2006 Rolls Royce Phantom Review

Specifications

Going to Battle against Maybachs 62 and Bentleys Arnage Limousine

With the launch of the magnificent Phantom two years ago, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars reestablished itself as a global leader among the worlds finest carmakers. While an elegant, open-roofed convertible variant is expected to join the portfolio sometime before 2007, Rolls-Royce will launch an extended wheelbase variant of the Phantom late this year.

Given the advent of limousine-like proportioned super luxury vehicles such as the Maybach 62 and new Bentley Arnage Limousine, Rolls-Royce has decided that the time is right to introduce a stretched wheelbase version of the Phantom, featuring a commodious 9.8 inch increase in length for a total of 150.4 inches. The length was added behind the central B-pillar, yielding living room levels of space that allow rear seat passengers to truly stretch out.

Rolls-Royce views its latest creation as the perfect platform for a truly bespoke vehicle. Such vast passenger volume lends itself to the addition of countless options, luxurious interior trims and colors, ensuring that every Phantom Extended Wheelbase will be as individual as its owner.

The idea of the long wheelbase Phantom isnt new, as this vehicle was conceptualized alongside the original. The design entailed incorporating a substructure that would be strong enough to allow for lengthening, and to that end the decision to use an aluminum space frame was crucial. This methodology allows the stretch Phantom to be built alongside regular wheelbase Phantoms.

With over 100 years of coach building expertise, Rolls-Royce has learned that cutting corners is no way to build the ultimate luxury vehicle or further a reputation. Instead of cutting the vehicle in half and welding additional sections to create a longer wheelbase, which is the case for most conventional long wheelbase models, the Phantom makes use of exclusively made extrusions. This, in turn, will give the Extended Wheelbase model the same torsional rigidity and dynamic characteristics as the regular Phantom, plus none of the squeaks, rattles and body flex exhibited by conventional stretch conversions.

This new vehicle is a testament to Rolls-Royces ingenuity, being that the body of the Phantom Extended Wheelbase is the largest aluminum space frame ever created for automotive purposes. Despite the longer wheelbase, the only new panels are the lengthened roof and rear doors, with the rest of the car using stock components.

As with all Rolls-Royces, the longer Phantom is crafted by hand, in-house at the companys Goodwood, England plant, using many of the same techniques and methods that have been part of the marques storied history for over a century.

The Phantom Extended Wheelbase will make its debut at the Geneva Auto Salon next week, and should be available for sale late this year. Prices will start from $385,000.