From the moment work started on the formative concept sketches of the Phantom, it was crucial that the design team, led by Ian Cameron, had an instinctive feel for what makes the unmistakable Rolls-Royce 'look'.

We can all appreciate the boldness and confidence of a Phantom II or the flowing grace of a Silver Cloud, but it takes a trained eye to assess those lines and see the science behind the shapes. To this end, Cameron and his team scrutinised the company's greatest creations in an effort to discover the essence of Rolls-Royce. Its design DNA, if you like.

Spirit of Ecstasy

Sitting on top of the chrome plated aluminium grille, the Spirit of Ecstasy is an iconic mascot recognised the world over. Claude Johnson originally commissioned the sculptor Charles Sykes to produce a mascot worthy of his cars in 1911. Sykes is claimed to have used a woman by the name of Eleanor Velasco Thornton as his model, and the resulting sculpture has graced Rolls-Royce cars ever since.

During the conception of the Phantom it was noted that after so many years of use, the original mould for the Spirit of Ecstasy had become worn, losing much of the delicate detailing. The decision was taken to recast the mould, using state-of-the-art computer technology, and old photographs of Thornton herself, to restore the missing detail and definition to the legendary figurine.

Design Attributes

The iconic grille and Spirit of Ecstasy mascot are obvious identifiers, but there are numerous more subtle elements that have an equally powerful effect. The coach doors and striking use of chrome. The gentle, upswept line of the sill - known internally as the 'waftability' line - that creates a powerful, poised stance and makes the car appear to be moving when stationary.

With closer inspection, other themes emerge. A long wheelbase is crucial to achieve the classic Rolls-Royce look, as is a long bonnet, but while the front should be bold and upright with a short overhang, the rear needs to be softer, with the roofline blending into a wide 'C' pillar (the rearmost of the car's vertical roof support posts), to give a flowing appearance. Large wheels add an essential sense of proportion: the Rolls-Royce Motor Cars rule of thumb being the diameter of the wheel and tyre is roughly half the height of the car.

'Our absolute priority, explains Cameron, was to create a motor car that is clearly a Rolls-Royce even when the radiator grille is not in view.'

Now that you're armed with the secrets of Rolls-Royce design, you can cast an educated eye over the Phantom, and appreciate how Cameron and his team have fused classic proportions with strikingly modernity to create the definitive 21st century Rolls-Royce.

Power

At the heart of the Phantom is its all-aluminium 6749cc V12 engine. Using the most sophisticated engine technology available, including direct petrol injection, variable valve control and variable camshaft timing, it produces impressive maximum power and torque figures - 453bhp at 5350rpm and 531lb ft/720 Nm at 3500rpm - with peerless refinement and unmatched drivability.

Tuned to deliver Rolls-Royce's legendary 'waftability', it gives 75% of its maximum torque at just 1000rpm, the remaining 25% arriving in one, sustained, linear stream as the driver squeezes the throttle.

All this pulling power is delivered to the road through the rear wheels, via a six-speed automatic gearbox. Controlled by a column selector, the transmission uses shift-by-wire technology, which means there is no mechanical linkage between the selector and the transmission itself. With gearshift points optimised for comfort, and pulling away in 2nd gear, the Phantom is engineered to make silky smooth progress through the gears. Though effortless in delivery, the Phantom's performance is truly spirited, with a 0-60mph time of just 5.7sec and an electronically governed top speed of 149mph.

Power of different kind is supplied by the Phantom's electrical system. With a two liquid-cooled alternators and automatic charge management of the main battery and dedicated starter battery (both located beneath the boot floor for optimum weight distribution), you can use the Phantom's entertainment systems without fear of draining the starter battery and compromising vehicle reliability.

Starlight Headliner

A striking and original feature first seen in the 101EX experimental car, the award winning Starlight Headliner is now available for the first time in a production car. Designed to create the illusion of a dazzling sky at night in the Phantom’s rear passenger compartment, the Starlight Headliner’s magical effect is created using fibre optic and LED technology. Featuring 800, individually hand fixed ‘stars’ (640 ‘stars’ in cars fitted with a sunroof), the brightness of the ‘stars’ can be adjusted to suit any mood or situation, from an intense light for reading to a soothing glow for total relaxation. It can also be switched off altogether.

The Starlight Headliner is available in either black leather or oatmeal leather finishes, and when specified with a sunroof the front Headliner is also finished in matching leather, with a matching shade of cashmere used for the sunblind.