Rolls-Royce turns to 1930s ocean liners for inspiration as it builds last Phantom

By Ronan Glon January 31, 2017

It’s the end of an era: Rolls-Royce has built the very last seventh-generation Phantom in its Goodwood, England, factory.

The final Phantom VII marks the end of a 13-year production run. The milestone car is a long-wheelbase model commissioned by a renowned-yet-anonymous Rolls-Royce collector in a right-hand drive market.

The customer is fascinated by 1930s design and iconography, so the marquetry on the dashboard and on the door panels represents the majestic boats that took passengers all over the globe during the era. The sea-inspired style continues with tone-on-tone embroidery that mimics the movement of waves. The seats and the door panels are wrapped in powder blue leather upholstery.

The custom-built Phantom is a testament to Rolls’ attention to even the most minute detail. The clocks embedded in the dashboard and in the partition wall look similar to the radio clocks found in ocean liners like the one depicted on the dashboard. The driver can select one of 24 built-in time zones by simply rotating the clock’s bezel. Clearly, this Rolls was built to travel the world.

The body is painted in a discreet hue named blue velvet. Double white pin stripes and an ocean liner logo on both fenders add a contrasting touch, and the last Phantom exudes effortless elegance with a set of whitewall tires.

The marine-inspired modifications don’t extend to the engine bay. The very last Phantom is equipped with a mighty, 6.75-liter V12 engine that produces 453 horsepower at 5,350 rpm and 531 pound-feet of torque at 3,500 rpm. An eight-speed automatic transmission helps send the grandiose sedan from zero to 60 mph in under six seconds.

While Rolls-Royce has already started dismantling the Phantom VII production line, the nameplate will return for an eighth generation. A brand-new model built on an aluminum-intensive platform named the Architecture of Pure Luxury is scheduled to make its debut before the end of the year.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics

Contributor

Ronan Glon is an American automotive and tech journalist based in southern France. As a long-time contributor to Digital…

Cars

Mercedes-Benz EQG: range, price, release date, and more

Concept image of the larger electric G-Wagon

The G-Class is going electric. We already knew that Mercedes-Benz was working on an electric, small-size G-Wagon, but it looks like the company is also working on a larger G-Class SUV, in the form of the EQG. In fact, Mercedes has gone as far as to show off a concept version of the off-roader.

While there's much we don't know about what will become the production model of the EQG, Mercedes has also shared a lot about it. Curious about whether the Mercedes-Benz EQG could be the EV for you? Here's everything we know so far.
Design
Fear not -- the EQG will retain many of the design aspects of the G-Class that you already know and love but with a modern face-lift. The EQG will keep the boxy design that gives the G-Class a classic look but with some additional modern styling, at least if the concept version is anything to go by.

Cars

Rivian R2 vs. Kia EV9: battle of affordable electric SUVs

Kia EV9 GT-Line Three Quarters

The long-awaited Rivian R2 has finally been announced, and it's an excellent option for those who want an electric SUV that doesn't completely break the bank. Sure, the R2 isn't cheap -- but it's a whole lot cheaper than most other EVs out there, especially when it comes to SUVs. But Rivian isn't the only company trying to tackle the problem of the budget electric SUV. The Kia EV9 is finally available, and it too offers a modern design and a range of helpful features.

Given the fact that the Rivian R2 and Kia EV9 are two electric SUVs in a similar price range, you might be wondering which is better for your needs. That's why we put the Rivian R2 and the Kia EV9 head-to-head.
Design
Both the Rivian R2 and the Kia EV9 are actual SUVs -- not crossovers pretending to be SUVs, like plenty of other EVs out there. The two vehicles offer big, boxy designs and plenty of interior space, making them excellent options for families or those who need that extra storage.

Cars

Rivian R2 vs R1S: How will Rivian’s cheaper SUV compare?

The front three-quarter view of a 2022 Rivian against a rocky backdrop.

Rivian has finally unveiled the R2, its long-awaited attempt at a more affordable electric SUV. The new vehicle may not be available just yet, but fans of Rivian's design aesthetics and feature set are already looking forward to being able to order the new car. The R2 is targeted at being a more affordable take on the electric SUV and will sit alongside the flagship-tier R1S.

Let's get this out of the way right now: The R1S is most likely going to be a better vehicle than the R2. Rivian isn't replacing the R1S with the R2 — it's releasing the R2 as a more affordable alternative, and there will be some compromises when buying the R2 over the R1S.