Rolls-Royce Phantom saloon - Interior & comfort
The sky's the limit – in a Rolls-Royce you can even gaze at the stars from the back seat
Where to begin? If you want one of the most opulent, relaxing and personalised interiors of any vehicle on the planet, look no further. Once inside, there’s a feeling of being separate to the outside world, partly because it’s just so quiet.
You can be safe in the knowledge that every material you can see or touch is metal if it looks shiny and real wood if it looks brown. Of course, this goes without saying, but you can also be sure every material is of the finest quality available, from the impeccably soft leather to the deep-pile carpets. Perhaps even more inspirational is the ‘Starlight Headliner’, which is the largest fitted in any Rolls-Royce so far and accurately represents the night’s sky above the company's Goodwood headquarters at a specific point in time.
Rolls-Royce Phantom dashboard
One of the Phantom’s most unique features is ‘The Gallery’. This consists of a single piece of glass extending the entire width of the dashboard. It covers the fully digital instrument cluster, travels behind the pop-up infotainment screen and then essentially forms a blank canvas for customers to commission artists to create unique designs and finishes behind it. Elsewhere, the switches and knobs are a joy to use, with a hugely pleasing action to everything you touch, from the organ-stop air vents to the rotary dials for the climate control.
Equipment
Given the Phantom’s design brief to be the world’s greatest car, along with the fact it won’t be replaced for a good few years, Rolls-Royce has thrown just about every technological marvel possible into it. In fact, it’s said to be the most technologically advanced model ever produced by the BMW Group, full stop.
Just a few of the highlights include four cameras to provide a view of the outside world as if from a helicopter, night vision, active cruise control, the latest in navigation and infotainment, a wi-fi hot spot and a 7x3-inch colour head-up display. The wheels are 21 inches in diameter and feature the iconic ‘RR’ centre caps, which always remain the correct way up.
Options
As you might have guessed, the possible options for the Phantom are almost endless. In fact, if you meet another Phantom owner, the chances of having exactly the same car are virtually impossible. Almost every part of the car you can see can be trimmed, painted or veneered to your taste. There are even four ways of specifying the interior seating: a bench rear seat, two individual back seats with armrests or a central console, or a reclining seat for the ultimate in relaxation.
Rear-seat VIPs enjoy a new centre console with a drinks cabinet, decanter and fridge. You can keep up-to-date with world affairs via the rear TV screens and picnic tables can pop out of the seat backs at the push of a button.
