Rolls-Royce Phantom Series II Debuts in India

“Take the best that exists and make it better”

  • First Phantom Series II car introduced to India
  • Latest version of pinnacle, super-luxury car features significant updates to drivetrain, electronics and subtle design enhancements  

Mumbai: Rolls-Royce Motor Cars proudly presents Phantom Series II in India for the first time. Phantom Series II is the latest evolution of the pinnacle, super luxury car, first launched in 2003 establishing itself as the benchmark for the segment. Today, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars continues to embrace the finest principles of its founding father, Sir Henry Royce who famously urged employees, “to take the best that exists and make it better”.

For 2012, the pinnacle Phantom family has been thoughtfully updated with contemporary yet timeless design enhancements that frame the introduction of cutting-edge technologies which significantly improve the car‘s drive-train, ease-of-use and connectivity.

“The Indian market continues to prove its appetite for luxury products. There is sustained demand from the country‘s discerning client base, who appreciate the timeless design of Phantom Series II,” said Herfried Hasenoehrl, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars‘ General Manager for Emerging Markets, Asia. “The excellence in engineering, and the opportunity to commission a Phantom as a blank canvas for the Rolls-Royce bespoke programme, have proven to be significant factors in this model‘s success in India,” he added.

Sharad Kachalia, Director of Sales and Marketing for Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Mumbai said, “"For highly successful Indian entrepreneurs, Phantom has become an icon. Rolls-Royces have always been part of our Indian heritage, and are symbolic of our country‘s success.”

Phantom Series II lighting the way: LED headlights as standard

Rolls-Royce Director of Design during Phantom Series II‘s development, Ian Cameron, likened the evolutionary design to a “familiar theme, lit in a different way”. And Phantom‘s striking new front-end, with re-styled bumpers and rectangular light apertures, perhaps best encapsulates the essence of the significant changes that lie beneath.

Rolls-Royce now offers fully-LED headlamps as standard for Phantom Series II. As well as delivering a characteristic whiter light, augmenting safety and preventing driver tiredness, these allow for the introduction of new technologies that better control lighting.

Curve light functionality, for example, uses electronically-controlled reflectors to focus headlamp beams in the direction of travel, providing greater illumination of the road ahead when cornering. Adaptive headlamps change the cone of light projected onto a road effortlessly of course in response to different driving speeds.

Effortless as standard

Every part of the Phantom experience should be effortless, so new driver assistance technologies and a modern user interface with re-designed multi-media controller, have been designed for Phantom Series II.

The new satellite navigation system has been fully updated. Information, maps and video content is presented on Phantom‘s larger 8.8-inch control centre display, a feature underlined by eight programmable bookmarks presenting access to key functions at a driver‘s fingertips.

Front, rear and top-view camera systems further augment ease of manoeuvring. When reverse parking, for example, rear path prediction automatically deploys on the screen.

Enhanced drive-train

The word ´waftability‘ has long been part of the Rolls-Royce lexicon, with models past and present famed for their magic carpet ride. Phantom Series II reinforces the company‘s reputation for both.

A new 8-speed automatic gearbox and rear differential enhance already exemplary driving dynamics perfectly complementing the V12 direct injection engine. Fuel consumption improves by 10 per cent on the combined cycle and, as a result, CO2 emissions fall from 388 to 347 g/km.

Bespoke

Phantom is considered the ultimate automotive canvas for the Rolls-Royce bespoke programme. A selection of 44,000 external paint hues, limitless wood veneer options, leather styles and colours are available - allowing for personalisation that is practically endless. A team of bespoke designers, along with talented craftsmen and women, produce cars that are ´built to order‘ by Singaporean customers. 90 percent of all Rolls-Royce Phantoms that come to the Asia-Pacific region are bespoke.

History

Rolls-Royce Phantom Series I was launched on 1 January 2003, following a five-year development phase, under new ownership of the BMW Group. In addition to bringing a flagship Rolls-Royce to life, the company also built its state-of-the-art headquarters and production site on the historic Goodwood estate, in the heart of the English countryside. This unprecedented achievement was all the more impressive for a brand that shouldered a weight of expectation that came with the famous Rolls-Royce name and Spirit of Ecstasy as its mascot of excellence.

In 2005, Rolls-Royce launched Extended Wheelbase to join Phantom Saloon. This was followed by the presentation of unforgettable open-top motoring courtesy of Phantom Drophead Coupé in 2007 and the ultimate grand tourer Phantom Coupé which debuted in 2008. The Phantom family was joined by the award-winning, less formal Ghost range featuring Ghost Standard Wheelbase and Ghost Extended Wheelbase. 

Phantom‘s iconic appeal and position as a luxury good without equal has seen its sales increase through the years, along with Ghost. In 2011, Rolls-Royce delivered 3,538 cars to customers worldwide, up 31 per cent on the previous year‘s total of 2,711. This represented the highest annual sales in the 108-year history of Rolls-Royce, the previous best being 3,347 cars sold in 1978. Sales growth was reported across all regions with Bespoke content at highest-ever levels, reaffirming the brand‘s position at the pinnacle of the ultra luxury segment.

Rolls-Royce online

To coincide with the Geneva premiere in March 2012, Rolls-Royce re-launched www.rolls-roycemotorcars.com , a website that reflects the effortless simplicity delivered by Phantom Series II. Significantly updated, the online home of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars seamlessly incorporates Phantom and Ghost configurators and has been optimised with latest HTML 5 technology to work with any device upon which it is viewed.

 

 

For more information please contact: 
Atul Malikram 
9827092823