Last Sunday I did a posting about the new Rolls-Royce Phantom, and now that comments there have had as much say as they’re going to, I’d like to add just one more. I appealed in my posting for eyewitness accounts of new Roller, but commenters were only able to speculate about the new car’s appearance and about the impression it makes on people nearby from various photo-links we had found, until this arrived, from Joseph Beckner of Atlanta, Georgia:
I saw the new Rolls-Royce Phantom at the Amelia Island Councours D’Elegance in Florida in March.
Impressions:
1) It is an IMPOSING automobile. It has a massive quality to it that transcends any other car in recent memory. The grill is indeed huge and, in my mind, overbearing. it comes up to my chest and is very wide. The car is very long and wide, and seems to have been carved from a block of granite. It simply dwarfs anything on the road. The first descriptive thought that came to me was “it’s a locomotive”.
2) There is nothing stately about the car. It has what I can only describe as a “Panzer” feel to it. You’ll never mistake it for any other car in your rearview mirror. And I guarantee you’ll move over.
3) The auto oozes quality in every detail. The paint is flawless, the interior fit and finish is beyond fault, and the materials are first rate. That said, it isn’t a “warm” car. Unlike the Rolls of yore, it feels cold and unforgiving. Rather than “This is your reward, sir, for a life well-lived”, it seems to say “See, I have more cubic money than you. Out of the way, swine!”.
4) The wheels are enormous, and according to reports, the biggest tires on any passenger car. They are 31″ in diameter, and while they visually tend to make the car appear smaller in pictures, in the flesh that trick doesn’t work. With its giant grill, high beltline, and small glass-to-body ratio, it just overwhelms the viewer.
5) The coach doors in the rear (‘suicide doors’ to Americans), are a nice touch. Well integrated in the design. Whether they actually work in real life remains to be seen.
6) Everything about the car suggests that it is what the Germans believe the British think of as a “Rolls-Royce”. It’s almost cartoonish. It’s an idea that’s been filtered through BMW’s preconceived notions of the British. “You know, Hans, with their overinflated sense of “Empire” and such, the British really think they still rule the world. This is the car that reflects that attitude.”
One of the other commenters, blogger Charles Hueter linked to and quoted from this story, which happens to include at its top left corner, this photograph, which I think best illustrates Beckner’s reaction to this remarkable, but it would also seem, decidedly offputting vehicle.
The British Rolls-Royce club seemed to like it (and they were really prepared to hate a “German”Rolls).
Until RR can sort out what it wants it’s cars to project, I’m sticking with the Cadillac’s Batmobile-esque Sixteen. That car seems to scream a purpose: Drive Me Fast Everywhere. 🙂
Not that I’d ever have a chance in Hell of affording the interest payments on the loan I’d be forced to take out to help pay for the insurance.
After that critique of the Rolls, I don’t think I’ll be buying one after all. 😉
As for the Caddy, good lord. A 1000 horsepower, 1000 lbs.-ft. of torque V16 in an aluminum body??? That thing’s a cruise missile. It sure is pretty, though.
Happy Saint George’s Day
Re: Byron
Repeat after me. “YOU CAN NOT HAVE TOO MUCH POWER”. Do this a coupld of hundred times and you’ll be ready for this machine.
The new Rolls reminds me of that ’70s sci-fi classic “The Car” with James Brolin, now Mr. Barbara Streisand. All it needs is some black paint and Satan behind the wheel. Yeah man.
I love that Caddy, and I agree with BigFire you can never have too much power, or have too much money, or get too much p…. nevermind.
The car is GERMAN. It looks German, and it obviously has the same effect on reviewers as other gross-monsters from that fabled land. Think Maybach. Think the “Lady Di” Mercedes S class.
Huge, overpowering, abrupt, blunt, rude, shockingly self-assured, always getting its beach towel on the chair first.
You may like it, you may not. I don’t. Whatever.
But a Rolls-Royce it ain’t.
Can you say Butt-Ugly? A lot of recent designs seem to have fallen prey to a desire for ‘edginess’. And none of them will find a spot in my driveway (even the cheap ones).
Agreed JS. The entire BMW design direction just seems to suck in general. The new 7-series isn’t even a BMW anymore. The Z4 is crap. 3-series concepts looks like a Frank Gehry excretion. And now this funky looking Rolls. Somebody stop them before it’s too late!
Hideous. I really like old-school British cars.
I think the like of British cars is genetic. Growing up my parents had a 1973 Jag XJ6 and a red Rover. They were not common in the Chicago suburbs and I think that was half the appeal for my parents. There had to be some appeal to make up for the fact that they were crap to maintain.
Now I have agood friend who restores MGs as a side business. With him I have been to a few British car collector shows and have seen many old RRs. This thing looks nothing like them. Aside from the letters RR and the shape of the grille they have just put the final nail into the coffin of a fine old car company.
What a shame.
As I understand, the Silver Saraph wasn’t much improvement in fit and finish over the Silver Spur/Spirit which was, for that level of automobile, pretty abysmal. Let’s hope the Phantom is better. Mercedes has let the quality of their S-class slip somewhat, so perhaps Rolls can reclaim the title of “world’s finest automobile” briefly before being eclipsed by Maybach and Bugatti.
Agreed with the comments regarding the unattractive Phantom. Doktor Karl Rapp et Palzeinkillin’ are getting vengance from the grave for losing WW II to Brits.
I’d like to personally like to thank Thatcher for laying the groundwork leading to RR becoming Mein Karr with some spittle in her eye: she’s earned that, regardless of one’s leaning in politics.
I just got to see one in Columbus, OH, USA. It’s indeed big and imposing: that is not open for debate after meeting Mein Karr.
It is, however, about as graceful as a hippo in a leotard.
Or, for that matter, Thatcher in the same.
THIRTY ONE INCH WHEELS!?!