Rolls-Royce Phantom VIII teased as RR promise more Phantom VII specials

Rolls-Royce are ‘teasing’ the 2018 Phantom VIII with a single image of its body under development as they reveal demand for the current Phantom is high.

It’s thirteen years since the Rolls-Royce Phantom VII was launched – after a 12 year gap from the demise of the Phantom VI, the last Rolls Royce with a separate chassis – and staked its claim as the ultimate luxury car.

With its inherent waftability, uncannily smooth V12 engine, sumptuous luxury, stately looks and suicide doors, the Phantom VII has been a stunning success for Rolls Royce, and allowed owner RR’s BMW to see off the challenge from arch-rival Mercedes’ Maybach without even breaking sweat.

But after 13 years it’s time for a new Phantom, and the current Phantom VII will end production at the end of 2016 before the new Phantom VIII arrives in 2018, and although RR are hardly going big on the tease for the new Phantom they have issued a single photos of the new Phantom’s new aluminium structure starting to take shape (above).

But even with a new platform and new aluminium structure, don’t expect the new Phantom to stray far from the current Phantom’s successful recipe, a recipe expected to include the continuation of a V12 under the bonnet, although perhaps the new Dawns’s V12 instead of the current Phantom’s.

But with the Phantom out of production for 2017, the world’s wealthy have been queuing up to grab a Phantom while they can, with the recent run of 50 Phantom Zenith Collection all sold out in just a few weeks.

But Rolls-Royce are planning more bespoke collections and one-off cars to keep up with demand, and extend delivery, if not production, of the Phantom VII in to 2017.

Torsten Muller-Otvos, RR CEO, said:

To paraphrase Mark Twain, reports of Phantom’s death are greatly exaggerated.

The huge level of demand for Phantom VII, which we will fulfil well into 2017, clearly demonstrates that the Rolls-Royce customer and patron of true luxury will accept no compromise when considering the purchase of a super-luxury motor car, and will not be seduced by mass-luxury brands.

I am proud and excited to confirm that a new Phantom is on the way – and it will be a contemporary and beautiful Phantom befitting of its role as the flagship of global luxury.