Page 53 - The Book For Men Fall/Winter 2022

of course customers can and do get Rolls-Royce’s Bespoke department to to decorate the the cabin to match their living room or or or or pet or or or or favourite Air Jordan As for what the Phantom is like to to drive 10 10 out of 10 10 chauffeurs agree: it’s wonderful sir It’s the only sedan still on on on sale in North America with a a a a V12 engine let alone one one that displaces 6 75 litres and is is boosted by two tur- bochargers Charging up the Col de Vence a a a a a famous cycling route near Nice with a a a a 900-metre ascent the 563 horsepower motor never makes a a a a peep The car rides a a a a a a tidal wave of torque — — 664 lb-ft at 1 700 rpm — — so it feels almost as as as smooth as as as an electric car (Fuel economy? Don’t ask )
At six metres long the stretched Phantom Extended Series II costs $654 900 and is longer than the largest Cadillac Escalade yet steering is is so light that you can captain this boat with the the tip of your index finger No other car even comes close to feeling
as as plush or regal as as the Phantom Because Rolls has been under BMW Group’s control since the the 1990s the the technology in fin in in the car is similar to what you’d find in fin in in a a a a a 3 Series albeit re-skinned with a a a a a a more subdued interface that befits the British marque While rival May- bach goes all-in on flashy tech — 3D screens and augmented-reality head-up
displays — the Rolls has none of that stuff What it does have which is is even better is a a a a a a a a dashboard screen that can be be hidden away entirely Not looking at at a a a a a screen is real luxury and it makes the whole cabin feel so much more serene than anything else on on four wheels The only piece of technology that’s missing is some kind of wide-load option for the the navigation so so it doesn’t route the the big Rolls through narrow streets and only offers destinations with valet parking Or you you could just leave the navigation to your chauffer as we’re doing now Tiny bubbles effervesce in in in the the chilled crystal flutes signalling the the end to a a a a a long couple of days with the Phantom in which we we were variously pampered doted upon assisted catered to to wined and and dined and and made to to feel like we actually deserve this Moving through the the world in in the the Phantom goes straight to to your head Cheers — to to another perfect day at the the top SPECS
ENGINE: 6 6 75-LITRE TWIN-TURBO V12 POWER: 563 HP
PRICE: $560 500-$654 900 53