Simply Abu Dhabi XXII

3 0 1 S I M P LY A B U DH A B I Curve light functionality, for example, uses electronically-controlled reflectors to focus headlamp beams in the direction of travel, providing greater illumination of the road ahead when cornering. Adaptive headlamps change the cone of light projected onto a road in response to different driving speeds. Mechanically, the BMW-derived 6.75-litre, twin-turbocharged V12 remains untouched but it now has the support of a new eight-speed automatic transmission. The word ‘waftability’ has long been part of the Rolls-Royce lexicon, with models past and present being renowned for their magnificent ride experience. Phantom Series II reinforces the company’s reputation for both. Despite its size, it still moves swiftly, passing 100kmh in 5.8 seconds and onto 160kmh – the old 100mph mark – in 14.7 seconds, and it passes 250kmh with similar ease. Every part of the Phantom experience should be effortless, so new driver assistance technologies and a modern user interface with a re-designed multimedia controller have been introduced for Series II. The new satellite navigation system has been fully updated with functions that include 3D maps with landscape topography, guided tours and enhanced points of interest, as well as composite route planning. Information, maps and video content are presented on a larger 8.8 inch control centre display, a feature underlined by eight programmable bookmarks presenting access to key functions at a driver’s fingertips. Front, rear and top-view camera systems make manoeuvring even easier. When reverse parking, for example, rear path prediction automatically deploys on the screen. Its suspension is as soft and compliant as you could imagine, as its 2670kg seems to squash speed humps and driveway gutters in its path, offering a magic carpet ride around roadworks and secondary roads. On the highway you have to remind yourself of its weight and size as the performance can trick you into thinking it’s more of a sports car and tipping it into a corner brings you back to reality fairly quickly. The air suspension tightens up and the oily-smooth steering through the typically thin, tri-spoked wheel provides enough feel to get the job done with surety, but this is not what the Phantom II excels at. Luxury in the Rolls-Royce Phantom II is not defined by how many TV screens it has or how many hues of mood lighting you can dial in. It’s the fact that it takes 60 pairs of hands a total of 450 hours to build each car using just two robots along the way; that it requires a minimum of five layers of paint, each hand rubbed and covered in clear coat and hand polished for five hours to give it that grand piano look; and that there are 43 wooden pieces in every interior using 28 layers of veneer all cut from one log. This complements the nine hides taken from Alpine bulls to cover the 450 leather parts inside every car. The changes to the second generation Phantom are subtle and almost superfluous, but enough to bring it into line with its nearest competitors. However, the basic DNA remains untouched because in the same way a suit or tuxedo never goes out of style, neither does a Rolls-Royce. SPECS: Engine: 6.75-litre, twin-turbo V12 Power: 453bhp @ 5350rpm Torque: 720Nm@ 3500rpm 0-100kmh 5.7 seconds Top speed: 250kmh Price: AED1,900,000