2013 Rolls-Royce Celestial Phantom

Midnight, 1 January 2003, and Rolls-Royce Motor Cars' renaissance under BMW Group custodianship is heralded with a whisper. The first Phantom gracefully wafts through a newly completed manufacturing plant into the hands of its eagerly awaiting owner, signalling the start of an extraordinary new chapter in the marque's storied history. A decade on, this historic moment is celebrated with the unveiling of the Celestial Phantom.

This one-off motor car evokes the spirit of that evening with the elegance and lightness of touch that has come to epitomise the work of Goodwood's designers and craftspeople.

The exterior colour scheme evokes the night sky – integrating fine glass particles into the paint to achieve an alluring sense of depth and light. The theme continues when one opens the coach doors of this very special Phantom Extended Wheelbase.

'This highly Bespoke luxury motor car is the perfect way for us to celebrate our first decade of production at the Home of Rolls-Royce in Goodwood, England. The peerless design and craftsmanship employed in creating these one-of-a-kind masterpieces ensures the marque's rightful place as purveyor of the very finest luxury goods in the world,' added Torsten Müller-Ötvös.

Úpon entering the car, occupants are welcomed with a new take on Starlight Headliner, a Bespoke feature that has captivated Rolls-Royce's discerning customers more than any. The constellations, exactly as they were at midnight on that historic evening are represented by over a thousand fibre optic lights hand-woven into the Celestial Phantom's headlining.

The finest leathers, presented in a 'Dusk' hue allude to the inky quality of a cloudless night sky. Bespoke glassware and an exquisitely appointed picnic set, express the manner in which a customer's lifestyle and passions can be seamlessly integrated into their personal highly Bespoke Rolls-Royce.

The attention-to-detail and restless striving for perfection, so intrinsic to the Rolls-Royce brand promise, is evident throughout. The night-sky constellation arrangement was verified by the South Downs Planetarium to ensure authenticity, whilst the reflection of the 'stars' in the surface of the rear drinks compartment lid was meticulously planned and designed. Finer detail still, with hand-stitching to the headliner that subtly maps out the constellations.

Of course, the finest materials furnish every Rolls-Royce. For such a special creation, the designers took this principle a step further with the rear privacy divider's clock replete with four diamonds.

The exterior is finished with engraving to wheel centres while an uplit Spirit of Ecstasy figurine elegantly alludes to the car's ethereal theme.

Dining under the stars takes on a new dimension with a themed re-imaging of the famed Rolls-Royce Picnic Set. The glassware features a beautifully hand-engraved Celestial motif whilst celebrated porcelain maker Nymphenburg was commissioned for the set's plates, providing an exquisitely presented image of the constellations.

Source - Rolls-Royce

In the first half of the 20th century, Sir Henry Royce famously urged his employees to strive for perfection in all that they did – and 'to take the best that exists and make it better'. Today Rolls-Royce Motor Cars continues to embrace the finest principles of its founding father by proudly presenting Phantom Series II at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show.

Reflecting the new world in which we live, this pinnacle family of cars – including Phantom Saloon, Phantom Drophead Coupé and Phantom Coupé – have 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.

'From launch in 2003, the Rolls-Royce Phantom established itself as the benchmark in automotive luxury, a reputation it has held ever since,' said Torsten Müller-Ötvös, CEO of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. 'These cars are timeless in their appeal, but technology moves rapidly and we cannot afford to stand still.

'Today I am delighted to present Phantom Series II, a family of models that feature significant improvements in design, drive-train and technology. As a consequence of these changes, we will continue to present with pride the best motor cars in the world, which re-confirm Rolls-Royce's position at the very pinnacle of the ultra-luxury goods marketplace.'

New LED lighting:
Rolls-Royce Director of Design, Ian Cameron, likens the evolution of Phantom Series II 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 is the first to include full LED headlamps as standard on a production car. 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


Information, maps and video content are 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.

Waftability and sublime ride


The word waftability has long been part of the Rolls-Royce lexicon, with models past and present being renowned for their magnificent ride experience. 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 CO2 emissions fall from 388 to 347 g/km as a consequence.

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 complement Phantom Saloon. This was followed by the launch of unforgettable open-top motoring courtesy of Phantom Drophead Coupé in 2007 and the ultimate grand tourer – Phantom Coupé – which was launched in 2008.

New family members have added to Phantom's considerable appeal and position as a luxury good without equal.

Source - Rolls-Royce