Rolls-Royce Phantom Ends Production This Year, Replacement Due in 2018
End of an era.
Eric WeinerWriter
Rolls-Royce Phantom Ends Production This Year, Replacement Due in 2018
End of an era.
Eric WeinerWriter
Long-time AUTOMOBILE d esign editor Robert Cumberford summed it up perfectly when he drove the Rolls-Royce Phantom in 2013 : "Rolls-Royce once advertised itself as 'the best car in the world.' At some point that might well have been true, but until the Rolls-Royce Phantom was introduced in 2003, it hadn't been the case for at least sixty years. "
Rolls-Royce announced today that the Phantom, the car that helped put the ultra-luxury brand back on the map 13 years ago, will end production in November 2016. When the Phantom dissipates into the mist of Rolls-Royce history, it will be replaced by a new model in 2018. That model will ride on a new aluminum space-frame used for all future Rolls cars . Among these new models will be the forthcoming Cullinan SUV .
"I am proud and excited to announce that a new Phantom is on the way -- a contemporary and beautiful Phantom enhanced with cutting-edge technologies and design innovations," said company CEO Torsten Müller-Ötvös, in a statement. "Any new Phantom is an historic and important moment in automotive history and we are working hard on perfecting the Phantom VIII. "
As we've previously reported, the new modular architecture will birth both standard sedan and extended-wheelbase Phantoms, but the Coupe and Drophead Coupe will not be renewed . Rolls' Bespoke department will churn out even more extravagant models as production nears its close.
To honor the departure of the Phantom Coupe and Drophead Coupe, Rolls-Royce will build 50 unique commemoration models it's calling the Phantom Zenith collection. "Zenith will be the sum of all the best features of Phantom Coupe and Drophead Coupe, with a few surprises added," said Müller-Ötvös. Among these surprises will be a Tailgate Hosting Area, laser-etched armrests, bespoke instrument clusters, and a unique Spirit of Ecstasy ornament. Rolls also says each Zenith buyer will get his or her own "money-cannot-buy" portable memento from a special color palette from Rolls-Royce history.
We expect some truly mind-blowing Bespoke models to mark the end of the Rolls-Royce Phantom VII, eclipsing even the wild Maharaja Drophead Coupe .
