SimplyAbuDhabi XII

3 2 3 S I M P LY A B U DH A B I The exterior colour scheme has been created to evoke the night sky – integrating fine glass particles into the paint to achieve a spellbinding sense of depth and light. The theme continues when you open the coach doors of this very special Phantom Extended Wheelbase. Inside the car, occupants are welcomed with a new take on Starlight Headliner, a Bespoke feature that has captivated and captured the imaginations of Rolls Royce’s highly discerning customers more than any other. The constellations, exactly as they were at midnight on that historic evening, are represented by over a thousand fibre optic lights hand-woven into the Celestial Phantom’s headlining to truly stunning effect. The finest leathers, used throughout the car’s interior, are presented in a ‘Dusk’ hue, perfectly bringing to life the inky quality of a cloudless night sky, while Bespoke glassware and an exquisitely appointed picnic set complete the scene. It’s this kind of touch that shows how a customer’s lifestyle and passions can be seamlessly integrated into their personal, highly Bespoke Rolls-Royce. This hallmark attention-to-detail is evident throughout the Celestial Phantom. To ensure complete authenticity, the night-sky constellation arrangement inside was verified as accurate by the South Downs Planetarium, while hand-stitching to the headliner subtly and delicately maps out the constellations in their entirety. Finishing touches to the exterior include engraving to the Rolls Royce wheel centres while an uplit Spirit of Ecstasy figurine elegantly alludes to the car’s night sky theme. These delicate stylish flourishes epitomise the very special nature of the car. As you cast your eyes over the rest of the car’s impressive exterior, you can’t help but notice that although there’s a distinct modernity to its appearance, Rolls-Royce still employs styling cues on the Phantom that harken back to the company’s early days. The tall, waterfall grille that instantly identifies this car as a Rolls Royce remains, as does the Spirit of Ecstasy ornament (although here, she is beautifully uplit.). Even the slab-sided styling dates back to the original Phantom, produced from 1925 through 1931, though for this latest model it has received a thoroughly modern twist which clearly marks it out as a car for this century. And therein lies some of the Rolls-Royce Phantom’s appeal. For almost 100 years, the car has evolved with the times, yet has continued to symbolise achievement, excellence and status in automobiles. Even the buying process isn’t off-the-rack, as customers can personalize their Phantoms with a truly impressive array of published and bespoke options and finishes. Perhaps they won’t want to go quite as far as opting for the 446 diamonds that feature in this particular model but as far as Rolls Royce are concerned, what the customer wants, the customer gets. Dining under the stars too takes on a new dimension in the Celestial Phantom, with a themed re-imaging of the famed Rolls Royce Picnic Set completing the picture. The glassware inside features a beautifully hand-engraved Celestial motif whilst celebrated porcelain maker Nymphenburg was commissioned for the set’s plates, providing an exquisitely presented image of the constellations. Under that elegant bonnet however, you’ll find the same mighty 6.75-litre V- 12 engine that powers every Rolls Royce Phantom. Rated at 453 horsepower and 531 pound-feet of torque and mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission this incredible unit provides enough thrust to propel the Phantom’s substantial weight from 0-60 in under six seconds, all in a manner that ensures passengers remain in complete comfort and serenity, regardless of the grin on the driver’s face. Despite this incredible acceleration and superb handling, the Phantom hasn’t really been designed to be a driver’s car. Instead, this is much more a vehicle is to be driven in. As you conduct business or merely cruise for pleasure in the privacy and comfort of the back seat you can sit back and admire the star- studded headlining as your chauffeur takes care of business behind the wheel. So, wherever you choose to take your seat, this Celestial Phantom really is a heavenly Rolls Royce.