While Apple CarPlay makes the age of the software a non-issue for the driver, rear-seat passengers rely on it more. Here each rear seat passenger has access to a display mounted to the back of the front seats, controlled via a central control panel or touch screen. The user interface is not very intuitive to say the least, and without spending the time to manually connect your own devices, there’s very little in the way of entertainment to be had from them. The optional, exquisitely engineered champagne cooler between the seats will make up for this for some, though.
The way in which passengers access these rear-seat displays reveals another quirk with the Phantom. Just about everything in the cabin has some level of motorisation, with even the tray tables and the displays behind them requiring you to press and hold a discrete button and wait for the action to complete. Having a satisfying manual mechanism would feel more in-line with the character of the car, but then perhaps buyers of it feel otherwise.
Price, specs and rivals
The Rolls-Royce Phantom VIII is a prime example of ‘if you need to ask.’ Prices start from £433,745, but given the vast configurability, this can quickly rise to the half-million mark – Rolls-Royce says each and every Phantom built is made to order, with our particular car optioned to £475,000. As a result, there are no direct rivals, with Bentley’s closest alternative coming in the form of the Flying Spur saloon at over half the cost – this is a much more driver-focused alternative in comparison though, with a duality to its character. The Phantom is an all-out luxury limousine.
We can’t imagine any buyer will be too concerned about the price, and besides, they needn’t be. It’s just as good at consuming unleaded as it is transporting its occupants in comfort, with 13mpg our average on a completely ordinary drive – Rolls-Royce quotes 18mpg WLTP.
Rolls-Royce Phantom Series II specsEngine6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 Power563bhpTorque664lb ft @ 1750rpmWeight2670kg DIN0-62mph5.5secTop speed155mphPrice as tested£475,000
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