It is arguably the most luxurious car in the world, but then this is a special edition model with some added elements that take the meaning of luxury into what feels like a whole new dimension.
Words and images: Wilhelm Lutjeharms
When a brand has achieved the level of respect or status where its name is used in a different context, you know they’ve "made it". Think about terms like Kalahari Ferrari or Hoover, the latter being a brand of vacuum cleaner, but sometimes people will refer to their vacuum cleaner as a Hoover, no matter what brand it actually is. It is the same with Rolls-Royce. “Oh, that is the Rolls-Royce of watches” or “this is the Rolls-Royce of yachts”. It takes the form of an adjective describing something as the finest of its kind.
There is a good reason why this is the case, because a Rolls-Royce deserves that recognition. Since the early days it has been a car for the elite, the successful and those who want to be seen. It is still arguably the ultimate automotive status symbol.
This example is a 2015 Phantom Limelight Collection of which only 25 were built. It is fitted with the 6.75-litre V12 engine developing 338 kW and a healthy 720 Nm. But that is only a small part of what makes it special, as this engine has done duty in the Phantom for many years.
In the passenger seat
This is the place where most owners will actually find themselves most often when travelling in a Phantom. I’m sitting in the left rear seat with an abundance of space around me. The seats are absorbent, the cabin is quiet and I see the landscape passing by slightly faster when the driver puts his foot down, making use of the combination of torque and power.
You can barely hear the engine, it is audible (barely) only softly in the background. As the seatback is reclined by 27 degrees, I can comfortably rest my head on the soft, cushioned headrest. The Limelight Collection is also based on the extended wheelbase chassis, which allows for even an greater amount of interior space.
I start to look around me and I notice the jewellery, watch and fragrance holders in the cabin – mostly situated in the doors. Especially at night, as well as now, the roof is star studded with a plethora of lights, replicating a starry night. When we stop next to the road, I take a closer look at the umbrella that is situated in the door. I stand next to the Phantom and again realise that in terms of size and height, it will make some large SUVs look more like compact SUVs.
It is time to get behind the wheel.
Piloting the Limelight
Open the hefty driver’s door and it’s a real occasion sliding in behind the thin-rimmed steering wheel. The seats are, again, soft and absorbent. Once you close the door - by the mere push of a button - you’re completely insulated from any external noise, including engine idle. Despite displacing 6,75 litres, you need to concentrate to hear the twin-turbopetrol V12 from inside the Phantom, even though I’m now sitting closer to the engine than I did in the rear passenger seat.
The dashboard is unconventional in the modern sense as there are still buttons and organ pull stops. It is luxurious on a different level and you feel cocooned in a way I have not experienced in any other car. The thin-rimmed steering wheel feels light and classy in my hands and is a reminder that steering wheels don't need to be so thick as is the case with most luxury modern cars today.
On our short drive in the Jonkershoek valley outside Stellenbosch, the Phantom simply wafts along. It’s difficult to describe, but it feels as if the Phantom’s suspension takes advantage of the car’s weight, filtering out those bumps and body movements with aplomb. You can’t help but be impressed; these are absurdly high levels of comfort and luxury.
With 338 kW on tap and 720 Nm available at a relaxed 3 500 rpm, I managed to plant the throttle when traffic and road conditions allowed. Again, engine and exhaust notes are kept to an absolute minimum (the latter seems non-existent). That elongated bonnet gently carries the beautiful Spirit of Ecstasy as a wave of torque pushes the giant machine down the road.
BMW should be congratulated for its sensitive handling of the Rolls-Royce flagship. Unlike the Ghost and its two-door spinoffs, you won’t notice any BMW switchgear in the Phantom's cabin; it feels bespoke.
My sumptuous, spell-binding time behind the wheel of this ultimate grand saloon was unlike any other. But, was I missing the point? Should I not have continued reclining on the enveloping rear bench as I did earlier? Arguably yes, in the same way that the owner of a yacht sits on the deck, soaking up the sun while the captain sails across the bay.
Verdict
I quite often long for more time to experience the intricacies of a hypercar during these test drives, and the Phantom makes me want to indulge at the other end of the spectrum: enjoying the top echelon of luxury and refinement while watching the landscape fly past in silence. There are so many little elements, luxuries and features to discover and experience in the car that it could fill another article.
This Phantom Limelight Collection is currently for sale at one of Cape Town’s premier vehicle destinations, The Archive.
Specifications:
Model: 2015 Rolls-Royce Phantom Limelight Collection
Engine: 6.75-litre, V12, twin-turbopetrol
Power: 338 kW at 5 350 rpm
Torque: 720 Nm at 3 500 rpm
Transmission: 8-speed AT, RWD
Weight: 2 670 kg
0-100 km/h: 6.1 seconds
Top Speed: 240 km/h