Rolls-Royce has been considered the ultimate vehicle for decades, and the Phantom ultra-luxury sedan is a testament to Rolls-Royce’s reputation. TAJUDEEN ADEBANJO was at the Banana Island where the Phantom, Wraith and Ghost were put to test drive last week.
Unsurpassed levels of comfort, the best interior materials and unparalleled exclusivity are hallmarks of Rolls-Royce cars, but only a select few are able to enjoy this level of craftsmanship.
It doesn’t get much better than Rolls-Royce. Considered the world’s finest automobile, Rolls-Royce has been under the stewardship of BMW for over a decade, and their Phantom sedan, launched in 2003, revived the brand from near obscurity to one of the foremost symbols of extreme wealth.
The Phantom is like an icing on the cake for the Wraith and Ghost models.
The three were put to a test ride last Saturday at Banana Island, a town specially carved out for the super rich in the Centre of Excellence -Lagos.
According to Tolulope Gbadamosi, Brand Manager, Rolls Royce Motor Cars in Nigeria, the cars are meant for ultra-high network of individuals.
No wonder, only 225 units are currently being in circulation across the country, which make Nigeria, the highest users of Rolls Royce in Africa.
The drive experience speaks of the effort put into the brand. For instance, the organisation maintained that Rolls-Royce used to produce the chassis with engine and drivetrain which was then sent to a dedicated coach-builder who finished the body of the car. The final car would return to the Rolls-Royce factory before handing them over to the customer with full warranty from Rolls-Royce. Even if components made by the coach-builder broke Rolls-Royce would look after the defect.
The cars’ RR monogram in the centre of the tyres stays upright always – the only car in the world with such monumental achievement.
Taking about the Ghost, its innovative technology and unrivalled engineering make the driving intuitive. Rooted in simplicity, every detail has a timeless elegance and purity, allowing you to forge a graceful path through an ever-changing world.
It possesses a modern masterpiece of simplicity.The Ghost overrules tradition. Its modern shape creates an informal presence. And the powerful grille, chrome bumper and LED headlights exude contemporary dynamism.
Instantly recognisable from the front, Ghost has a purposeful stance as it waits to be driven. Integrated LED headlights emit a mystical glow, framed by the unbroken daytime running lights. And the subtle sculpting of the bumper – together with the aerodynamic jet air intake-styled front grille – enhance its dynamism. Undeniably streamlined, the fluid lines are accentuated by the Spirit of Ecstasy, tilted seven degrees further forward and ready to lead the way as you take to the road.
Bold and powerful yet remarkably restrained, Ghost is armed with a twin-turbo 6.6-litre V12 engine. Select from five wheel designs and two finishes, each featuring unique, self-righting wheel centres – so that the Rolls Royce monogram is always displayed upright.
The Wraith takes to the road in style and unique expression. Drench it in the two-tone colour scheme one always dreamed about. It makes a statement with contrasting coach lines and brings the night sky inside with a bespoke starlight headliner.
It takes 450 hours to build and craft Wraith. To make the inside as spacious as possible, engineers build the steel monocoque body by hand. And the effort spent perfectly bookmatching veneers and working the leather is merely a glimpse of the craftsmanship involved in creating the power, style and drama of Wraith.
The craftspeople are limited only by one’s imagination.
Continuing this attention to detail are our leather experts. Using 219 pieces of the highest-grade leather, they hand-stitch sections along the sides of the interior to echo the sweeping lines of the fastback design. Over time, the leather develops its own character – not mass-produced and one that never squeaks or cracks.
In the Woodshop, woodwork specialists spend up to a month shaping, sanding and polishing numerous wood parts. To make the interior unique to clientele, choose between traditional or contemporary grains or Canadel Panelling.
The boldest expression of Rolls Royce yet, the striking fastback silhouette of Wraith exudes elegance and power. Expressive, sweeping lines and a wide rear track give it a dynamic and athletic prowess. And the long bonnet, deep grille and pronounced air intakes promise truly potent performance.
Redefining the boundaries of Rolls Royce motor cars, Wraith has a fleeting and enigmatic presence. With a curved, dynamic appearance and fastback design, Wraith evokes a sense of energy, even while standing still. Its innate drama materialises in the twin exhausts and frameless coach doors, which open wider than on any other Rolls Royce motor car. And the deeply recessed vertical grille adds to Wraith’s confident stance.
A key attribute of Rolls Royce DNA, Wraith possesses the classic 2:1 proportions of wheel to body height. The long rear overhang and signature self-righting wheel centres endure too. But the iconic spirit of ecstasy sits further forward and at a sharper angle on the grille, conveying Wraith’s boundless determination as it cuts through the wind.
The Phantom delivers the utmost in motoring luxury in all of its derivatives, with a price tag to match.
It could be argued that the Rolls-Royce Phantom represents the pinnacle of the auto world, the sole occupant of some very rarified air. Shy of the latest Maybach revival and the Bentley Mulsanne, there is no production vehicle that comes close to its levels of opulence.
Motivation for the Phantom comes from the massive 6.75-liter V-12 engine rated at 453 horsepower and 531 pound-feet of torque. It may not be as potent as the engine in the smaller Ghost, but it is still enough to get the Phantom to 60 mph in less than six seconds. Outright speed is not the mission of the Phantom, anyway, it is providing an effortless and serene atmosphere. An eight-speed automatic transmission handles the gear shifts, imperceptibly so, sending power to the rear wheels.
The Phantom sedan isn’t a driver’s car. It is meant to be ridden in, with a driver at the helm. Accordingly, handling and agility aren’t among its strengths; at least not without considering its size. At nearly 20 feet in length, the Phantom is Chevrolet Suburban-sised. It lords over pretty much everything that isn’t an SUV or truck. Independent suspension, self-leveling air springs, electronic damping, and feather-light steering give the Phantom more maneuvering aplomb than one would expect, however. Fuel economy is also in line with its size, at 11 mpg city and 19 mpg highway for all models.
Gbadamosi said it required timeline to order for the vehicle depending on the features customers want in the car, which may include fridge, rear and slide curtains, rear theatre entertainment and others.
“We give customers two to three weeks to think of how you want your cars to look like and if there will be any change to be effected,” he said.
According to him, maintaining the cars in Nigeria won’t be a problem since Rolls Royce Motor Cars outlet in Nigeria can now be maintained by a team of expatriates from Spain and Greece.
He said that there is a regional training supporting the aftersales to make sure they meet the Rolls Royce standard and to make sure they deliver on the brand promise to customers.
