Rolls Royce is one brand that needs no introduction. From its royal proportions & stately road presence to smaller things like the distinctive upright hubcaps and the Spirit of Ecstacy, the brand has become synonymous with luxury among even the less-aware people here in India. With that, it should not come as a surprise with high-profile customers that include celebrities, business tycoons and industrialists, among others, patronising the brand and making Rolls-Royce the ultimate statement of wealth. Their cars are not garish or gaudy, unless you commission one to be, yet make a powerful statement that immediately commands respect. Be it the ‘entry-level’ Ghost or the newest SUV, the Cullinan, Rolls-Royce’s DNA is unmistakable. It is a brand with no competition at all. To understand why a Rolls-Royce is so special, one really needs to see it in person but for those who cannot, we have the second best option here -- A full set of images of the car by the supremely talented Phosart Studio to help you virtually soak in this art piece!

The Phantom series has always been the epitome of motoring and is unanimously considered the most comfortable car on planet Earth. Since inception, it really is a house on wheels, except it’s more luxurious and quite possibly, more expensive. With the Phantom VII, most people were convinced that it was the absolute best that could be done given the engineering limitations we face today. Which is why the Phantom VIII’s announcement created a massive stir - after all, how could Rolls Royce make something so perfect even better? “Take the best that exists and make it better” Sir Henry Royce once famously said and Rolls-Royce did just that. The Phantom VIII had massive boots to fill, and boy did it fill them.

The lengths to which Rolls Royce has gone to make this better than the best is jaw-dropping. For instance, the car has 300lbs (136kg) of sound deadening material. Even the “Silent Seal” tyres have been developed jointly with Continental to make the cabin quieter by 9 decibels by using a layer of foam inside the tyre. Taking the signature Rolls-Royce Magic Carpet ride even further, the Phantom is a car that you know you need only once you experience it! It weighs over 2.5 tonnes but despite that, it can do the 0-100 km/hr sprint in just 5.3 seconds - not too long ago, that was supercar fast! This is made possible thanks to the 6.75 litre V12 that develops its 900Nm of peak torque at just 1,700 rpm.

But what’s most impressive is that Rolls Royce have understood that most of their customers commuted in the city quite frequently, which is why the new Phantom has four-wheel steering and a clever system called the “Flagbearer” which will scan the road ahead for bumps and terrain changes and make necessary adjustments to the springs, dampers and anti-roll bars at speeds up to 100 km/h. These changes will make it much easier for owners to drive (and be driven in) it in Indian road conditions. 

Speaking of India, for Rolls Royce, it is a market that has historically been quite important - the Maharajas and royals were avid fans and the country’s uber-rich swear by the car’s opulence and comfort. Back in the day, the Maharajas were known for commissioning bespoke Rolls-Royce to be made to their unique tastes. With jewel-encrusted interiors to carpets from their own hunting kills, the Maharajas have done it all. The country's tryst with Rolls-Royce is something we belive no other market has, the history is the kind you'd get lost in with your jaws dropped!
Once you own a Rolls Royce, there really is no going back. No car will ever come close. That is why despite the eye-watering price tag, India alone has so many Rolls Royces even in some even in the relatively smaller parts of the country. Choice of transport for the modern Maharajas, if you may call it that!

And now there’s an addition to the list. The country’s newest Phantom VIII replaces Chennai’s famous Rolls Royce Ghost - talk about an upgrade! This latest addition shares its garage with the country’s only Lexus RC-F and another luxo-barge, the Lexus LS500h. Belonging to a Rolls-Royce connoisseur, this gentleman put down his deposit on the car as soon as it was launched in India.

Specced in the beautiful Cornish White colour with a coachline running the length of the car, it sits on the standard 22-inch alloys. Inside, it has an Armagnac interior - same as the Ghost it replaces. The car also has the subtle yet stunning Starlight Roofliner that elevates the whole experience by leaps in an already extravagant cabin. Just have a look at the interior on this car! What looks like metal is finely machined and polished metal and what looks like glass is actually glass. Rolls-Royce has left no stone unturned when it comes to the interior - the place where a Rolls-Royce owner would be spending most of their time. One look at it and you begin to wonder what sort of supernatural superpowers one needs to get out of a car like this! Well, that is something most of us won’t know until the day we buy one of these stunning culmination of the finest craftsmanship. Until then, drool on this and never stop dreaming!

We wish the owner a happy ownership experience. If his other cars are any indication, it is unlikely that this one will be a garage queen, so Chennai petrolheads better keep an eye out - not that this one will be too hard to miss!
A big thanks to Phosart Studios for these stunning images that do full justice to a car of this stature!