After 14 years of production the 7th generation of the Rolls-Royce Phantom, the cars first under the ownership of BMW, was looking in need of refresh. In 2017 Rolls-Royce shared with us, its vision for the future of the brands flagship model with the introduction of the Phantom VIII. Rolls-Royce, at the time, dubbed this “the quietest car in the world” and with the out-going model not exactly being noisy, the lengths the designers have gone to are quite extraordinary. Firstly, a lightened chassis has allowed designers to increase the use of sound deadening, whilst keeping weight at the same gargantuan 2.5 tons. In addition to this, a specially developed tyre, taking Continental over 100 prototypes to perfect, has reduced road noise significantly and when combined with the double thickness laminated glass throughout has resulted in cabin noise being reduced by a further 10%. Another feature for the Phantom VIII is the introduction of all wheel steering, giving the agility of a car with a far shorter wheelbase at low speeds whilst facilitating stability in high speed lane changes. The air suspension is better than ever using road scanning cameras to further refine that famous ‘magic carpet ride’, whilst new-found firmness in the corners means there is no wallowing on spirited drives.

The sweeping lines that taper off towards the boot give the car a contemporary look, whilst the overall size and grandeur of the car make it unmistakeably a Rolls-Royce Phantom. The updated headlights give the front a welcome modern facelift and when combined with the fully integrated ‘Pantheon Grille’, the largest ever fitted to a Rolls-Royce, give it one of the most imposing faces on the road. Step inside the classic umbrella adorned coach doors and find yourself cosseted by one of the most luxurious interiors on the planet. Everything you can see, touch and smell in this interior is of the highest quality, from the massage seats to the polished stainless-steel switches, nobody does car interiors quite like Rolls-Royce. The infotainment system has had a thorough overhaul, with a little help from the Germans, bringing it right up to date to complete this exquisite interior. Overall the Rolls-Royce Phantom VIII combines a cocoon of tranquillity with modern technology and timeless design to affirm its position as the ultimate chauffeur car in 2019.