah, Tuanku Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah

Only 15 percent of components are sourced from BMW models such as the BMW 7 Series. This comprises the powertrain, and electronics. The Phantom uses a unique chassis platform, body, interior, and retains the traditional Rolls-Royce design cues.

The intention was to avoid being seen as just an extension to the BMW range. When DaimlerChrysler introduced its Maybach luxury saloon, it was criticized for producing "the ultimate Mercedes" instead of a totally different car. The car shared many components with and looked like the less expensive S-Class Sedan. BMW learned from this lesson, selling the Phantom through separate dealerships where BMWs are not sold, while the Maybach showroom also sells the most basic of Mercedes models.

The aluminium spaceframe body is built in a BMW plant in Dingolfing, Germany and the V12 engine in Munich. Final assembly, as well as all wood and leather work, for each customer's individual specification is at a purpose built €100M plant at Goodwood, West Sussex, England. The Goodwood plant contains only two robots to paint the spaceframe body; all other work is done by hand, in keeping with the Rolls-Royce tradition.

Novel features

Instead of a tachometer, the car has a power reserve dial indicating how much of the engine's power is left available to the driver.
The rear doors are rear-hinged, a style commonly referred to as suicide doors, but called 'coach doors' by Rolls-Royce. Because of the rear-seating position in relation to the rear inner-door handles, buttons are mounted on both C-pillars which operate hydraulic motors in order to close the rear doors. An electronic lock prevents the doors from being accidentally opened when moving. The car will automatically brake to a walking speed if a coach door remains open when driving off.
The traditional Spirit of Ecstasy ornament has an electronic retraction mechanism to prevent theft and protect pedestrians in the event of an accident. It may also be retracted by the driver at the touch of a button. It also contains a sensor which detects movement, and will retract if tampered with.
The 'RR' logos on each of the wheel hubs are independent bezels in order to always remain upright while the wheel is rotating.

Drophead Coupé

Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupé is the latest convertible made by Rolls-Royce which debuted at the 2007 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Michigan on January 7, 2007. The platform is based on the Rolls-Royce Phantom and has styling heavily derived from the 100EX concept car unveiled to celebrate the company's centennial in 2004.

Sales

**Annual sales**
Year	Sales
2003	300
2004	792
2005	796
2006	805
2007	1010
Total	3703

BMW has set a lifetime limit that only 10,000 units of the Phantom will be built.
The base price is £250,000 in the UK and $300,000 in the US.
After selling 805 units in 2006, Rolls-Royce first met its annual sales target of 1,000 vehicles in 2007 (1,010 Phantoms sold, Drophead Coupé sales included).
In 2004, Rolls-Royce was selling twice as many cars as its closest rival Maybach.
The 2000th car rolled out of the Goodwood factory in December 2005.
In July 2006, Rolls Royce produced a limited edition run of 25 cars called the "Phantom Black"
The 3000th car rolled out of the Goodwood factory in March 2007.
Rolls Royce produced a limited edition run of 25 cars to commemorate the centenary of the Silver Ghost.
Hong Kong Peninsula Hotel has purchased a fleet of 14 Extended Wheelbase Phantoms to replace the Silver Spurs in the fleet, all painted in a special "Peninsula Green" and delivered in December 2006, making history for being the largest single order for the Phantom.
Luxury Vodka maker Grey Goose and Rolls-Royce teamed up to create two customized limited-edition Rolls-Royce Extended Wheelbase Phantoms to help promote social responsibility while drinking.
Rolls Royce released a special Tungsten edition Phantom which incorporated innovations featured in the EX101 Experimental Car.

Gallery

Phantom at the Peninsula Hong Kong

A Phantom at the 2005 United States Grand Prix

Dashboard

Rear view of a 2005 Phantom

Rear view

Open doors

Dashboard

Rear open "suicide" door

Scale models

Although a number of unauthorized scale models of the Phantom have been produced (including a few Mansory edition Phantoms), Rolls Royce has awarded Exoto the exclusive right to make a 1:18 of the Phantom and the EWB Phantom. The models will sell for US$498 for the Phantom and US$598 for the EWB Phantom making it one of the most expensive scale models.