For as long as I can remember, I have loved big imposing and luxurious limousines and none come more imposing or luxurious that those carrying the iconic Spirit of Ecstacy, so imagine my excitement when I found out I was going to visit P & A Wood Rolls Royce of Essex to have a look at their brand-spanking new Rolls Royce Phantom VIII.
Even though at first glance, the new Phantom VIII looks very similar to its predecessor, the Phantom VII, it has, in fact, been completely redesigned and re-engineered from the ground up and as you get up close and personal with the car, you start to notice the subtle, yet plentiful changes and additions. The big VIII is actually 77mm shorter than the previous model, and that combined with an all-new 4-wheel-steer system and a now twin-turbo’d 6.75 litre V12 (that produces a whopping 563bhp and an Earth-moving 664lb-ft of torque) means this is no longer just a car to be driven in, but also a car to be driven. There are a few other goodies thrown in the driver now like laser headlights that boast 600 meters of vision at night…
At this point, I would normally start talking about 0-62mph figures and top speeds etc, however, that is not the point of the Phantom VIII. It isn’t a supercar or sports car, it’s luxury yacht for the road. It is designed to be the most luxurious place one can be travelling on land, and that is exactly what it is. The interior of the new Phantom is in a league of its own, dripping in opulence and style. There is a wonderful blend art-deco inspired fixtures and fittings accompanied by the most up-to-date in-car technology that can all disappear at the press of a button, keeping the interior clean and clear from clutter. The inside of the Phantom is supposed to be a place where people can relax and enjoy their surroundings with minimal interruption so over 130kgs of sound deadening material has been used to make the Phantom VIII the quietest car to be in.
Everything about the Phantom’s cabin screams the pinnacle of modern luxury design from the constellation roof lining to the extra thick sheep’s wool carpets and everything in between. But nothing compares to the latest and by far most interesting addition to the Phantom VIII’s interior. The all-new art gallery. Rolls Royce customers can now commission bespoke pieces of art to be displayed behind a pane of glass that has been hermetically sealed to levels that the top camera lens manufacturers can only aspire to, ensuring them that their Rolls Royce Phantom will be as unique as themselves. This addition to the car adds a whole new level of exclusivity and pricelessness as, depending on the artwork created, the sky really is the limit with the cost.
Everything about the new Phantom is impressive. Its impressive stance, its impressive performance, its impressive technology and its impressive interior. There is a very good reason why Rolls Royce is still the best of the best when it comes to luxury motoring. The levels of craftsmanship that go into producing one of these masterpieces are unparalleled by any other manufacturer. Many manufacturers can produce fast cars, or innovative cars or even luxurious cars, but none to this standard. The Rolls Royce Phantom VIII is the benchmark for all other luxury cars and nothing even comes close in today’s market.
I love the over-the-top styling and the ostentatious design features. In any other car they would seem a bit naff like they were trying too hard, but in a Rolls Royce, that’s what you expect. These cars are not the choice lottery winners and footballers, they are the choice of world leaders and billionaires and if you’re in the incredibly fortunate position to ever buy one, you have all right to show off a little bit whilst demonstrating to the world you have the style and class to pull off such an extravagant piece of engineering. As the new model name suggests, this is the eighth generation of the Phantom and it still carries the same ethos and character of the first. This is the most luxurious and prestigious car money can buy, and it’s better than ever.
I’d like to quickly thank everyone at P and A Wood for giving me the opportunity to have a look around their truly amazing facility and for being so accommodating during my visit. If you are interested in new Rolls Royces or any heritage Rolls Royce or Bentley cars, you can find their contact information on their website here: P & A WOOD