It looks like a rebadged Bentley Dominator from the 1990s. I guess they got access to the Sultan's garage lol. Exact same proportions.
I've only seen the rear bench seating so far in videos, but it's amazing to me how no manufacturer AND I MEAN NO MANUFACTURER, including RR, can make a rear SUV bench seat comfortable. Granted I'm not seating in it, but it doesn't look that much different than other SUV rear bench seats. They're always too upright, and never have enough padding (I know some allow a small tilt). I wasn't impressed with the rear bench of the Bentayga and this doesn't seem much better. If you want the rear seats to lay flat there appears no way to give the rear seat any significant padding.
Well, sorry to disagree with you guys, but I think it looks very nice. Far better than any of the Escalades / Navigators / Bentaygas etc. and even (except possibly from the rear) the current Range Rovers. Image Unavailable, Please Login As for an off-roader, this will always remain my favourite (sadly I sold it a few years back after 20+ years of happy ownership): Image Unavailable, Please Login
The configurator is up and running. Need to see it with the gloss black window trim, the satin chrome is hideous. https://www.rolls-roycemotorcars.com/en-US/configure-your-rolls-royce.html
Frankly, I like the look of it, and I like the Bentayga also. I'm not buying either, but I do like the look of both of them.
Sadly the new Rolls Royce models excluding the Phantom are brand engineered super BMW's. The reinvention of Rolls Royce was a great achievement, and I believe mainly because of Karl-Heinz Kalbfell, who was a true enthusiast. The new Phantom (though expertly executed) is so conservatively derived from the successful previous car that it's very dissapointing. In the 20's and 30's coachbuilders proved that the big limousine does not have to have a single visual identity. The recently released Phantom feels like a very safe, executive committee led design. The serious reviewers such as Harry Metcalfe have critized its core reason for being; ride quality. For what reason? Fashion led huge wheels? The car should set ride quality standards like the Jaguar XJ did in 1968. Also, why did they not manage to get rid of the enormous pillar in the centre, so that when you open the doors, the interior is presented like a room? They had 14 years. This new off reader is tasteless, maybe that is what they feel the market demands, but all generations of the Range Rover have proven it doesn't have to be so. I'm a firm believer that a true enthusiast at the top is the sole reason these specialised manufacturers can be great, in terms of product. Luca Cordero di Montezemolo and Ulrich Bez have shown this in recent times. Once you replace a Steve Jobs with a Tim Cook, the direction fails, even if immediate success intensifies. The products no longer lead us, but satisfy perceived wishes and become less and less valid over time. BMW are now building, with the exception of the Phantom, which remains a special car, super BMW's in a Rolls Royce flavour, which is exactly what they said they wouldn't do, and which all the analysts said wouldn't sell, which was the reason the original BMW Phantom was such a serious effort. The success and validity of the Phantom is the reason they can do this, but the rest of the range isn't truly special and time will catch up with them and Rolls Royce will no longer be "the best car in the world".
They managed in 1936, when they built my old Bentley (although to be precise it was Vanden Plas who did it, as R-R only built the chassis): Image Unavailable, Please Login
This magical new film from Harry's garage, where he drives his £4000 ebay Rolls Royce Silver Shadow to the Artic Circle puts the SUV in perspective for me.
I have just been reading Harry's article about this trip in this month's Octane, so it is good to see the video, too. Thankyou for posting, David.
Three observations about Harry’s review of the Phantom: First, He’s 100% correct about the tires. 285-40-22 specs will absolutely murder the ride. Add in the fact that they’re run-flats, and that explains the bad ride performance. Not enough sidewall for that legendary magical Rolls-Royce ride. Second, I wonder if he had the radar/camera sensing suspension feature turned off. The way the Phantom went over the speed bumps suggests that the system wasn’t active. If you drive an S-class with the similar “Magic Body Control,” it sails over speed bumps like those with barely a jolt. Third, Christ... what a massive automobile. That scene where he compares Phantom to a Shadow is incredible. It’s like the size of an SUV. The Shadow is no small car, and that Phantom is huge. I can’t imagine having to park that car, especially the long wheelbase version. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
