Rolls-Royce Phantom 2007
January 1, 2007
It seems appropriate that these cars were designed in a former bank building in the Hyde Park section of London, and that each night the designers’ sketches were locked up in the old vault. We say these cars, because there are two of them for 2007: The standard Phantom—that’s standard as in gold standard because there’s not really anything of average quality about a car with the Spirit of Ecstasy atop its grille—and the Phantom EWB. That’s EWB as in Extended Wheelbase, which translates into an extra 10 inches between the front and rear axles, providing an even smoother ride and more room for those sitting in the rear seats, where the customer can choose between a spacious banquette for three or a pair of chairs like those you might find in a very proper British gentleman’s club. Don’t fret the added mass in the EWB. Phantoms have weight-saving aluminum space frames and 453 hp, 12-cylinder engines.
PRICE: $338,350; $390,500 (EWB)
ENGINE: 6.75-liter V-12
TRANSMISSION: 6-speed automatic
POWER: 453 hp at 5,350 rpm
TORQUE: 531 ft lbs at 3,500 rpm
CURB WEIGHT: 5,622 pounds; 5,886 pounds (EWB)
0-60 MPH: 5.7 seconds
TOP SPEED: 149 mph (limited)
PROS: Every luxury amenity you can imagine, including push-button rear
door closing
CONS: To some eyes, the styling looks a little too much like the vault
where those design sketches were kept
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