During the time a car model is on sale, it will often receive upgrades or updates to keep it ‘fresh’. These typically include cosmetic changes that may be significant or subtle and they are referred to as ‘facelifts’. Rolls-Royce, being at the pinnacle of the car market, doesn’t use such a term. Instead, it refers to such changes as ‘a new expression’, which it announces today for the Phantom Series II.

Customer requests and feedback
The model, now in its fifth year, has received visual and aesthetic enhancements in line with customer requests and feedback that guided the designers and engineers. Not surprisingly, the customers ‘implored Rolls-Royce not to make any major changes to an already iconic motorcar’, the company reveals.

Thus the alterations made have only the lightest of design touches, embellishments, and adaptations. In this case, it is not about what should be changed but, in fact, what should be preserved and protected.

“The subtle changes we have made for the new Phantom Series II have all been minutely considered and meticulously executed. As Sir Henry Royce himself said: ‘Small things make perfection, but perfection is no small thing’,” said Torsten Muller-Otvos, CEO of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars.

The subtle changes
The most obvious and important feature to be retained is the limousine’s commanding presence. This has been further enhanced by a new polished horizontal line between the daytime running lights above the Pantheon Grille. This provides a new and assertive modernity, reflecting its driver-focused character.

A subtle geometric change to the Pantheon Grille makes the ‘RR’ Badge of Honour and Spirit of Ecstasy mascot more prominent when viewed from the front. The grille itself is now illuminated, a feature debuted and popularised in Ghost. The headlights are graced with intricate laser-cut bezel starlights, creating a visual connection with the Starlight Headliner inside, and adding further ‘surprise and delight’ to the Phantom’s night-time presence.

The silhouette viewed from the side preserves the elegant key lines running from the Spirit of Ecstasy to the tapering rear tail. The ‘split-belt’ line begins at the front fender and curves gently towards the rear door, emphasising the car’s long dash-to-axle proportions, before falling gently towards the lantern-like rear lamps. The heavily undercut ‘waft line’ creates a strong shadow, visually signalling the marque’s unequalled ‘Magic Carpet Ride’.

The side profile is further enhanced with a suite of new wheels. A 3D, milled, stainless steel wheel with triangular facets is available to commission in a fully or part-polished finish. Alternatively, a customer may choose a disc wheel with an elegant design recalling the romance of 1920s Rolls-Royce models. This wheel is produced in both polished stainless steel and black lacquer.

Responding to Phantom customers who have previously requested a darkened chrome grille surround, black bonnet reins, windscreen surround and side frame finishers, these may now be commissioned as well. This aesthetic now enables Rolls-Royce to transform Phantom into the lightest of light – or the darkest of dark appearances.

The ‘base’ interior has been virtually unchanged and only very sharp-eyed observers will see that the steering wheel has been made slightly thicker. This is to provide a more connected and immediate point of contact for the owner-driver.

A new ‘Rolls-Royce Connected’ feature seamlessly links the Phantom with the marque’s private members’ Application known as ‘Whispers’. This enables the owner to send an address directly to the car from Whispers, providing seamless navigation to an event, restaurant, dealership or even the Rolls-Royce headquarters where the car was born.

Phantom Platino
To mark the introduction of Phantom Series II with the new expression, and to illustrate Rolls-Royce’s Bespoke capability, a new Bespoke masterpiece has been created. This is the Phantom Platino, named after the silver-white finish of the coveted and precious metal, platinum.

The Phantom Platino continues Rolls-Royce’s exploration into fabric interiors, a story which began in 2015 with the launch of the Serenity, a truly Bespoke Phantom with a hand-painted, hand-embroidered silk interior. Now, the Phantom Platino introduces materials other than leather, an area of exploration for Rolls-Royce and a move that demonstrates a greater acceptance of alternative interior upholsteries.

In a unique design created especially for the Phantom Platino, the ‘stars’ of the Starlight Headliner overhead are placed to draw the eye rearwards, with whimsical shooting stars following the sweeping arc of the pattern.

“With Phantom Series II, we have retained and carefully protected everything our clients love about this superlative and luxurious item; subtle, yet meaningful enhancements reflect their evolving tastes and requirements. Phantom has always been viewed as the ‘best car in the world’: our Bespoke capabilities mean that, for our clients, it can be the best car for their world, too,” said Mr. Muller-Otvos.

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